Minister of Hajj Sends Off First Group of Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims

Jakarta: Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf officially sent off the first group of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims for 1447 H from the Jakarta-Pondok Gede Embarkation (JKG-01) at the Class I Hajj Dormitory in Jakarta on Tuesday evening, April 21, 2026.

The departure of the first group marked the start of operations for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage.

“Today, we witness that the first group of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims has entered the dormitory and is ready to depart. This marks the beginning of a long series of Hajj services this year, the quality of which we must jointly maintain," said the man, familiarly known as Gus Irfan, as quoted by Antara on Wednesday, April 22, 2026.

Gus Irfan emphasized that the government ensures that all departing pilgrims have met the administrative requirements, especially possessing an official Hajj visa.

"We emphasize that only pilgrims with Hajj visas will depart. This is crucial to avoid rejection in Saudi Arabia and to ensure that pilgrims can perform the entire pilgrimage properly," said Gus Irfan.

Gus Irfan also stated that the government has prepared various mitigation measures, including a reserve pilgrim scheme to anticipate empty seats due to cancellations.

"We have prepared a mechanism for replacements or reserve pilgrims to fill empty seats, whether due to health factors, cancellations, or other emergencies. This is part of our efforts to optimize the quota," said Gus Irfan.

Gus Irfan hopes the entire departure process will run smoothly. He also hopes that pilgrims will be able to perform their pilgrimage in prime condition.

"Our hope is that the departure goes smoothly, that pilgrims are healthy, and that they can worship devoutly. Hopefully, all pilgrims will return home with an accepted Hajj," said Gus Irfan.

Furthermore, Gus Irfan reported that all relevant parties, including the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, Immigration, the Police, and the Hajj Pilgrimage Organizing Officers (PPIH), have conducted intensive coordination to ensure a smooth departure process and anticipate any potential obstacles in the field.

Meanwhile, the PPIH team in Medina has been deployed to ensure operational readiness to welcome the arrival of the first wave of pilgrims. Departure monitoring will continue until all pilgrims arrive at the airport and depart for Saudi Arabia.

Gus Irfan urged all pilgrims to be disciplined. They are asked to follow the directions of officers throughout the departure process and the performance of their pilgrimage.

"I urge all pilgrims to maintain their health, comply with the instructions of their team, group, and group leaders, and immediately coordinate with officers if they encounter any problems," said Gus Irfan.