The conflict in the Middle East after tensions between Israel, the United States, and Iran has an impact on the umrah pilgrimage, including from Indonesia. However, according to the Chairman of the Association of Muslim Haji and Umrah Organizers of the Republic of Indonesia (AMPHURI), H. Firman Muhammad Nur, M.Sc., even though the situation has not eased, the plan to hold the 2026 hajj is still on schedule. Until now, it is confirmed that there is no cancellation of the hajj.
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The war raging in the Middle East has indeed had widespread effects. A number of airspaces and airports in the region were closed, which resulted in air travel being hampered. This has a direct impact on umrah pilgrims who use transit routes in cities such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Doha, and others.
This situation, according to Firman, is inevitable. However, for direct flights (direct flights) from Indonesia to Jeddah and Madinah can still be done safely. This is because the flight route is relatively far from the airspace that is closed for civilian flights.
"For direct flights, the route does cross the southern part so it is safer," said Firman.
He and many other parties hope that the escalation in the Middle East will soon subside so that all flight routes can be reopened normally. "What makes us calm, the Saudi Interior Ministry confirmed that despite the conflict in the Middle East, the situation in the two holy cities, Mecca and Medina, remains conducive," he explained.
Although the condition that has not subsided is feared to threaten the implementation of the 2026 hajj, Firman emphasized that until now the Saudi government has remained committed to the initial plan.
"There has been no cancellation of the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage. The government of Saudi Arabia is still committed to the timeline (timeline) that has been published so far," said Firman to Edy Suherli, Bambang Eros, and Irfan Meidianto when visiting the VOIdi Office in Tanah Abang, Jakarta, March 10, 2026.
The situation in the Middle East is still hot after the Israeli and US attacks on Iran. How does AMPHURI photograph the security conditions in the region today for the implementation of the umrah?
Umrah from all over the world is very large. However, the attack on Iran by the United States and its allies has caused the cancellation of the departure and return of umrah pilgrims, including from Indonesia. All transit flights in the Middle East had canceled their schedules. Pilgrims who departed from February 28 were affected, but for direct flights (direct flight) from Indonesia to Jeddah or Medina can still be done.
Why are direct flights not affected?
Because the route does not cross the area that is the conflict area between Iran on one side, as well as Israel and America on the other. Direct flights take a route that crosses the southern part. In this situation, we as organizers continue to build communication with the Indonesian Embassy in Riyadh and the Indonesian Consulate General (KJRI) in Jeddah. We continue to communicate and mitigate if there are urgent situations in the Holy Land.
What makes us calm, the Saudi government confirmed that despite the conflict in the Middle East, the situation in the two holy cities, Mecca and Medina, remains conducive. We continue to monitor the situation there in real-time through Makkah Live and Madinah Live. You can watch the last 10 nights of Ramadan activities are still normal; Tahajud prayers and iktikaf there went smoothly. This means that pilgrims in these two holy cities are not physically affected by the conflict at all.
Based on your monitoring, how many umrah pilgrims are affected?
The limit for umrah this year is the beginning of Syawal month. It is recorded that around 57,616 pilgrims want to perform umrah in the last 10 nights of Ramadan. It should be understood that if there is a unilateral cancellation from the umrah organizer or the pilgrim (not due to technical factors of the airline), there is usually no refund or return of the ticket.
Until this interview, how are the affected pilgrims handled and are they still in the Holy Land?
As an Umrah Travel Organizer (PPIU), even though the conditions are not conducive, we are still obliged to protect, serve, and provide facilities for the affected pilgrims. After the PPIU coordinates with the airline, the pilgrims get accommodation as long as they can't be flown.
Appreciation for PPIU friends who continue to accompany the congregation in this difficult condition. Actually, the war condition is in the category of force majeure, so it is usually not covered (covered) by insurance. However, coordination continues; even there are airline parties who proactively ask me if there are still congregations that have not been facilitated.
"Have all the affected pilgrims returned to their homeland?"
"I don't have the exact details, but the information I received says that most of them have returned to Indonesia.
For airlines, do they have alternative routes other than returning to their home country?
The rules must indeed return to the country of origin. However, there are airlines that are creative by flying passengers through the nearest country, for example from Muscat (Oman). Hopefully, those who have tried to help these pilgrims will receive good deeds from Allah SWT.
Earlier you said that the Saudi government stated that the two holy cities, Mecca and Medina, are safe until now. However, how does the Indonesian government or the Ministry of Religion advise about the departure of umrah?
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and related ministries had indeed called for the postponement of the departure of the umrah on the grounds that the security factors were less supportive in the region. However, I would like to say that postponing is one option, but not postponing is also an option.
The reason is that the departure of umrah using direct flights from Indonesia to Jeddah or Madinah is still normal, and there is a guarantee of security from the Saudi government. If it is delayed, it is a pity for the congregation because the ticket cannot be refunded (non-refundable). So, the government recommends postponing, but if the congregation still wants to leave, it is not prohibited. We continue to coordinate with the government, the partners in Saudi Arabia, and the airline.
What is the enthusiasm of the congregation to leave in this conflict situation?
The enthusiasm of the congregation is extraordinary, even almost no one cancels. This great belief adds to our enthusiasm to continue to facilitate. We hope and continue to pray that this escalation will decrease and everything will return to normal.
What about the readiness of the 2026 hajj?
Well, this is our biggest challenge. After umrah, we immediately prepare for the hajj. In less than two months, the hajj pilgrims must leave. Until now, there has been no disruption related to the preparation of the hajj, everything is still going according to plan (on schedule). Currently, the process of finalizing the visa is still ongoing.
This means that the statement of one of the members of the Indonesian House of Representatives who had mentioned the possibility of the 2026 Hajj pilgrims being canceled needs to be reviewed?
Hajj is an annual worship whose waiting period is very long. The congregation has been preparing for this for a long time, some have been waiting for 20 to 30 years. Even though the situation in the Middle East is like now, hopefully there will be no delay in the hajj. So far, the Saudi government has not given any signs of a delay.
Hopefully, the 2026 Hajj will be better than the previous year. Since 2025, the Saudi government has been using the Nusuk application to access various facilities for umrah and hajj worship. In addition, the weather is predicted to be cooler than last year because it is at the end of summer with a temperature of around 40 degrees Celsius.
So, until now for the organizers of umrah, has this conflict in the Middle East felt its impact?
The impact is felt by organizers who use transit airlines, not those who use direct flights. There are additional costs (extra costs) caused by the heating of the conflict.
What are your expectations from the government for the implementation of umrah and hajj in relation to the hot situation in the Middle East?
"As organizers of the hajj and umrah, we are very obedient to government directives. Our hope is, before conveying something to the public, it is better to communicate first so as not to cause unrest among the community. Although the organization of the hajj and umrah contains business elements, safety factors remain our main reference.
Safety is a priority; do not let worship that intends to draw closer to God have the risk of safety. We need guidance so that the congregation can be calm and devout in carrying out their worship. The essence of worship is devotion and perfection according to the guidance of the Prophet Muhammad SAW.
What was the attitude and actions of the Indonesian Consulate in Jeddah when tensions erupted in the Middle East?
"We give high appreciation to the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah. They are very proactive in helping the affected pilgrims. They also went directly to Mecca and Medina to monitor the pilgrims who are still there. So, the government is really present when citizens need it.
"So far there have been economic and educational attachés, do you think it is urgent to form a haj and umrah attaché?"
In a year, the number of pilgrims is around 1.7 million people and this will continue to grow. In the next five years it could reach 5 million people. The Saudi government has a Vision 2030, which includes the transformation of Hajj and Umrah affairs. They target 2.6 million Indonesians for the Hajj and Umrah journey. This is not a small number.
"It's time for us to think about a diplomatic breakthrough for the representation of our officials in Saudi Arabia in providing protection for Indonesian citizens who worship. AMPHURI has recommended increasing the nomenclature of the Hajj Affairs Office in Saudi Arabia to become the Hajj and Umrah Attaché.
How has the handling of Hajj and Umrah affairs been so far?
Until now, there is a Hajj Affairs Office (KUH) which is headed by a technical staff. With the complex needs now, it is indeed needed to have a special attaché for Hajj and Umrah in Saudi Arabia. It's time for us to form that position.
The conflict in the Middle East is still ongoing, what is the worst scenario if the situation does not subside?
First, we must continue to carry out the planning of the hajj according to the timeline (timeline) that has been set by the Saudi Ministry of Hajj. The visa issue for 221,000 Indonesian pilgrims must be completed. Second, simultaneously we coordinate with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and the sharikah in Saudi Arabia. Facilities in Arafah and Mina have been prepared; the peak on 15 Syawal, all the preparation processes are expected to be completed.
There must be mitigation so that the Hajj process this year can still be carried out and Indonesian pilgrims can depart. One step that can be taken is that the airline transporting pilgrims chooses a route that is far from the conflict center. If the change of route results in an increase in fuel costs, it can be discussed. Canceling the departure of the 2026 Hajj will have a very wide impact on many parties. Hopefully this year the escalation will decrease, the Hajj will be successful, and Indonesia's economic growth will meet the target. Hopefully the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (RI) will also be successful in carrying out its duties in the first year of its existence.
Firman Muhammad Nur and Ramadan who are full of surprisesFor Firman Muhammad Nur, Ramadan 1447 H is full of surprises, but he has lived it with wisdom. "This year's Ramadan is indeed full of surprising events. Alhamdulillah, in Jakarta it feels cooler because it often rains. The return and departure of the congregation who had been delayed for transit flights have now started to return to normal, especially for direct flights from Indonesia to Saudi Arabia," he said.
Firman admitted that the departure and return of umrah pilgrims were now smoother than before. "However, I continue to monitor the situation and conditions in the Holy Land, especially in Mecca and Medina, through live broadcasts provided by the official YouTube channel of the Government of Saudi Arabia," he continued.
Based on his monitoring, the conditions in Mecca look very lively. "Yesterday I saw the atmosphere of tawaf before Maghrib in the Grand Mosque was extraordinary. The enthusiasm of the pilgrims was not slack. The tawaf area is still crowded, they are very enthusiastic," said Firman, who last performed the fasting in the Holy Land in 2024.
The atmosphere at the Prophet's Mosque, Madinah Al-Munawwarah, according to him, is also no less interesting. "In this Ramadan, the hospitality of the people of Madinah is very prominent. They are vying to invite the congregation to enjoy the fasting meal. They understand that giving iftar to a fasting person will bring the same reward as the fasting person. So, since we left the hotel, we have been invited to break the fast by them," he said.
In the past, the fasting menu given by the people of Medina and Mecca varied. However, according to Firman, now the menu has been standardized. "So there is no longer a difference between the left and right. The iftar dishes are the same; there are dates, yogurt, and bread. The experience of fasting in the Holy Land is what seems to make people always want to go back there," he said.
Iktikaf Until the End of RamadanThe last ten nights in Ramadan were a very memorable experience for him while in the Holy Land. "The atmosphere is very peaceful and calm. I really focus on worship, from sahur, fasting, iftar, Tarawih, to iktikaf. So on, the last ten days cycle there," he said.
This year, because he is at home, Firman spent the last ten nights of Ramadan in Maghfirah Village, Caringin, Bogor, West Java. "There we built the Maghfirah Iktikaf Mosque which was specifically designed for the comfort of iktikaf. The location is on the slopes of Mount Pangrango. To date, there have been a thousand pilgrims who have registered," he explained.
Unlike in Jakarta, in Bogor the congregation can be more focused. "If in Jakarta we can still go home and then go back to the mosque. If in Kampung Maghfirah, the congregation continues until the end of Ramadan," he explained.
As the host, Firman feels obliged to provide the best service for the congregation who come not only from Jabodetabek, but also other areas. "The activities are full; ranging from tadarus, tarawih, guidance, to lectures. The imam is extraordinary, the quality of his reading is equivalent to Imam Sudais in the Holy Land. Every Tarawih prayer, the reading of the verses reaches one juz," he said.
Returning After Eid PrayerFirman added that many worshipers in Kampung Maghfirah carried out iktikaf until it was completed. "So they immediately performed the Eid al-Fitr prayer there and only returned home afterwards," he said.
There is also a 40-day itikaf program. "Some have started itikaf since 10 days before Ramadan, then continue for a full month. It turns out that there are quite a lot of fans," he said.
Another program that is in demand by the congregation is the Husnul Khatimah Boarding School. "Initially, those who were interested were those who had retired or were elderly. But now, many young people are participating. Preparation for the last day does not have to wait for twilight," he said.
Firman believes that those who have a successful afterlife mindset, their worldly life will also be well arranged. "People who have a successful afterlife mindset are more productive and their integrity is beyond doubt," he concluded.
"What makes us calm, the Government of Saudi Arabia emphasized that even though there is a conflict in the Middle East, the situation in the two holy cities, Mecca and Medina, is still very conducive,"
Firman Muhammad Nur
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