Kemenhaj Proposes Establishment of Technical Umrah Staff for Supervision in the Holy Land

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) has proposed the establishment of a technical staff team in Saudi Arabia to strengthen direct oversight of Indonesian pilgrims.

Ahmad Abdullah, the Director of Special Hajj and Umrah Supervision, stated that this team is essential to address issues faced by pilgrims in the Holy Land.

"We also propose that in the future there will be a technical staff team for umrah, consisting of several personnel who will oversee in the Holy Land in Mecca, Medina, and Jeddah," Ahmad said during a media briefing at the Kemenhaj office in Thamrin, Central Jakarta, on Tuesday (29/9/2026).

According to him, the presence of this team in Saudi Arabia is necessary in case there are stranded pilgrims who cannot return home or do not receive the services as per the contract from Umrah Travel Organizers (PPIU).

"If there are incidents in Saudi Arabia where pilgrims are stranded or cannot return home, or their services do not match the contracts managed by travel agencies, this can be addressed promptly," stated Ahmad.

In the same occasion, Akhmad Fauzin, the Director of Special Hajj and Umrah Development, emphasized that travel agencies must provide transparent services.

As a result, Kemenhaj has prohibited travel agencies from using the term "star equivalent hotel" when informing about accommodations for pilgrims.

"It must be clear what kind of hotel or accommodation is provided. A three-star hotel must be named; it cannot be called equivalent or three-star equivalent. For instance, in Mecca, the specific hotel used must be mentioned," Fauzin explained.

As a form of domestic oversight, the team from the Special Hajj and Umrah Development and the Directorate of Licensing and Accreditation has opened a monitoring post at Terminal 2F.

"This is to control, supervise, and assess how well travel agencies are managing their pilgrims," said Fauzin.

"So that they are truly guided, protected, and well-served in accordance with existing regulations," he added.