Jakarta. Indonesia will absorb a sharp increase in Hajj costs for 2026, as surging global oil prices and heightened geopolitical risks in the Middle East drive up travel expenses for the world’s largest Muslim pilgrimage.

Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said total Hajj-related costs have climbed by 26.5% or Rp1.77 trillion (about $103 million), rising from Rp6.69 trillion to Rp8.46 trillion. The spike is largely tied to higher aviation fuel prices and additional risk-related charges.

“The increase is largely due to rising crude oil prices, which have affected flight costs for Hajj pilgrims,” Irfan told lawmakers during a parliamentary hearing on Tuesday in Jakarta.

The additional Rp1.77 trillion cost stems from proposals submitted by airlines transporting Indonesian pilgrims to Saudi Arabia, including state carrier Garuda Indonesia and Saudi Arabian Airlines.

Garuda has requested an additional Rp 974.8 billion, while Saudi Arabian Airlines has proposed a Rp 802.8 billion increase, according to Irfan.

Despite the spike, President Prabowo Subianto has instructed that the added burden should not be passed on to pilgrims.

“The president has made it clear that this increase should not be borne by Hajj participants,” Irfan said.

To cover the shortfall, the government plans to draw from the Hajj fund, known as BPIH, which is used to finance pilgrimage-related expenses.

Irfan added that the ministry is coordinating with the Attorney General’s Office of Indonesia to ensure the legal basis for using the funds under force majeure conditions.

Meanwhile, the cost of flights for Hajj officials accompanying pilgrim groups will be covered by the state budget, he said.

The rising costs come as demand for Hajj slots in Indonesia continues to far outstrip supply. The country receives an annual quota of about 220,000 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia — the largest allocation globally — but has roughly 5.7 million registered applicants nationwide. According to Deputy Minister Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, the waiting period for the regular Hajj program has stretched to as long as 26 years in some regions.

Indonesia, home to the world’s largest Muslim population, sends hundreds of thousands of pilgrims to Saudi Arabia each year, making it one of the biggest contributors to global Hajj travel demand.