Jakarta. Indonesia’s parliament on Tuesday approved the creation of a new Hajj and Umrah Ministry, elevating the country’s existing pilgrimage agency into a full-fledged ministry tasked with overseeing services for millions of Indonesians traveling to Saudi Arabia each year.

The decision came during the House of Representatives’ (DPR) plenary session of the 2025–2026 period, attended by 293 lawmakers and Religious Affairs Minister Nasaruddin Umar. Lawmakers gave their unanimous consent after Deputy Speaker Cucun Ahmad Syamsurizal called for a vote, sealing the bill’s passage with the strike of a gavel.

The legislation amends the 2019 Hajj and Umrah Law, formally transforming the Hajj Organizing Agency into the Hajj and Umrah Ministry. All personnel from the Religious Affairs Ministry’s Directorate General of Hajj and Umrah will gradually be transferred to the new ministry, though officials said the exact scope of the restructuring is still under review.

“This reflects the hope of the Indonesian people for better service. With the establishment of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, we expect continuous improvement in serving pilgrims,” Cucun said after the session. He added that appointing a minister would be the prerogative of the president.

Hilman Latief, director general of Hajj and Umrah at the Religious Affairs Ministry, said the government is assessing how many staff will move to the new ministry and at which administrative levels. “We are calculating carefully, including infrastructure and facilities, to ensure a smooth transition,” he told reporters at the parliament complex.

The new ministry underscores Indonesia’s effort to address the challenges of being the world’s largest Muslim-majority nation, with the biggest hajj and umrah contingents globally. This year alone, some 221,000 Indonesians performed the major Islamic pilgrimage of hajj, many of them elderly due to decades-long waiting lists. Separately, about 1.5 million Indonesians travel annually to Mecca for the lesser Umrah pilgrimage.

Industry players welcomed the move. The Association of Muslim Hajj and Umrah Organizers (Amphuri) said the ministry would bring better governance and oversight.

“We hope governance in Hajj and Umrah will be far better,” said Abdullah Mufid Mubarok, head of public relations at Amphuri.

According to Mufid, hajj and umrah services are classified as high-risk business activities under the 2023 Job Creation Law, requiring operators to obtain a Business Identification Number (NIB), accreditation, and strict licensing as Special Hajj Organizers (PIHK) and Umrah Organizers (PPIU).

“Even though Saudi Arabia allows for independent Hajj and Umrah arrangements, the state must be present to protect and guide its citizens by ensuring travel is managed through officially licensed organizers,” Mufid said.