Indonesia concludes 2026 Hajj operation, vows service upgrades

We still have some issues to address, most notably those related to services in Mina..

Jakarta (ANTARA) - Indonesia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah pledged to continue improving its services as the arrival of flight group 43, carrying pilgrims from South Sulawesi, marked the conclusion of the 2026 Hajj operation.

“Praise be to God, all Indonesian Hajj pilgrims have safely arrived home. On behalf of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, I hereby declare the conclusion of the 1447 Hijri/2026 AD Hajj organizing operation,” Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said.

Speaking at an online press conference observed from Jakarta on Wednesday, he noted that the Indonesian government served a total of 202,636 pilgrims traveling under the regular scheme on 527 flight batches from 16 embarkation points nationwide this year.

The operation also served 16,585 pilgrims under special Hajj quota, supported by 1,016 specially assigned Hajj officers, he added.

Yusuf acknowledged that his ministry faced major challenges this year, citing the responsibility to provide special assistance to 44,247 elderly pilgrims, 170,700 pilgrims with high health risks, 370 pilgrims with disabilities, and 275 pilgrims requiring wheelchairs.

He emphasized that the government made every effort to ensure adequate accommodation, meals, transportation, healthcare, and religious guidance throughout the pilgrimage.

The minister reported the distribution of 24.18 million meal boxes, the deployment of tens of thousands of buses, and the provision of comprehensive medical services through Indonesian Hajj clinics and cooperation with local hospitals.

He also highlighted key improvements, including fairer provincial quota allocations, lower Hajj costs without compromising service quality, expanded fast-track embarkation points, greater digitalization, and earlier completion of service contracts in Saudi Arabia.

Despite the successful operation, Yusuf assured the public that the closure of the operation does not mark the end of innovations, stressing that the ministry will promptly conduct a comprehensive evaluation alongside relevant institutions to ensure even better services in future Hajj seasons.

“We still have some issues to address, most notably those related to services in Mina and the need to strengthen the implementation of medical eligibility standards,” he said.

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Translator: Asep F, Tegar Nurfitra

Editor: M Razi Rahman

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