inp.polri.go.id - Jakarta. Minister of Hajj and Umrah Mochamad Irfan Yusuf officially saw off the first group of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims for 1447 H/2026 AD from the Jakarta-Pondok Gede Embarkation (JKG-01).

A total of 391 pilgrims from East Jakarta departed via the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory to Soekarno-Hatta International Airport. This departure 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 Irfan on Wednesday (4/22/2026).

He emphasized that all departing pilgrims had met administrative requirements, particularly possessing official Hajj visas, to avoid problems upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.

The government is also preparing mitigation measures, including a reserve pilgrim scheme to anticipate empty seats due to cancellations. 

"We have prepared a mechanism for 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," explained Irfan.

Furthermore, coordination across agencies—from relevant ministries, immigration, the police, to the Hajj Pilgrimage Organizing Officers (PPIH)—has been carried out to ensure a smooth departure process. 

The PPIH team in Medina is also on standby to welcome the arrival of the first wave of pilgrims.

The Minister of Hajj urged all pilgrims to maintain their health, strictly follow the instructions of officials, and immediately coordinate if they encounter any problems during the travel process or during the pilgrimage.

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