Inp.polri.go.id - Tangerang. President Prabowo Subianto proposed on Sunday (4/5/2025) establishing an “Indonesian Village” near the Grand Mosque in Mecca to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during a recent bilateral meeting aimed at improving services for Indonesian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims.

The President plans to revisit Saudi Arabia to discuss technical details and seek final approval. Indonesia sends over two million pilgrims annually, peaking at 12,000 per day.

"I have conveyed Indonesia’s intention to build a residential area for Indonesian pilgrims as close as possible to the Grand Mosque, and His Royal Highness responded positively,” he said during the inauguration of the Special Hajj and Umrah Terminal at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport in Tangerang, as quoted by antaranews.com.

The new terminal includes 10 dedicated Saudi immigration counters under the Makkah Route program, allowing pre-clearance in Jakarta. President Prabowo emphasized his administration’s commitment to lowering Hajj costs and improving services, recognizing the long wait times and savings many pilgrims endure.

(mg/inp/pr/nm)