Minister Irfan: Implementation of 2026 Hajj Still On Schedule
The Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf has clarified concerns regarding a potential cancellation of the 2026 hajj pilgrimage amid the ongoing armed conflict between Iran and the United States alongside its ally Israel.
He stated that the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah will continue to monitor the situation in the Middle East, including considering various recommendations from other ministries, particularly the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
“As of today, it remains on schedule with no changes. God willing, it will continue until the appointed day,” Irfan said at the Complex of the People’s Consultative Assembly (DPR, MPR, and DPD) on Wednesday, 11 March 2026.
He noted that preparations for the 2026 hajj pilgrimage are proceeding according to plan, including communication and coordination with the authorities of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Irfan claimed that coordination results with Saudi authorities ensure that the 2026 hajj pilgrimage has been prepared as thoroughly as possible. “So, as of today we assume everything is running well, and the situation there will also improve. That is our assumption for now,” he said.
In a working meeting with the Eighth Commission of the People’s Representative Council, Irfan stated that his ministry has prepared several scenarios for conducting the hajj pilgrimage this year.
According to the schedule, the departure of pilgrims this year is scheduled to begin on 22 April.
Irfan outlined the first scenario: pilgrims would still be dispatched despite high security risks, provided that Saudi authorities maintain the opening of hajj operations. In this scenario, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah would implement mitigation measures by seeking alternative routes from Indonesia to the Holy Land.
“Mitigation through the diversion of flight routes away from conflict zones in the Middle East or entry through East African airspace, or other safe routes,” Irfan said.
However, he noted that rerouting flights would increase travel time for pilgrims and would also result in additional budget allocation.
The second scenario involves Indonesia cancelling the departure of pilgrims whilst Saudi authorities maintain hajj operations. In this scenario, the ministry would conduct high-level negotiations.
The objective, Irfan said, would be to ensure that costs already paid for accommodation, meals, and transport are not lost but can instead be used for the following year’s hajj operations.
The final scenario involves the Saudi government closing hajj operations in 2026 and Indonesia cancelling pilgrim departures. According to Irfan, this could occur if the situation resulting from the Iran-Israel-United States conflict becomes unmanageable.
Should this option be implemented, the government would suspend all processes for accommodation provision, meals, transport, pilgrimage guidance, and visa settlement for pilgrims.
“We will then prioritise departures in the following year for pilgrims who have fully paid their Hajj costs that have already been allocated for departure,” he said.