Middle East Remains Unsettled, Menhaj: Hajj Preparations Complete

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Indonesia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Menhaj), Irfan Yusuf or Gus Irfan, stated that preparations for the Hajj departure are complete, even as the situation in the Middle East remains unsettled.

“All preparations in Saudi Arabia are also complete. Today, the Deputy Minister of Hajj is in Saudi Arabia to ensure all those preparations. Alhamdulillah, everything is proceeding well,” Irfan said at the Kompas Tower in Jakarta on Tuesday (31/3/2026).

He acknowledged the anxiety among prospective Hajj pilgrims for 1447 Hijriah or 2026, who will depart amid the dynamic geopolitical situation in the global Middle East.

Irfan explained that Indonesia’s Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dahnil Anzar, is currently in the Holy Land to prepare all aspects of the Hajj worship.

“We hope the situation remains like this, undisturbed by the preparations,” he clarified.

The Menhaj stated that the planned schedule for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims this year is still on track with the initial preparations.

“We expect that on 21 April, the first batch of Hajj pilgrims will enter the Hajj dormitory, and on 22 April, they will depart for the Holy Land,” he added.

“Hajj pilgrims are safe, but if their food is not fulfilled, it means they are not safe either. That is also a consideration for us to ensure that all Hajj pilgrim logistics can be met,” he emphasised.

The Menhaj admitted that aviation fuel prices have surged due to the geopolitical conflict in the Middle East, which could potentially trigger an increase in airfare prices.

“There is a potential for additional costs. For example, aviation fuel has risen today, even though we contracted with airlines several months ago,” he said.

He explained that the potential cost increase is due to route changes that would require additional flight time.

“This automatically requires additional costs. But InsyaAllah, we will work hard so that no additional costs are passed on to the pilgrims. We will seek other sources that we can still utilise later,” he stated.

In accordance with the mandate of Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto, Irfan emphasised that the Ministry of Hajj continues to monitor the security situation to ensure the safety and comfort of the pilgrims.

“Hopefully everything is on schedule, so that news saying there are changes, no departures, and so on, hopefully will not prove true,” he said.