Indonesia seeks seamless digital link with Saudi Arabia for pilgrims
Integrating systems goes beyond modernising technology; it is part of our efforts to enhance the safety and comfort of pilgrims,” Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf remarked.
In a statement cited in Jakarta on Tuesday, he noted that his office recognises its responsibility to provide the finest services for Indonesians joining Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages, guiding them from visa procedures to accommodation, healthcare, and transport in Saudi Arabia.
“Services related to Hajj and Umrah for Indonesian pilgrims must be quick, safe, comfortable, and free from technical and administrative impediments,” Yusuf emphasised.
The minister reaffirmed this commitment at the Saudi-Indonesian Umrah Co-Exchange in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Monday (Feb. 16).
He used the bilateral forum to confirm Indonesia’s support for modernising Hajj and Umrah services, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
On technical grounds, Yusuf highlighted the need to strengthen connectivity between Indonesia’s systems and Saudi Arabia’s, including through the optimisation of Nusuk Masar, a unified registration and management platform for pilgrimage service providers.
He also proposed flexibility in replacing visa-holding individuals whose Hajj pilgrimage departures are cancelled with other Indonesians next in line, ensuring the same quota slot is utilised.
“Every quota slot belongs to the Muslim community. Therefore, we hope for a flexible mechanism applicable until several days before departure to prevent wasted slots,” the minister said.
Additionally, he asked Saudi authorities to provide technical clarity on the implementation of dam — a compensatory animal sacrifice for pilgrims missing rituals or breaking rules during Hajj — through digital channels to support practicality.
By pursuing system integration, the Indonesian government aims to facilitate administrative processes, strengthen oversight, and enhance emergency response, with the ultimate goal of making all pilgrimage services more modern, transparent, and oriented towards pilgrims’ satisfaction.