Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims Prohibited from Undertaking City Tours Before Armuzna

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has revealed a ban on conducting ziyarah or city tours for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims before the peak phase of the Hajj rituals in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna) is completed.

Spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Ichsan Marsha, stated that this policy is taken as a protective measure for pilgrims to remain healthy and prepared to face the core phase of the Hajj worship.

Armuzna constitutes the core of Hajj worship implementation, which requires optimal physical condition, maintained stamina, as well as mental and spiritual readiness of the pilgrims.

“This ban is not intended to restrict pilgrims’ activities, but as a protective step so that pilgrims do not become fatigued and remain focused on preparing themselves for the Armuzna phase. The government wants to ensure that all pilgrims can perform the peak of Hajj worship safely, healthily, and with full devotion,” said Ichsan Marsha during a press conference in Mecca on Thursday (7/5).

Through a recent circular, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has requested all pilgrims, as well as KBIHU (Kelompok Bimbingan Ibadah Haji dan Umrah) worship guides, not to schedule, facilitate, or organise ziyarah or city tour activities outside the cities of Medina and Mecca before the entire Armuzna worship sequence is completed.

The Ministry of Religious Affairs also asks KBIHU guides to focus their guidance on strengthening pilgrims’ physical, mental, and spiritual readiness, as well as understanding the rituals ahead of the standing at Arafah and the worship sequence in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina.

Furthermore, all pilgrim movements must be reported and coordinated with official personnel, including PPIH Kloter, the pilgrim protection sector, or related sectors to maintain order and safety for pilgrims.

On the same occasion, the Ministry of Religious Affairs has again emphasised the strict prohibition for the public to depart for Hajj without using official Hajj visas. The government urges the public not to be tempted by offers of departure using non-Hajj visas, including ziyarah visas, tourist visas, Umrah visas, or other schemes that do not comply with Saudi Arabian government regulations.

“The performance of Hajj worship can only be done using official Hajj visas. Departures outside official procedures risk causing legal issues, deportation, detention, fines, and endangering pilgrims’ safety while in Saudi Arabia,” Ichsan stressed.

To strengthen the prevention of non-procedural Hajj practices, the Ministry of Religious Affairs, together with the Indonesian National Police and the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services of the Republic of Indonesia, has formed a Task Force for Preventing Non-Procedural Hajj.

As of Wednesday, 6 May 2026, the operational implementation of Hajj worship is running smoothly and under control. A total of 267 klotters with 103,690 pilgrims and 1,064 personnel have been dispatched from Indonesia to the Holy Land.

Meanwhile, 258 klotters with 100,125 pilgrims have arrived in Medina and 109 klotters with 42,340 pilgrims have arrived in Mecca to perform obligatory Umrah and prepare themselves for the peak of Hajj worship.