The Fate of Hajj 2026 Amid the Iran–US–Israel War

Strife in the Middle East that continues to intensify has prompted the DPR to ask the government to prepare scenarios related to the organisation of the Hajj pilgrimage, including a scenario in which pilgrims are not dispatched this year.

According to the Chair of DPR Commission VIII, Marwan Dasopang, they want the government to take steps. The steps could involve a range of alternatives. On the safest side, not dispatching the Hajj pilgrims because the escalation is unpredictable.

‘The latter, from the religious-psychological perspective, might be rather heavy,’ Marwan said at the parliament complex in Senayan, Jakarta, on Friday, 6 March 2026.

Marwan also highlighted the possibility of a scenario when the Hajj pilgrims have already departed for Saudi Arabia. However, if upon arrival in Saudi Arabia there is an escalation of the conflict, a return scenario would be necessary.

‘For instance, depart, but suddenly they cannot return there. It turns out that the escalation, after subsiding, increases again,’ he said.

Indonesia has previously cancelled the dispatch of Hajj pilgrims. In addition to the 2020-2021 period due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the government has also not dispatched Hajj pilgrims because of war, namely in the early days of independence.