Indonesia’s Hajj Quota Reaches 221,000 People, no Restrictions on Pilgrims’ Age

Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas have signed the hajj agreement with the Hajj Minister of Saudi Arabia Tawfiq F al-Rabiah. This year, Indonesia’s quota for the hajj is 221,000 people

KEMENTERIAN AGAMA

Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas (left), and Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia, Tawfiq F Al Rabiah (right) at the signing ceremony of the 2023 Hajj Agreement in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Sunday (8/1/2023).

JAKARTA, KOMPAS – The Indonesian and Saudi Arabian governments have signed an agreement on the implementation of the 1444 Hijri/2023 AD hajj pilgrimage. Indonesia’s hajj quota this year is set at 221,000 people, with no age restrictions on pilgrims.

The agreement was signed on Sunday (8/1/2023) in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, by Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and the Saudi Arabian Hajj and Umrah Minister Tawfiq F al-Rabiah.

The signing of the agreement was witnessed by House of Representatives Commission VIII Chairman Ashabul Kahfi, the Religious Affairs Ministry’s hajj and umrah Management Director General Hilman Latief and Hajj Financial Management Agency (BPKH) head Fadlul Imansyah.

Also present was the ministry’s Secretary-General Nizar Ali, Indonesian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Abdul Aziz Ahmad, Religious Affairs Minister special staff Wibowo Prasetyo and Ishfah Abidal Aziz, Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah Eko Hartono and the Indonesian Consulate General’s hajj consul in Jeddah Nasrullah Jasam.

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During the occasion, Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut also conveyed greetings from Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo to His Royal Highness King Salman and Prince Muhammad bin Salman. Thus far, Indonesia and Saudi Arabia have had very close relations.

“Alhamdulillah [Praise be to God], the 2023 Hajj mission has begun. Today, I signed the hajj agreement with the Hajj Minister of Saudi Arabia. This year, Indonesia’s quota for the hajj is 221,000 people,” said Yaqut in Jeddah on Sunday (8/1) in a press release published on the Religious Affairs Ministry’s website.

According to Yaqut, this quota consists of 203,320 people for the regular hajj and 17,680 people for the special hajj. “As for officials, this year we have a quota of 4,200 people,” he added.

In addition to quotas, the agreement also regulates that planes will be allowed to land in Jeddah and Medina and other new policies related to hajj services.

AP PHOTO/AMR NABIL

In this photo taken with low shutter speed, Muslim pilgrims pray as others circumambulate around the Kaaba, the cubic building at the Grand Mosque, in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, Wednesday, July 6, 2022. Muslim pilgrims are converging on Saudi Arabia's holy city of Mecca for the largest hajj since the coronavirus pandemic severely curtailed access to one of Islam's five pillars.

Age restriction

According to Yaqut, during discussions with the Saudi Arabian Hajj Minister, it was also agreed that there will be no age restriction. Previously, the Covid-19 pandemic forced the Saudi Arabian government to implement an age restriction, where in 2022, pilgrims were required to be under the age of 65 years.

“According to the agreement, there will be no age restriction for pilgrims this year. This means that pilgrims aged 65 and over can also perform the hajj this year,” said the minister.

In 2022, Indonesia sent 100,051 pilgrims according to the quota provided by Saudi Arabian authorities. According to Hilman Latief, this figure consisted of 92,825 regular pilgrims, 7,226 special pilgrims and 1,901 officials.

According to the agreement, there will be no age restriction for pilgrims this year.

The 2022 Hajj was the first time in two years after the Covid-19 pandemic that foreign pilgrims were allowed to perform the hajj. However, pilgrims were required to have completed Covid-19 vaccinations, be under 65 years of age and present a negative Covid-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test within 72 hours before departure.

“The 65-year age limit was determined by the government of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia,” said Yaqut. Accordingly, 50,636 prospective Indonesian pilgrims in 2022 aged over 65 years had to postpone their departure.

The implementation of an age restriction on pilgrims in 2022 was due to Saudi Arabia’s concern over the high risks of holding the hajj during the Covid-19 pandemic, especially when the hajj requires adequate physical stamina.

On 20 April 2022, House Commission VII chairman at the time, Yandri Susanto, said prospective hajj pilgrims aged 65 and over who were unable to depart in 2022 would be given priority to depart for the 2023 Hajj (Kompas, 21/4/2022).

KOMPAS/ILHAM KHOIRI

Pilgrims performing tawaf on the second floor of the Grand Mosque, Mecca, Monday (6/27/2022). Pilgrims from various countries flock to Mecca to perform the pilgrimage in early July 2022.

Additional quota

The meeting with Minister Tawfiq also served as an opportunity for Yaqut to lobby for an additional hajj quota for Indonesia considering that queues for prospective Indonesian pilgrims are very long. It is hoped that Indonesia will receive an additional quota to reduce waiting times.

“This all depends on the kindness of His Majesty King Salman, Prince Muhammad bin Salman and the Hajj Minister,” he said.

Minister Tawfiq claimed he was happy to give Indonesia an additional quota, especially when Indonesia is an important country to Saudi Arabia. However, the country is currently prioritizing the comfort and safety of the pilgrims.

“Comfort and safety is a priority. However, I say that Indonesia will always get priority in obtaining an additional quota,” he said.

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“[Perhaps] there are countries that have reduced their quota of hajj pilgrims, which can be handed over to Indonesia. Of course, everyone misses the hajj [under normal circumstances],” he added.

Tawfiq also said Saudi Arabia continued to transform hajj services for pilgrims. Presently, there is no muassasah or a managing body for the implementation of hajj services. Now, hajj services are carried out by the syarikah, or companies.

Currently, there are six syarikah appointed to carry out the 2023 Hajj services. Each country, including Indonesia, can select a syarikah to prepare their services.

[Perhaps] there are countries that have reduced their quota of hajj pilgrims, which can be handed over to Indonesia.

“As such, there will be an opportunity to get the best prices. I also asked that a detailed agreement be made so that we can provide the best services too,” said Tawfiq.

“When it is detailed, it will serve as a guideline for when a syarikah commits a violation. If they commit a violation, we can sanction them,” he said.

According to Tawfiq, the syarikah will be presented at the Hajj Congress on 9 Jan. 2023. Thus, each country will be able to directly assess the readiness and services being offered. During the congress, there will also be an exhibition of several hajj service products and seminars.

Yaqut said Indonesia was invited by the Saudi Arabian government to be involved from the beginning of the 2023 Hajj process, which included an invitation to the Hajj Congress. The minister appreciated the transformative steps taken by Saudi Arabia in organizing the hajj this year.

This article was translated by Kesya Adhalia.