Safety of Hajj Pilgrims Becomes Government's Priority Amid Middle East Conflict

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - Minister of Hajj and Umrah (Menhaj) Mochamad Irfan Yusuf stated that the safety and security of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims is a priority amid the ongoing Middle East conflicts. President Prabowo Subianto, Irfan revealed, has instructed that pilgrim safety be prioritised in every policy decision. “Focus on the security of pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, security during travel to and from Saudi Arabia, as well as logistical security during the performance of Hajj,” Irfan said during a press conference at the Presidential Staff Office (KSP), Jakarta, on Wednesday (15/4/2026), quoted from the Kompas TV YouTube broadcast. Prabowo is said to have given firm directives that all Hajj organisation scenarios be oriented towards the aspect of pilgrim safety. “The escalation of conflict in the Middle East is a concern for the government in organising the Hajj pilgrimage. The President has ordered that pilgrim safety is the top priority,” Irfan stated. “Therefore, all Hajj organisation scenarios and risk mitigation plans must be based on that principle,” he added. He assured that the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage will proceed according to the schedule set by the Ministry of Hajj. “From coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Transportation, airport authorities, airlines, and Saudi authorities, the Hajj pilgrimage will still be carried out on schedule,” Irfan explained. The schedule for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage is outlined in the Decree of the Minister of Hajj and Umrah of the Republic of Indonesia Number 7 of 2025. The stages of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage are divided into three phases: entry into dormitories and departure; peak of the Hajj pilgrimage; and return. Here is the complete schedule for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage: