Inspector General: Major Evaluation Planned for Next Year’s Hajj Season, Including Mina Issues

The Inspector General of Indonesia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Dendi Suryadi, has stated that the government will carry out a thorough evaluation of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage operations once all activities are concluded. The evaluation will not only be conducted internally within the ministry but will also involve various external institutions with supervisory functions. The results will form the basis for improvements to the pilgrimage in subsequent years. “Next year there will be a major evaluation within the ministry, followed by external evaluations from the DPR, the BPK, and others,” Dendi told reporters from the Hajj Media Center after leading a roll call at the Madinah regional working office on Wednesday. Dendi also responded to input from the DPR’s Commission VIII regarding tent conditions in Mina, which has become a focal point of the pilgrimage operation. According to him, the issue in Mina cannot be separated from the limited area available to accommodate millions of pilgrims from around the world. As such, capacity and comfort in Mina remain challenges for which solutions must be continuously sought together with the Saudi Arabian government. “Indeed, one of the crucial points is in Mina, because the capacity of the Mina area itself is limited,” he said. Dendi noted that this year’s Hajj season was the first experience for the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah in managing the pilgrimage as a newly formed ministry. He believes the various dynamics encountered on the ground will provide invaluable learning material. He acknowledged there are still many aspects that need to be refined so that the quality of service to pilgrims can improve in the future. “Of course there are many things, because this is our inaugural task, I am certain we will find many things. From that experience we can learn and refine our approach later,” he said.