Government Starts Opening Recruitment Of Hajj Officers 2026, Commission VIII DPR Asks For More Women's Quota

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) has begun to open the recruitment of 2026 Hajj officers. Member of Commission VIII of the DPR, Mahdalena, requested that the quota of female hajj officers for the 2026 hajj be increased.

"This November begins the process of recruiting Hajj officers. We hope that the Ministry of Hajj will provide greater opportunities for women to become hajj officers because the number of female pilgrims is more," said Mahdalena, Monday, November 10.

"We also believe that female Hajj officers better understand the needs of female pilgrims. This includes providing a sense of security and comfort," he continued.

The PKB legislator explained that the presence of female Hajj officers is very much needed to provide appropriate assistance, especially for elderly pilgrims or those with physical limitations.

Based on data from Siskohat at the 2025 Hajj, said Mahdalena, from 203,149 regular pilgrims 55.54 percent or 112,838 people were women's congregations. Meanwhile, male congregations amounted to 90,311 people (44.46 percent).

The dominance of the number of female pilgrims indicates that there is a need for special handling. Female pilgrims are certainly more comfortable if the implementation of the pilgrimage is assisted by female Hajj officers. For example, there is a need for elderly female pilgrims who need assistance to the bathroom or under certain conditions require assistance. In a situation like this, the existence of female Hajj officers is very much needed, "explained Mahdalena.

According to him, female Hajj officers on average have relatively good physical resilience. Moreover, said Mahdalena, they also usually have more accuracy to serve the congregation.

"I don't think we should doubt women when they are elected as hajj officers. They have a strong commitment and I am sure that when elected, women will try their best in giving their best in their services to the pilgrims," he concluded.

Quoting from Instagram @kemenhaj.ri, the selection process is scheduled to start in November 2025 for the regional level. Followed by central level selection in December 2025, then technical guidance and guidance (Bimtek) from January to February 2026.

All these stages are designed so that the elected officers are truly physically, mentally and spiritually prepared in the face of a big task that demands high dedication, sincerity and professionalism.

The implementation of the 2026 hajj itself will begin in early April 2026, when the congregation begins to enter the Hajj dormitory. The peak will take place on May 26, 2026 during wusuf in Arafah.