President Prabowo Appreciates 2026 Hajj Organisation, Urges Service Improvements
President Prabowo Subianto has expressed his appreciation for the well-organised implementation of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage. The commendation was conveyed during a meeting with Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, along with leaders of the House of Representatives (DPR) and members of Commission VIII DPR, at Hambalang, Bogor, on Wednesday (17/6). During the meeting, the President also delivered several strategic directives aimed at improving the quality of Hajj services in the coming years.
Minister of Hajj Mochamad Irfan Yusuf revealed that this year’s Hajj operations demonstrated significant progress. Improvements were evident across various service aspects, ranging from accelerated visa issuance and the distribution of Nusuk cards prior to departure, to enhanced quality of accommodation and mobility for pilgrims while in Saudi Arabia. “Alhamdulillah, the President expressed his appreciation for this year’s Hajj organisation. The various improvements made have resulted in better services for Indonesian pilgrims,” said the Minister.
According to Irfan, this success was inseparable from the cooperation of various parties. Although the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah only began operating effectively in September 2025, the initial delays in preparations were overcome through cross-ministerial and institutional synergy, including support from the DPR through the Hajj Supervisory Team. One notable achievement was the visa issuance process, which was completed faster than in previous Hajj seasons. Furthermore, the distribution of Nusuk cards while still in Indonesia successfully minimised various service obstacles frequently encountered by pilgrims upon arrival in the Holy Land. Through this system, cases of pilgrims being separated from their groups, difficulties in obtaining accommodation, and barriers to accessing basic services were significantly reduced.
The Ministry of Hajj has also begun implementing multi-year service contracts with several service providers in Saudi Arabia. This policy is expected to maintain the continuity of service quality improvements while providing certainty for partners to invest in facilities for Indonesian pilgrims.
In his directives, President Prabowo stressed the importance of improving the quality of Hajj services in terms of consumption, accommodation, and earlier operational preparations. “The President provided various inputs so that next year’s Hajj services will be even better, from food quality to early service readiness and improvements to hotels and accommodation used by Indonesian pilgrims,” the Minister stated. Beyond direct services to pilgrims, the President also paid attention to the development of the ‘Kampung Haji’ concept as a long-term solution to enhance service quality while reducing the cost of organising the pilgrimage. Irfan noted that this idea will continue to be discussed with the DPR, taking into account various factors affecting Hajj costs, such as exchange rate fluctuations, rising aviation fuel prices, global conditions, and tariff adjustments set by the Saudi Arabian Government.
President Prabowo also highlighted the issue of Hajj waiting times, which remain a challenge in several regions. According to data from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, some areas that previously had very long waiting lists are now showing a reduction in waiting periods. Nevertheless, the government has been urged to continue seeking breakthroughs to shorten waiting times further. “We are continuously exploring various schemes and solutions so that the waiting period for Hajj departure can be accelerated. This is a serious concern for the government so that more people can perform the Hajj pilgrimage in a more affordable timeframe,” he said. The President’s directives reaffirm the government’s commitment to driving the transformation of Hajj organisation to be more professional, high-quality, affordable, and oriented towards the satisfaction of Indonesian pilgrims.