Purpose and Meaning Behind the Establishment of Indonesia's Hajj and Umrah Ministry

The Significance of Hajj and Umrah for Indonesia

The Hajj is an annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia, the holiest city for Muslims. This pilgrimage is one of the Five Pillars of Islam, and therefore a fundamental religious duty of a Muslim. The Hajj is a mandatory religious duty that must be performed at least once in a lifetime by all adult Muslims who are physically and financially able to undertake the journey.

While the Hajj is a 'mandatory' pilgrimage that has specific dates, the Umrah is only a highly recommended journey to Mecca that can be performed at any time of the year (outside Hajj season). Umrah is often referred to as the "minor" pilgrimage because it is not one of the five pillars of Islam, making it non-obligatory for Muslims. Nonetheless, it is still a deeply significant spiritual journey for Muslims.

Considering Indonesia is home to the world's biggest Muslim population, one can imagine that there exists huge demand for the pilgrimage from Indonesia. It is estimated that around 87 percent of the Indonesian population is Muslim. This translates to around 245 million people. Of course, not all of them are pious or practising Muslims (part of the population is a 'cultural Muslim', implying that the person's religious identity is a matter of administrative record rather than a deep, spiritual commitment that is reflected in their daily life and actions).

Moreover, there exists widespread poverty in Indonesia which means that many people who would like to perform the Hajj or Umrah simply cannot afford to undertake this journey.

Still, millions of Indonesians manage to travel to Mecca, each year. While the Umrah is not regulated by authorities (people are free to buy tickets to undertake the Umrah), it is a different story with the Hajj. The government of Saudi Arabia sets a Hajj quota for other countries in order to manage the flow of travellers. Indonesia in fact has the largest Hajj quota in the world, which is typically around 221,000 to 241,000 pilgrims annually. However, despite this large number, the demand is so overwhelming that there are millions of Indonesians on the waiting list. For some, it can take tens of years before becoming eligible to travel to Mecca.

Corruption and Other Troubles

Amid huge demand, this also means that there are various private and public sides engaged in the organization of these journeys. And this is where problems essentially start. Corruption scandals related to Hajj and Umrah in Indonesia are a persistent issue, given the enormous amounts of money and the high demand for pilgrimage spots. The long waiting lists for Hajj create a fertile ground for both public and private sector corruption.

For example, in 2014, former Minister of Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali was convicted for embezzling Hajj funds during his tenure. He was found guilty of using the Hajj funds for personal gain and for political purposes, including a family trip to Mecca and funding his political party's convention.

Or, more recently, the 2023-2024 Hajj quota scandal that is being investigated by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). This case involves alleged corruption in the distribution of an additional 20,000 Hajj quotas granted to Indonesia by Saudi Arabia. Under Indonesian law (Law No. 8/2019), the Hajj quota must be distributed with 92 percent for "regular pilgrims" and 8 percent for "special Hajj packages". However, investigators found that the additional 20,000 slots were allegedly divided equally, 50 percent for regular pilgrims and 50 percent for special Hajj participants.

This misallocation is believed to have financially benefited certain travel agencies and individuals, allowing people to jump the decades-long queue for the regular Hajj by paying higher fees for "special" packages. The state losses from this case are estimated to be over IDR 1 trillion (approx. USD $60 million), with more revelations expected to come.

The long Hajj waiting list also offers opportunities for people and private agencies to scam Indonesians. There have been multiple cases of pilgrims using unofficial visas to bypass the queue, leading to some being deported, scammed, or even dying due to poor management and illegal travel arrangements.

Meanwhile, during the 2025 Hajj season, a new management system led to significant logistical failures, including pilgrims being separated from their groups, delayed transportation, and issues with accommodations. This prompted a strong warning from the Saudi government.

Establishment of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah

Due to a number of longstanding problems with the flow of Hajj and Umrah travellers, President Prabowo decided to set up a new ministry, named the Hajj and Umrah Ministry. Previously, the Ministry of Religious Affairs was tasked to regulate, monitor and manage Hajj flows. However, considering this ministry is focused on its broader mandate of religious education and interfaith harmony, it may not have enough time and manpower to focus effectively on Hajj-related matters. Moreover, managing this pilgrimage is a complex task involving logistics, healthcare, accommodation, and spiritual guidance.

President Prabowo therefore established this ministry with the primary goal of improving services for the country's pilgrims. By creating a dedicated ministry, the government aims to give these matters the focused attention they require.

This involves the streamlining of bureaucracy and improving the coordination between the various sectors that are involved in the pilgrimage. This is expected to create a more efficient "one-stop service" for all Hajj and Umrah matters, from registration and visa applications to pilgrim support in Saudi Arabia.

It is also targeted that the creation of a new ministry is part of a long-planned reform agenda to improve Hajj governance, thereby addressing recurring issues, including corruption, and to ensure greater accountability and transparency in pilgrimage management. This should enhance the quality of services for Indonesian pilgrims, improve transportation and accommodation, and potentially build a dedicated "Indonesian Hajj Village" in Saudi Arabia to better support pilgrims.

Perhaps, with a dedicated ministry, Indonesia has greater leverage in its negotiations with Saudi authorities. This could facilitate better agreements and lead to more positive outcomes for Indonesian pilgrims.

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