Jeddah. Indonesia, home to the world's largest Muslim population, is set to send a record-breaking 241,000 hajj pilgrims to Mecca for the 2024 hajj season.

Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas, and Saudi Arabia's Hajj and Umrah Minister, Tawfiq F Al-Rabiah officially signed the 2024 hajj agreement (ta'limatul hajj) in Jeddah on Monday.

"We have agreed on several points with Saudi Arabia. One of them is the number of Indonesian pilgrims to be sent, totaling 241,000 individuals," said Minister Yaqut in Jeddah on Monday (8/1/2024).

Minister Yaqut revealed that this figure comprises 221,000 normal quota and an additional 20,000 quota approved by King Salman of Saudi Arabia. The first wave of hajj pilgrims is set to depart on May 12. 

"This quota is the largest in the history of Indonesia's hajj pilgrimage organization," said Minister Yaqut.

In 2019, Indonesia was allocated a quota of 231,000 pilgrims. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this number decreased to only 100,051 pilgrims in 2022. For the 2023 hajj pilgrimage, Indonesia was granted a quota of 229,000 pilgrims.

Present at the signing ceremony were Ashabul Kahfi, Chairman of Commission VIII of the Indonesian Parliament, Indonesia's Ambassador to Saudi Arabia Abdul Aziz Ahmad, and Consul General Yusron B Ambary.

According to  Yaqut, in addition to the increased quota, several service enhancements have been agreed upon. "Alhamdulillah, some of our requests for better hajj services have been accommodated by the Saudi government," said Minister Yaqut.

"For instance, regarding the placement of pilgrims in Mina, we can determine the tent positions closer to the Jamarat, provided the contract implementation is done earlier," explained Minister Yaqut.

Saudi Arabia has also granted Indonesia the freedom to choose service providers (syarikah) during the peak of the hajj. 

During the same event, Minister Umrah Tawfiq Al-Rabiah expressed his commitment to providing the best services for Indonesian hajj pilgrims.

"We are delighted and honored to serve Hajj pilgrims from around the world, especially those from Indonesia. We are always open to discussions for continuous improvements in services for the guests of Allah," said Tawfiq.

In addition to the hajj agreement signing, Minister Yaqut is scheduled to attend the Hajj Congress and hold coordination meetings regarding the preparations for the 2024 hajj pilgrimage.