Local Governments Urged to Avoid Excessive Ceremonies for Returning Hajj Pilgrims

The Indonesian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) has urged local governments not to hold excessive ceremonial events when Hajj pilgrims arrive at embarkation points. This is due to concerns that pilgrims, having undertaken a long journey, may suffer from extreme fatigue.

“Our pilgrims are already quite exhausted; therefore, the process should be accelerated so they can return to their respective homes as quickly as possible,” stated the Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, during a meeting at the Hajj Affairs Office in Jeddah on Wednesday (3/6/2026).

Dahnil noted that the Ministry has collaborated with airport authorities from the Ministry of Immigration and Correctional Services to streamline the process. For instance, in Surabaya, passport inspections will be minimised through the use of face recognition gates.

“At the gate, faces are recognised immediately without further inspections, allowing pilgrims to proceed directly to their buses and return to the Hajj dormitory embarkation points,” Dahnil explained.

Consequently, Dahnil requested that local governments avoid lengthy ceremonial programmes and long speeches that drain energy. He added that all regional heads within the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah have been instructed to avoid protracted ceremonies.

The Deputy Minister expressed his hope that pilgrims would be given sufficient time to rest and reunite with their families upon returning to the country. Simultaneously, he extended his gratitude to local governments for their assistance in facilitating pilgrims both before departure and upon their return.

The repatriation phase for the first wave of Hajj pilgrims commenced on 1 June 2026. On the first day of the return, 17 groups were dispatched, officially released by the Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, at King Abdulaziz International Airport in Jeddah.