Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Assists in Extending Visas for Pilgrims Stranded in Saudi Arabia
Jakarta (ANTARA) — The Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, has stated that the government is prepared to assist in extending visas for Indonesian umrah pilgrims stranded in Saudi Arabia as a result of regional conflict in the Middle East, which has delayed their return home.
“We are helping the pilgrims who are delayed and whose visa validity has expired by assisting in visa extensions so they are not recorded as immigration violations,” said Minister Irfan during a working meeting with Commission VIII of the Indonesian Parliament in Jakarta on Wednesday.
Minister Irfan explained that the escalation of conflict in the Middle East has affected regional security stability and international air transport activities. A number of countries in the region have closed their airspace, particularly along routes that have served as main international flight paths to the Gulf region.
Based on reports received through 11 March 2026, a total of 50,374 umrah pilgrims remain in Saudi Arabia. Of this number, approximately 14,115 people are at risk of experiencing delayed returns due to flight disruptions.
Minister Irfan explained that based on his field observations through 9 March 2026, a total of 20,581 Indonesian umrah participants have been successfully repatriated to the homeland.
However, at the same time, departures of umrah pilgrims from Indonesia continue through direct flights with numbers of approximately 2,000 to 3,000 people per day.
The agreement includes the parties’ consensus to establish a unified coordination centre amongst stakeholders involving the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj), the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Kemlu), the Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub), the Ministry of Immigration and Law Enforcement (Imipas), airline companies, and Umrah Travel Operators (PPIU).
All stakeholders are committed to exchanging data and updating information needed to accelerate the handling of umrah pilgrimages.