Furoda Hajj

Nothing brings greater joy to a Muslim than being able to perform the Hajj pilgrimage. But in this country with the largest Muslim population in the world, the waiting list for the Hajj can be decades long. In Bantaeng Regency, South Sulawesi, it's even reported to be as long as 47 years.

For those who want a faster journey, there's a shortcut: Furoda Hajj.

This program uses a special invitation visa directly from the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, outside the national quota. It's called a mujamalah visa. No need to queue; you can depart immediately, as long as you can afford the payment. According to several sources, the cost can range from IDR 373 million to almost IDR 1 billion per person. Compare that to the cost of the regular 2025 Hajj, which pilgrims "only" paid around IDR 55 million.

So far, this process has run relatively smoothly. But this year, thousands of Furoda Hajj pilgrims failed to depart.

Visas have yet to be issued, even though tickets, hotels, and other equipment have already been purchased. Some pilgrims have even set foot in the Holy Land. They weren't denied their journey due to lack of funds, but because the promised documents never arrived.

The Deputy Head of the Hajj Organizing Agency, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, confirmed that Furoda visas were not issued. Period. There was no official explanation from Saudi Arabia. But one thing is certain: Visa authority rests entirely with the kingdom.

The losses are significant. The head of AMPHURI, Firman M. Nur, said the average loss for pilgrims was between IDR 40 million and IDR 81 million. This does not include losses to travel agents, which per group can reach IDR 2 billion.

The head of the National Hajj Commission, Mustolih Siradj, suspects this is part of the Saudi Hajj system reforms to support Vision 2030—Prince Mohammed bin Salman's (MBS) grand agenda to shift the country's economic resources from oil to other sectors, including the Hajj and Umrah.

According to Mustolih, MBS is well aware that the Hajj is a foreign exchange earner that has not been optimally exploited. Therefore, everything must be organized, including Furoda.

In Indonesia, the government is bearing the brunt. Thousands of pilgrims feel they have no country to protect them. Member of Commission VIII of the House of Representatives (DPR), Bukhori Yusuf, urged that the Furoda route be immediately regulated in the Law on the Organization of the Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimages. "Thousands of pilgrims feel like they don't have a country," he said.

Puan Maharani, Speaker of the Indonesian House of Representatives (DPR RI), also urged the government to guarantee refunds and protect the rights of pilgrims. Furthermore, according to media reports, signs of visa failures have been emerging since Ramadan. But they have been ignored. Some pilgrims have even arrived at the airport.

The Head of the Hajj Organizing Agency (Bappenas), Mochamad Irfan Yusuf, said the Hajj business is indeed tempting. "There's a big temptation behind this business," he said in a special interview with VOI.

This isn't about a failed trip. This is about a failed pilgrimage. Money can be returned—maybe. But dignity? Dreams? Hopes? Not everything can be exchanged for riyals. They are not tourists. They are guests of Allah.

And this tragedy could have been prevented. In fact, Furoda Hajj is regulated by the government through Law Number 8 of 2019 concerning the Organization of the Hajj and Umrah Pilgrimages. Article 18 explains that there are two types of Hajj visas for Indonesian citizens: the regular quota visa and the mujamalah visa.

However, with the reform of the Saudi Hajj system, there must be more detailed regulations and stricter government oversight. The state is obligated to take care of its citizens. Hajj is an obligation for Muslims. No matter how expensive, the funds will be collected. But don't let your intention to fulfill your obligation become a nightmare.