JAKARTA: Indonesia’s government is working to lower the cost of the annual Haj pilgrimage for its citizens by building a dedicated Haj Village in Mecca, increasing flights and shortening pilgrims’ stays in Saudi Arabia, officials said on Jan 6, reported Antara News Agency.
State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi said Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto had instructed ministers to keep Haj costs as low as possible through various policy measures aimed at easing the financial burden on pilgrims.
"Our goal is to make it as affordable as possible, because in the end we want to reduce the cost of Haj for our pilgrims using various approaches,” Hadi told reporters in Hambalang, Bogor, West Java.
One key measure is the construction of an Indonesia-managed Haj Village, which will allow the government to manage accommodation and logistics more efficiently, he said.
He added that Indonesia is also negotiating additional flights to reduce waiting times and improve scheduling during the peak Haj season.
Currently, Indonesian pilgrims spend an average of about 41 days in Saudi Arabia.
The Indonesian government aims to reduce that period to closer to Malaysia’s average stay of around 31 days, Hadi said.
Shortening the length of stay would significantly cut accommodation and living expenses, which make up a large portion of Haj costs borne by pilgrims.
Minister of Religious Affairs for Haj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said the planned Haj Village will be located in the Thakher area of Mecca, close to key pilgrimage sites.
The hotel complex in the area will be managed by state-backed investment agency Danantara, while the Ministry of Religious Affairs will use the facilities for Indonesian pilgrims, Yusuf said.
However, he said the Haj Village will not be ready for use during the 2026 Haj season.
"It will likely only be operational in 2027,” he stated.
He said that there has been no change to the current arrival scheme for Indonesian pilgrims, who will continue to enter Saudi Arabia through Madinah and Jeddah.
Danantara Chief Executive Rosan Roeslani said construction of the Haj Village is scheduled to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. For the upcoming Hajj season, he said assets already acquired in Mecca are still being surveyed by Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Haj and Umrah.
Indonesia sends the world’s largest number of pilgrims to Mecca each year, and rising costs have long been a concern for prospective pilgrims.
Officials said the combination of dedicated housing, better flight arrangements and shorter stays is expected to improve efficiency, comfort and affordability for Indonesian pilgrims in the coming years. - Bernama-Antara
