Prabowo Aims to Shorten Hajj Waiting Queue

The government faces a policy dilemma with no truly comfortable solution. President Prabowo Subianto has stated that he will continue to strive to accelerate Indonesia’s Hajj waiting period. He mentioned that the Hajj queue, which previously reached 48 years, is now 26 years and will be shortened further. “We are now fighting, and alhamdulillah, the Hajj queue is no longer 48 years; starting in 2026, the Hajj queue will be at most 26 years. I am fighting to make it even shorter,” said Prabowo during a briefing at the Red and White Cabinet Working Meeting at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta on Wednesday (8/4). In addition to mentioning the Hajj waiting period, Prabowo revealed that Indonesia now has a total of approximately 45 hectares (ha) of land in Mecca. He stated that this land ownership is the first in history for Indonesia. “For the first time in history, Indonesia has been honoured; we now have land in Mecca. The land is around 45 ha, the old and the new, total 45 ha,” he said. According to Prabowo, the land will be used to build a Hajj village equipped with several towers. The government, he said, has also applied for permission from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to have a special Hajj terminal for Indonesian pilgrims. “On the 45 ha, we will build a Hajj village with a dozen towers. I have applied and it has been approved in principle; I have requested permission from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to have a special Hajj terminal, so the special terminal will be for our Hajj to allow quick entry and exit,” Prabowo explained. He assessed that the existence of a special Hajj terminal would accelerate the mobility of Indonesian pilgrims upon arrival and return from Saudi Arabia. This step is also described as part of the government’s efforts to improve Hajj services for the community. The government has announced that it will not increase Hajj costs for 2026 despite rising aviation fuel prices. President Prabowo Subianto stated that Hajj costs for 2026 will decrease by Rp2 million. The government is also targeting improvements to the queue system. Prabowo mentioned that the Hajj waiting time is being significantly reduced compared to before.