Salawat Bus Resumes Full Service for Hajj Pilgrims

The Salawat Bus service has resumed full operations to transport Indonesian Hajj pilgrims from their accommodations to the Masjidil Haram in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday (31 May). The 24-hour free service is available to all pilgrims. Syarif Rahman, Head of Transport Services for the Hajj Service Agency (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia, explained that the full operation of the Salawat Bus commenced at 13:00 Saudi Arabia Time (SAT) on Sunday (31 May). The transport fleet was initially scheduled to operate from 01:00 SAT, but the Saudi government adjusted the schedule to 13:00 SAT. Syarif deemed the change logical given pilgrim movements during the peak Hajj phase, as many had just completed Nafar Tsani and returned to their hotels from Mina. ‘We concluded that the bus schedule adjustment aligns perfectly with the peak Hajj period, as many pilgrims worldwide had just finished Nafar Tsani in the afternoon and needed rest. Hence, delaying it by 12 hours allows them to rest,’ Syarif told the Hajj Media Centre (MCH) on Sunday (31 May). Syarif detailed that the operational scheme mirrors the pre-peak Hajj period, with 458 buses deployed across 23 different routes operating non-stop for 24 hours. The free-of-charge facility is expected to ease pilgrim mobility, whether for worship or completing the remaining Hajj rituals. ‘Pilgrims returning to Indonesia or heading to Madinah can now use the Salawat Bus 24/7, whether for Tawaf Ifadah or daily worship at the Masjidil Haram,’ Syarif said. To access the service, pilgrims need only wait at the nearest hotel stop. The Salawat Bus will transport them to three main terminals around the Masjidil Haram: Syib Amir Terminal, Ajyad Terminal, and Jabal Kabah Terminal. The PPIH urges pilgrims to remember stop locations and destination terminals for smooth travel. They can also check terminal names, bus numbers, and routes via the individual route cards distributed to each pilgrim. Notably, authorities have provided the documents in multiple languages to assist pilgrims from around the world. A total of 34,853 Hajj pilgrims are scheduled to arrive at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport from 1 June 2026, with departures concentrated at Terminal 2F across 84 groups. Hajj pilgrims from various countries have returned to the Masjidil Haram to complete the Hajj rituals of Tawaf Ifadah, Sa’i, and Tahallul. All Indonesian Hajj pilgrims have officially left Mina after completing Nafar Tsani. Deputy Hajj Minister Dahnil Anzar confirmed the completion of the 2026 Armuzna phase and the start of evaluations. Thousands of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims who undertook the first departure (Nafar Awal) completed the stoning of the Jamarat on 12 Dhu al-Hijjah and began returning to Mecca. MCR posts have been strategically placed across the Jamarat area and pilgrim transit routes to enable officials to monitor the situation. Maria Assegaff stressed that the MCR’s presence is vital for enhancing security and service at critical pilgrim movement points. The 2026 Hajj has recorded significant achievements, particularly in managing pilgrim mobility during the critical Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna) phase. Hajj and Umrah Ministry Spokesperson Maria Assegaff stated that all movement stages proceeded according to the planned operational scheme.