Prabowo Affirms No Increase in Hajj Costs for 2026

The government has announced that there will be no increase in Hajj costs for 2026, even though one component, aviation fuel (avtur), has risen. President Prabowo Subianto stated that the Hajj cost for 2026 will decrease by Rp2 million. “We are lowering the price by around Rp2 million, even though avtur prices have increased,” said President Prabowo during a government working meeting at the Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4). The government stated that it does not want to burden Hajj pilgrims amid the surge in global crude oil prices. In a meeting with the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), the government agreed to set the Hajj Organisational Cost (BPIH) for 2026 at a decrease of Rp2 million. Currently, the Hajj cost per pilgrim is Rp87,409,366. Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Menhaj) Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, during a working meeting with Commission VIII of the DPR, said that before the conflict between the United States, Israel, and Iran, the flight cost for pilgrims was around Rp33.5 million. However, after the Iran, US, and Israel conflict, airlines requested additional costs, making it around Rp46.9 million per person, or an increase of 39.85 percent. Additionally, costs such as rerouting to avoid conflict airspace could cause flight costs to soar to Rp50.8 million, or an increase of around 51.48 percent. Garuda Indonesia, the airline transporting Hajj pilgrims, proposed an additional cost of around Rp7.9 million per person. Meanwhile, Saudi Airlines, the Saudi Arabian airline, proposed an increase of 480 US dollars per person (around Rp8 million). The government also targets improvements to the queuing system. Prabowo mentioned that Hajj waiting times will be significantly reduced compared to before. President Prabowo requested that the Hajj cost increase for 2026 due to the avtur surge does not burden the pilgrims. Members of Commission VIII of the DPR RI highlighted the possibility of flight route changes affecting Hajj costs for 2026, as Middle Eastern airspace is disrupted due to the Iran-Israel conflict. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) along with the DPR Hajj Working Group has announced an average Hajj cost of Rp87.4 million per pilgrim, which is said to be moderate.