Hajj Supervisory Team says the 2026 Hajj administration has demonstrated a significant improvement in service quality
Jakarta (ANTARA) - A member of the Hajj Supervisory Team (Timwas) for 2026 in the Indonesian House of Representatives, Nurdin Halid, said that the administration of the Hajj pilgrimage for 1447 Hijri/2026 CE shows a significant improvement in the service quality for Indonesian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia.
Based on his observations, Nurdin said that the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage looks different from previous years, from preparation to implementation.
‘From my observations, from departure at Soekarno-Hatta Airport to arrival in Jeddah, everything went smoothly and well without meaningful constraints as in previous years,’ he said in a statement received in Jakarta on Thursday.
Nurdin, who is also the Deputy Speaker of the DPR Commission VI, noted a major change in the Hajj officers who are now closer, friendlier, and more attentive in serving the pilgrims.
‘What is encouraging is that the officers’ approach is now closer, friendlier, more attentive and respectful. Officers are not simply carrying out duties, but serving with heart, especially towards female pilgrims and the elderly,’ he said.
He assessed that this fundamental change is a tangible fruit of the administration of President Prabowo Subianto and Vice President Gibran Rakabuming Raka, by forming a dedicated Hajj and Umrah ministry. Based on Presidential Decree No. 92 of 2025 and Law No. 14 of 2025, the management of Hajj and Umrah has been transferred from the Ministry of Religious Affairs to the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.
‘The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah now stands alone with resources reaching down to the district/city level, so oversight and services are more focused and professional,’ he said.
Nurdin, who is currently in Madinah for supervision, said the 2026 Hajj administration marks a new chapter with new standards.
Furthermore, he outlined several policy breakthroughs of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, including a reduction of the Pilgrimage Organising Cost (BPIH) to Rp87.4 million, five-star hotel facilities for regular pilgrims, freedom to choose the type of Hajj (ifrad, qiran or tamattu), and a focus on affirmative services for women and the elderly.
He described a very striking reform as the upgrading of accommodation facilities for regular pilgrims, where for the first time regular pilgrims could be accommodated in five-star hotels.
Another equally important reform, he added, is the freedom to choose the type of Hajj. Indonesian prospective pilgrims are given full rights and freedom to choose the type of Hajj, whether ifrad, qiran or tamattu.
The provisions are set out in the Circular Letter of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, together with an official and standardised dam payment mechanism.
‘The government is also implementing an important affirmative policy to be applied, namely prioritising special protection for vulnerable groups, namely women and elderly pilgrims. This includes quotas and priority medical services, as well as more extensive accompaniment,’ Nurdin said.
Regarding this, Nurdin noted that the implementation of the Makkah Route or fast-track immigration service is increasingly speeding up and simplifying pilgrims’ journeys from home country to arrival in Saudi Arabia.
Through the Makkah Route scheme, he said, Saudi immigration checks are carried out at the departure airport in Indonesia. Thus, pilgrims no longer need to queue upon arrival in Saudi Arabia and can proceed directly to their hotel or destination.
‘This breakthrough is very beneficial for pilgrims, especially the elderly and those with physical limitations,’ he said.