Shalawat Bus Services Temporarily Halted Ahead of Hajj Peak 2026
Shalawat bus services, which have long facilitated Indonesian pilgrims from hotel complexes to Masjid al-Haram, will be temporarily halted from Friday (22 May) at 18:00 Saudi Arabian Time (WAS), coinciding with 5 Dzul Hijjah. This step forms part of preparations for the peak Hajj period of 2026 in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna).
Transport Division Head of the Hajj Organising Committee (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia, Syarif Rahman, urged all pilgrims to align their worship activities with this policy to conserve stamina.
“Pilgrims are advised to pray in prayer rooms or mosques around their hotels. Because the suspension falls on Friday, pilgrims should not insist on continuing to pray at Masjid al-Haram,” Syarif said at the Mecca Office of the Local Work Station (Daker) Mecca, on Wednesday night (20/5).
Syarif added that the shalawat bus service will return to normal after the Armuzna phase, specifically on 14 Dzul Hijjah starting at 01:00 WAS.
Meanwhile, PPIH has anticipated the arrival of the last batch of pilgrims arriving near the closing time around midnight. It has secured permission from Naqabah (Saudi transport authority) to keep on standby a dedicated fleet to serve obligatory Umrah on 22 May.
A total of 30 bus fleets have been prepared to serve around 6 to 10 final batches. The fleets are divided into two models: regular buses and elder-friendly buses equipped for wheelchair users.
“Pilgrims do not need to worry because we have prepared buses for their obligatory Umrah,” said Syarif.
For smooth mobilization and repatriation, officials prepared terminal operation options. If traffic conditions are favorable, three terminals will be on standby: Sib Amir Terminal, Ajyad Terminal, and Jabal Ka’bah Terminal.
However, if severe traffic congestion occurs, officials have submitted a special permit to activate Sib Amir Terminal in a dedicated manner to serve the return of the last batches.
For first-time Hajj pilgrims, especially the early batches scheduled to return home after Armuzna, PPIH ensures the shalawat bus service is ready to meet their worship needs. Pilgrims can use this facility to perform Tawaf Ifadah and Tawaf Wada without walking long distances or incurring extra taxi costs.
“Again, we will provide the (bus) service to pilgrims performing Tawaf Ifadah and Wada,” asserted Syarif. (H-4)
ANGGOTA Amirulhaj, Muhaimin Iskandar, assessed that the 2026 Hajj operational implementation has thus far run smoothly in accordance with plan.
Kemenhaj has prepared the Armuzna Operational Task Force for the 2026 Hajj peak. Pilgrims are asked to adhere to the schedule from 25 May to avoid crowding at Arafah-Mina.
Head of Operations Unit (Kasatops) Armuzna PPIH Saudi Arabia 2026, Surnadi, stated that progress in preparing the 2026 Hajj peak has reached 95 percent.
Awaiting the wukuf at Arafah, overnight stay at Muzdalifah, and overnight in Mina (Armuzna), around 4,323 Aceh embarkation pilgrims have already departed for Mecca.
Saudi authorities use a lighting system on the clock tower as the official signal of the Hijri month change.
ANGGOTA Amirulhaj, Muhaimin Iskandar, assessed that the 2026 Hajj operational implementation has thus far run smoothly in accordance with plan.
PPIH officials are moving quickly to address the disappearance of a 2026 Indonesian pilgrim in Mecca. The pilgrim has been reported missing since Friday (15/5).
A total of 71,262 pilgrims opted for payment through the ADAHI program in Saudi Arabia, 26,901 pilgrims performed dam in Indonesia, while 2,105 pilgrims performed dam by fasting.
Pilgrims are urged to avoid practices that may diminish their reward during wukuf at Arafah.
PPIH highlights the need for stringent evaluation of health checks in the region, especially for dementia cases deemed not eligible for istithaah from the outset.