April 23, 2026 | 02:34 pm
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The first wave of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims arrived in Medina, Saudi Arabia, late Wednesday, April 22, 2026. Flying in across 15 flight groups, the pilgrims, totaling 5,997 people, landed gradually through Medina's Amir Muhammad bin Abdul Aziz Airport.
"These pilgrims come from various embarkation points in Indonesia, including Yogyakarta, Jakarta, Medan, Lombok, Solo, and Makassar," said the Indonesian Consul General in Jeddah, Yusron B. Ambary, in a written statement on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Yusron said the majority of the arriving pilgrims are elderly, thus urging the Hajj participants not to push themselves during worship if their physical condition is less-than-optimal.
During their stay in the Holy Land, the pilgrims are asked to limit movements and reduce unnecessary activities to maintain their health.
"Considering that there's still a long way to go for the Hajj worship," he said, warning that top physical condition is necessary for the pilgrims ahead of the peak Hajj procession in May.
Furthermore, pilgrims are also asked to be alert to weather changes in Medina by using personal protective gear. The head of the Area Working Group (Daker) of Medina, Khalilurrahman, suggested that pilgrims bring umbrellas, glasses, masks, and footwear.
Moreover, pilgrims are advised to use sunscreen and lip moisturizer to protect their bodies from heat exposure. "In addition, it is important to regularly drink water, about two to three sips every 20 to 30 minutes," said Khalilurrahman on Thursday.
According to him, the elderly pilgrims who arrived in the first wave will be provided with hotel facilities very close to the Nabawi Mosque, about 50 meters, to facilitate elderly and disabled pilgrims.
This year, Indonesia has been allocated 221,000 Hajj quotas, with 92 percent for regular Hajj and 8 percent for special Hajj. The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah divided the departure of Hajj pilgrims into two waves and 525 clusters. The first wave began on Wednesday, April 22, while the second wave will end on May 21, 2026.
Pilgrims will return to Indonesia starting June 1, 2026, and ending on July 1, 2026.
Read: Pertamina Prepares 80,000 KL of Jet Fuel for Hajj Flights
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