South East Sulawesi Completes Hajj Documentation Amid Umrah Flight Delay Concerns
Preparations for the 2026 hajj and umrah pilgrimage season present two contrasting narratives. Whilst the local government in South East Sulawesi has successfully completed administrative preparations for 100 per cent of hajj pilgrims, concern has emerged amongst umrah pilgrims from Central Java due to the impact of geopolitical dynamics in the Middle East.
The Regional Office of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) in South East Sulawesi has announced a significant achievement regarding preparations for this year’s hajj season. Muhammad Lalan Jaya, Acting Head of the Sulawesi Tenggara Kemenhaj Office, confirmed that passport and visa documents for 2,078 prospective hajj pilgrims from South East Sulawesi have been fully completed.
This figure includes an additional 15 individuals representing quota transfers from West Java, Papua and Maluku provinces. Currently, the Kemenhaj Sulawesi Tenggara focus has shifted to preparing flight group manifests (kloter) whilst awaiting official schedule confirmation from the central government. Regarding pre-departure briefings, 12 regencies and cities in South East Sulawesi have completed hajj orientation before Ramadan, with the remaining five districts scheduled to follow after Eid al-Fitr.
Challenges for Umrah Pilgrims Amidst Conflict
In contrast to smooth administrative processes in South East Sulawesi, several residents of Kudus Regency, Central Java, are facing uncertainty regarding their return schedule from the Holy Land. This situation has been triggered by reports of flight delays following escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, which has impacted airport operations.
One umrah pilgrim from Kudus, Zainuddin Rusydan, reported that whilst religious activities in Makkah and Madinah continue normally and safely, information about delays has been received by fellow pilgrims from Banten. Zainuddin, scheduled to return on 9 March 2026 via Jeddah Airport, is still awaiting confirmation from his travel agency regarding whether his schedule will be affected or remain unchanged.
To date, the Kemenhaj office in Kudus Regency has stated that it has not received official reports from umrah travel agencies regarding the conflict’s impact on pilgrims. Since umrah registration is conducted independently through private agencies, the ministry is still awaiting further coordination regarding flight schedule certainty for Kudus residents, including reports concerning two environmental officials from the Kudus Regency administration whose departures have been delayed.
Despite challenges on international air transport routes, the government continues to work to ensure that all stages of worship, whether hajj or umrah, proceed with appropriate risk mitigation for the safety and comfort of Indonesian citizens abroad.