PPIH Saudi Arabia Ready To Welcome Indonesian Hajj Candidates

Chairman Of PPIH Saudi Arabia Subhan Cholid, In Medina/ANTARA

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabia's Hajj Organizing Officers (PPIH) are ready to welcome arrivals and provide services for 6,383 Indonesian Hajj candidates with 16 groups from eight embarkations, namely Jakarta-Pondok Gede (JKG), Jakarta-Bekasi (JKS), Solo (SOC), Makassar (UPG), Aceh (BTJ), Kualanamu/Medan (KNO), Batam (BTH), and Surabaya (SUB).

"Bismillah, God willing, PPIH Saudi Arabia is ready to welcome the arrival of Indonesian pilgrims and is ready to provide services to the dhuyufurrahman," said Head of PPIH Saudi Arabia Subhan Cholid in Medina as reported by ANTARA, Monday, May 22.

PPIH Airport and Daker Madinah Working Areas arrived in Saudi Arabia on May 20, 2023. They currently occupy their respective task posts to prepare to serve Indonesian pilgrims who will depart from May 24, 2023.

Subhan said there are two sectors in Daker Bandara, while in Medina there are five sectors, namely the hotel area, one Beer Ali sector, and one special sector of the Prophet's Mosque which is also ready to provide services, guidance, and protection to pilgrims.

Indonesian pilgrims, Subhan continued, will land at Amir Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz Airport (AMAA Medina) and will be immediately escorted to a hotel in Medina.

"PPII Saudi Arabia has prepared transportation services that will take pilgrims from the airport to hotels in Medina. There are 11 companies that have contracts under the auspices of Naqabah (Saudi Organization)," he said.

Subhan said there were eight to 10 buses prepared to escort each batch that arrived in Medina, adjusted to the number of groups. One group consists of 40-45 participants of prospective hajj.

The first batch of the Jakarta-Pondok Gede or JKG 01 Embarkation will arrive for the first time in Medina at 06:20 Saudi Arabia time (WAS). Followed by SOC 01 at 09:15 WAS, UPG 01 at 10:20 WAS, and BTJ 01 at 11:20 WAS.

"They will occupy the Grand Plaza Badr Al-Maqam and Al-Madinah Concorde Hotels in Sector One, as well as Abraj Taba Company in Sector Two. In total, we have prepared 91 hotels in Medina which are spread over five sectors," said Subhan.

Pilgrims will stay for about nine days in Medina. They will undergo Arbain worship or congregational prayers for 40 times at the Prophet's Mosque. While in Medina, they will also receive catering services, three times a day.

PPIH Saudi Arabia, said Subhan, has also entered into a cooperation contract with 21 companies providing catering for Indonesian pilgrims and the contract clearly states that they are required to provide catering services with a taste of archipelago cuisine.

"We have consolidated with 21 catering kitchens and their cooks. We affirm their commitment to provide the best service for the congregation. There has also been a demonstration of the congregation's menu to taste Indonesian," said Subhan.

Subhan again reminded pilgrims to bring luggage as needed or sufficient as needed during the pilgrimage and not to carry prohibited luggage.

"There are two categories of items that are prohibited. First, items that are materially prohibited, such as proposals or kings. The issue of obstacle or shipping needs attention from the congregation, therefore it is strictly prohibited by the Saudi government, even in the magic article. The punishment is severe," said Subhan.

Second, continued Subhan, goods that are not prohibited materially, but are prohibited in numbers, for example, cigarettes, strong medicine, herbal medicine, and others, because if the number is too much, it is also prohibited and can be confiscated.