Jakarta. Indonesia is preparing contingency plans for the 2026 hajj pilgrimage as tensions in the Middle East raise concerns over potential disruptions to flight routes to Saudi Arabia.

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak said the government is assessing several scenarios to ensure the safety of Indonesian pilgrims should the regional conflict escalate and affect flight corridors. One option under consideration is adjusting the flight path to avoid sensitive airspace in the Middle East.

“We are preparing alternative routes, for example, by changing the flight path. This will require coordination with aviation authorities and with Saudi Arabia as well as other countries that will assess possible routes,” Dahnil said at the State Palace on Tuesday. He added that lawmakers had also floated the possibility of flights taking a southern route or passing through Africa as a precautionary measure.

Beyond route adjustments, the government is also weighing the possibility of postponing departures if the situation on the ground threatens pilgrims’ safety. “The scenario could be similar to what happened during Covid. If the situation endangers pilgrims or threatens their safety, postponement could become an option,” Dahnil said, noting that any decision would require consultation with the House of Representatives.

Dahnil said the government would continue coordinating with the legislature to determine the final arrangements for the pilgrimage should the Middle East conflict intensify.

He also emphasized that President Prabowo Subianto had instructed the ministry to place the safety of Indonesian pilgrims above all considerations. “The president has made it clear that our orientation at the Hajj Ministry is the same as his — the safety of pilgrims must be the first and foremost priority,” Dahnil said.

If the geopolitical situation stabilizes, the first batch of Indonesian pilgrims is scheduled to depart on April 22, 2026.

Organizing the Indonesian hajj is one of the largest short-term cross-border human movements in the world. Each year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims travel from Southeast Asia to the Arabian Peninsula, typically using commercial flight corridors that now intersect with airspace affected by the Middle East’s geopolitical tensions.

Alternative routes, such as southern corridors or paths crossing the African continent, could extend travel times and increase jet fuel costs. Still, the government views the contingency planning as necessary to safeguard Indonesian citizens, drawing lessons from crisis management during the Covid-19 pandemic when hajj operations were halted due to health and safety concerns.