Indonesia Begins Land Acquisition for Hajj Village: 2.5 Km from Masjidil Haram

The Indonesian government has begun land acquisition as the initial phase of constructing the Hajj Village in Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Presidential Special Advisor on Hajj Affairs, Muhadjir Effendy, stated that the acquisition is located in the Jabal Hindawiyah area near Masjid Haram.

“The location is very close to Masjidil Haram; there will be special access, such as a tunnel, so that pilgrims are not disturbed by vehicle and other pilgrim traffic,” he said, quoting Antara on Thursday (30/4).

“The Hajj Village will be built in the Jabal Hindawiyah area, about 2 to 2.5 kilometres from Masjidil Haram,” he added.

In the initial phase, he said, the government is preparing three towers capable of accommodating around 1,600 people. These towers are targeted to start being used in next year’s Hajj season after management is taken over by Danantara.

This project is a long-term vision that has been pioneered since President Joko Widodo’s era and is now being continued by President Prabowo Subianto.

“We have dreamed of having a Hajj Village for 40 years. Now it is starting to be realised,” said Muhadjir.

In its development, he continued, the area is planned to have hundreds of residential towers to accommodate the majority of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims. Of the total land requirement of around 84 hectares, he said, currently about 54 hectares are in the process of acquisition.

Muhadjir emphasised that the project’s financing will not rely on the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN), but rather through an investment scheme managed by Danantara involving investors, including from Saudi Arabia.

In addition, he said, the government is also preparing an additional funding scheme of around Rp1.7 trillion to cover operational needs without burdening the pilgrims.