'Mecca Route' at Soekarno-Hatta Airport: Pilgrims No Longer Need to Queue for Immigration in Saudi Arabia

At Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport, Tangerang, on Sunday (17 May 2026), pilgrims arrived by DAMRI bus. They were then directed to the lobby to undergo checks at the Mecca Route service.

The first bus contained elderly passengers and people with disabilities. Staff assisted them in disembarking, some using wheelchairs or walking sticks.

Immigration officers and police helped the prospective pilgrims. Some even carried those who had difficulty walking.

“For Soekarno-Hatta Airport, we are scheduled to process around 35,285 pilgrims, and currently, approximately 30,000 have completed their clearance,” said Gali Perdhana, Head of Immigration at Soekarno-Hatta Airport, to reporters at Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta Airport on Sunday (17 May 2026).

Galih explained that the Mecca Route service moves the immigration process for prospective pilgrims, which would normally take place in Saudi Arabia, to Indonesia. This makes the travel process more efficient.

Galih believes that the Mecca Route service helps pilgrims enter Saudi Arabia more quickly, allowing them to go directly to their hotels or destinations upon arrival.

“I myself went on Umrah some time ago, and having to face long queues was physically exhausting and mentally draining when I was trying to focus on worship. I think it’s very inconvenient,” he said.

Galih added that the Mecca Route service is now available at four airports in Indonesia. He hopes that the service will be expanded to more departure points for pilgrims across Indonesia.

“Currently, there are 10 Mecca Route counters, and they are located at four airports. The latest addition is in Makassar,” he said. “In addition to Soekarno-Hatta, there are also counters at Adi Soemarmo Solo, Surabaya Juanda, and Hasanuddin Makassar. Hopefully, more can be added in the future.”

Galih added that this service, which has been running since 2018, has proven effective in assisting prospective pilgrims. In addition, relations between the Saudi and Indonesian governments are strong.

“We believe that is why it has been successful, especially given the large number of Indonesian pilgrims. If all countries were to clear their pilgrims only upon arrival in Saudi Arabia, especially those with large numbers, they would all gather at one or two points, which would be very chaotic. Therefore, clearing pilgrims in their country of origin will be very helpful,” he said.