Indonesia Proposes Village in Saudi Arabia for Hajj & Umrah Pilgrims
Indonesian president Prabowo Subianto outlines plans to streamline accommodation and reduce costs for Indonesian pilgrims.
Indonesia is proposing the establishment of a dedicated 'Indonesian village' near the Grand Mosque in Makkah to make travel and accommodation more accessible for its citizens performing Hajj and Umrah.
The plan was announced by Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto during the opening of the new Hajj and Umrah Terminal at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang. Prabowo said he intends to discuss the proposal further during an upcoming meeting with Saudi officials, following an earlier conversation with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
The idea aims to address the growing logistical demands of pilgrimage season. Around 2.2 million Indonesians travel to Saudi Arabia annually for Hajj and Umrah, with daily peaks reaching as many as 12,000 visitors. This year alone, Indonesia has been allocated a Hajj quota of 221,000 pilgrims.
According to officials, Indonesia's Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, will lead follow-up discussions with Saudi counterparts to explore the technical and regulatory aspects of the proposed project.
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