Jakarta, MINA – Indonesia’s Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Mohammad Irfan Yusuf, announced on Thursday that preparations for the upcoming Hajj pilgrimage in the Holy Land have reached an advanced stage, showing significant development.
“We have secured two syarikahs (service providers) to serve Indonesian pilgrims. Furthermore, locations in Armuzna—specifically Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina—have been confirmed,” Yusuf stated at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory in Jakarta.
The Minister clarified that although the preparations are not yet fully complete, most essential services in Saudi Arabia are already in place. Transportation and catering services are fully secured. Accommodation in Madinah is 93% finalized, while accommodation in Makkah is still in progress. However, Yusuf assured that it will be completed soon.
Regarding the selection process for these providers, Yusuf admitted to facing challenges, particularly from various parties attempting to exert influence for their own interests. “However, our principle remains firm. We must be accountable and transparent in every step of the process,” he emphasized.
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Yusuf confirmed that flight schedules have been finalized much earlier than in previous years. Unlike last year, when schedules were set close to the departure dates, this year’s preparations were handled well in advance.
“Flight slot requests to Saudi Arabia have already been submitted by two airlines: Saudia Airlines and Garuda Indonesia. God willing, there will be no significant obstacles regarding aviation,” he said.
The preparations for embarkation points have been completed domestically. This year, two new embarkation centers have been added. The first is the Banten Embarkation, which will serve a portion of pilgrims from West Java. The second is the Yogyakarta Embarkation, a unique pilot project that operates without a dedicated Hajj dormitory.
“The Yogyakarta embarkation is quite special because we are operating without a traditional dormitory. We are utilizing hotels as substitutes for both departure and arrival preparations,” Yusuf explained, noting that he hopes this model can serve as a blueprint for other regions lacking dedicated dormitories.
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On a final note, the Minister acknowledged that several existing Hajj dormitories still require physical repairs. He committed to ensuring that any inadequate facilities are renovated before the official departure dates for the pilgrims begin.[]
Mi’raj News Agency (MINA)
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