Indonesia Secures Largest Hajj Quota Ever in 2024 with 241,000 Pilgrims; President Jokowi Lands Additional 20,000 Spots
In a historic decision, Indonesia has secured its largest-ever Hajj quota for 2024, with a total of 241,000 pilgrims set to embark on the journey to Mecca. This record-breaking figure was officially announced by Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas following his participation in the ‘Haflat al-Hajj al-Khitamy’ event in Makkah.
The increase in Indonesia’s Hajj quota comes after years of fluctuations. In 2015 and 2016, the country received a quota of 168,800 pilgrims. This number rose to 221,000 in 2017 and has stayed consistent since then, except for a temporary increase to 231,000 in 2019.
The COVID-19 pandemic led to the cancellation of the Hajj in 2020 and 2021, as no pilgrims were allowed to travel due to safety concerns. In 2022, Saudi Arabia reopened the Hajj with limited quotas, allocating 100,051 spots to Indonesian pilgrims, primarily consisting of those whose trips were-postponed in 2020 and aged under 65.
Indonesia initially planned to send 221,000 pilgrims in 2024, matching the figures from 2017 to 2018. However, President Joko Widodo (Jokowi) successfully lobbied for an additional 20,000 spots during a bilateral meeting with Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman al-Saud. This increase brings the total Hajj quota for Indonesia in 2024 to 241,000.
The additional spots were officially confirmed during a meeting between the Indonesian government and the House of Representatives (DPR RI) on November 27, 2023. The new quota includes 221,720 spots for regular pilgrims and 19,280 spots for special pilgrims.
Direktur Pelayanan Haji Dalam Negeri (DPHDN) Kementerian Agama (Kemenag) Saiful Mujab has lauded the 2024 Hajj quota as the largest in Indonesian history, with a total of 241,000 pilgrims expected to participate. This figure consists of 213,320 regular pilgrims and 27,680 special pilgrims.
The Indonesian government and the DPR RI have reached an agreement on the 2024 Hajj budget, with the new quota taken into consideration. Saudi Arabia has also announced that pilgrims can start applying for visas on March 1, 2024, with the earliest arrivals scheduled for May 9, 2024.