Khofifah Thanks Saudi Arabian King for Kampung Haji Permit

Surabaya (ANTARA) — East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa expressed her gratitude to the King of Saudi Arabia for granting permission for Indonesia’s Kampung Haji (Hajj Village) in Makkah during a joint iftar event with the Saudi Arabian Embassy’s Religious Attaché at the Al-Akbar National Mosque in Surabaya.

“We convey our thanks to His Majesty King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who have granted Indonesia permission to have a dedicated area in Makkah, near Masjidil Haram, as Kampung Haji Indonesia,” she said in a statement in Surabaya on Sunday.

The event was held together with the Religious Attaché of the Saudi Arabian Embassy to Indonesia, Sheikh Ahmad bin Izza Al Hazimy, and included the presentation of dates and Qurans from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, to Quran memorisers from the East Java community.

The event also broke three records with the Indonesian World Records Museum (MURI), comprising 12,000 servings of date juice, 20,741 servings of nasi kebuli, and the simultaneous recitation of the 99 Asmaul Husna by 18,000 participants.

Khofifah also expressed her appreciation for the decision to allow Indonesian hajj pilgrim catering to be prepared by Indonesian catering businesses, describing it as a highly meaningful gesture of trust.

“We also express our appreciation that three East Java catering businesses have been given the opportunity to supply catering logistics for hajj pilgrims in 2026,” she said.

According to Khofifah, the policy not only improves the quality of services for Indonesian hajj pilgrims but also opens up opportunities for economic empowerment among national businesses.

“The Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, sends warm greetings to the entire people of East Java and continually prays that East Java will always be under the protection of Allah SWT, granted safety and blessings,” she said.