Jakarta: Indonesia’s Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas has praised Saudi Arabia for its new Hajj-management digital solutions, as the country’s pilgrims begin to return home after completing the spiritual journey.
A total of 241,000 Indonesian pilgrims were among nearly 2 million Muslims who traveled to Makkah to perform the pilgrimage that is one of the five pillars of Islam.
Pilgrims from the world’s biggest Muslim-majority nation reached the Kingdom on special flights that began one month ahead of the main rituals. Some returned home over the weekend, with flights scheduled until next month.
“Thank you to King Salman and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for their strong leadership as the highest officials in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia that made all Hajj-related journeys go smoothly,” Qoumas said in a statement issued on Monday.
“The Indonesian government would also like to express our highest appreciation for the innovations launched by the Hajj and Umrah Ministry under Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah, such as the Smart Card or Nusuk Card.”
The Nusuk card, launched earlier this year, is a form of identity that allows pilgrims entry to the holy sites in Saudi Arabia.
This year, about 128,000 Indonesian pilgrims traveled under the Makkah Route initiative after Saudi Arabia expanded the facility to three airports across the country: Jakarta, Surabaya and Solo.
Launched in 2019, Makkah Route is a pre-travel program created to help pilgrims meet all visa, customs and health requirements at their airports of origin. This saves them long hours of waiting before and upon arrival in Saudi Arabia.
“This fast-track facility was certainly very helpful,” Qoumas said.
The minister was also thankful for the cooperation between the Indonesia and Saudi Arabia governments throughout the Hajj period.
“This smooth communication helped the families of Indonesian pilgrims to know what’s happening in Saudi Arabia as their family members perform the Hajj and to update all developments done by Saudi Arabia,” he said.
“On behalf of the Indonesian government and all Indonesian pilgrims, I convey my gratitude for all the services provided by the Saudi government.”
