Seventeen Thousand Umrah Pilgrims Return to Indonesia Amid Middle East Conflict

Seventeen Thousand Umrah Pilgrims Return to Indonesia Amid Middle East Conflict

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has recorded that 14,796 Indonesian Umrah pilgrims who were briefly held up in Saudi Arabia have now returned home. Hajj Technical Staff at the Jeddah Hajj Affairs Office, M Ilham Effendy, said the figure accumulated since tensions in Arab states began to escalate from 28 February to 5 March. ‘Cumulatively, the number of Indonesian Umrah pilgrims observed returning to the homeland reached 14,796 people from 28 February 2026 to 5 March 2026,’ Ilham said in a statement on Friday (6/3).

Most recently, Ilham reported that the ministry had assisted 2,735 pilgrims who followed the return to Indonesia. He noted that all flights monitored on Thursday (5/3) were reported to have operated according to the departure schedule. Consequently, the total number of pilgrims who have returned to Indonesia has exceeded 17,000.

In addition to those returning home, the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah also recorded pilgrims who had newly departed to Saudi Arabia. A total of 352 Indonesian Umrah pilgrims arrived and were monitored by airport staff on the same day.

Meanwhile, 158 Umrah pilgrims remained stranded in the process of returning home. They are currently in two locations, Jeddah and Mecca, awaiting rescheduled flights in accordance with the arrangements of airlines and tour operators.

Ilham urged the stranded pilgrims to continue coordinating with various parties. He confirmed that pilgrims would continue to receive government escorts and services needed to return home safely. “We ensure that all pilgrims continue to receive the assistance and services required until they can return home safely,” said Ilham.

[Video CNN]