21-10-2023 (JAKARTA) In a bilateral meeting between President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) and Saudi Arabia’s Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud during the 1st Summit of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the Gulf Cooperation Council (ASEAN-GCC) in Riyadh, Indonesia successfully obtained an additional quota of 20,000 for the 2024 Hajj pilgrimage.
President Widodo addressed the issue of the extensive waiting period faced by prospective Indonesian pilgrims, which can reach up to 47 years. Expressing gratitude, he announced the positive response received from Saudi Arabia regarding Indonesia’s request for an increased Hajj quota. The President’s press statement, uploaded on the YouTube channel of the Presidential Secretariat, confirmed the outcome of the discussion.
Within less than 12 hours after the meeting, Indonesia was granted the additional quota of at least 20,000 for next year’s Hajj pilgrimage. Previously, the country’s quota for the 2024 Hajj was limited to 221,000 pilgrims, with 2,200 slots allocated for Hajj officers.
The Indonesian government has already commenced preparations for the 2024 Hajj services, which include the training and selection of qualified Hajj officers to cater to the growing needs. Hilman Latief, the Director General of Hajj and Umrah implementation at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, emphasized the significance of meticulous planning in recruiting and placing Hajj officers to enhance the quality of Hajj services.
