Ministry of Hajj: Hajj 2026 Readiness Reaches 95 Percent
Deputy Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, stated that preparations for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage have reached 95 percent. He said the government will begin dispatching the first batch on 22 April 2026.
According to Dahnil, the ministry is also preparing various mitigation scenarios should the escalation of conflict in the Middle East impact pilgrim safety. Pilgrim safety is claimed to be the top priority. “Preparations are at 95 percent, with the first batch departure on 22 April 2026,” he said when contacted on Thursday, 26 March 2026.
Dahnil explained that the pilgrim departure stage will involve more than 500 flight groups from across Indonesia. Each batch will average 350 to 400 pilgrims. The government, he said, continues to refine technical coordination to ensure the dispatch process runs smoothly from the inaugural batch until all pilgrims arrive in the Holy Land.
Minister for Hajj and Umrah, Mochammad Irfan Yusuf, stated that main services have been prepared, from accommodation and meals to transportation, with visa issuance nearly complete. “Accommodation in Mecca and Medina, meal services, transportation, and pilgrim equipment have been prepared,” Irfan said.
The Hajj organisation refers to Law No. 14 of 2025, with the main objective of providing guidance, services, and protection. The government is promoting the Tri Sukses Hajj concept, encompassing success in rituals, economy, and civility and civilisation.
This year’s Hajj faces heightened conflict in the Middle East. On 28 February, the United States and Israel launched attacks on Iran. This was followed by Iran’s retaliation against Israeli territory and targets on US military bases in the Middle East, particularly in Iraq, Bahrain, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Kuwait.
To date, there are no signs of a peace agreement. This situation coincides with plans to dispatch 221,000 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims, consisting of 203,320 regular and 17,680 special pilgrims. The regular pilgrims will depart from 16 embarkation points in 528 batches. The first batch departure begins on 22 April 2026.
The Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to Indonesia, Faisal bin Abdullah Al-Amudi, claimed that the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage will still proceed safely. He said the situation in Saudi Arabia remains under control to date, and all preparations are proceeding as planned by the local government, thus posing no significant disruptions to this year’s Hajj organisation.