Jakarta (ANTARA) - Deputy Head of Indonesia's Hajj Organizing Agency (BPH) Dahnil Simanjuntak and Deputy for International Cooperation at Saudi Arabia's Hajj and Umrah Ministry, Hassan bin Yahya Al Manakhrah, exchanged views on preparations for the Hajj pilgrimage.
According to BPH's statement cited here on Thursday, Simanjuntak told Al Manakhrah that the Indonesian government would delegate the implementation of Hajj among Indonesians to the agency starting from 2026 during the meeting held in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday (December 25).
As for next year's Hajj season, the Ministry of Religious Affairs will retain its role as the operator of the annual Islamic pilgrimage.
"We felt the urgency to convey this information to Saudi Hajj authorities, as this matter is directly associated with the two countries' partnership and cooperation," he noted.
At the meeting, Simanjuntak also highlighted the importance of organizing the Hajj pilgrimage in an efficient, safe, and comfortable manner.
"Operational efficiency, the safety of pilgrims, and comfort in performing rituals are our key priorities," the official stated.
In the same statement, Saudi Arabia's Al Manakhrah voiced his government's commitment to ensuring a successful Hajj pilgrimage, including by providing the finest services to pilgrims hailing from Indonesia.
He urged Indonesia to move swiftly to prepare everything needed to facilitate its prospective pilgrims.
"It is crucial to optimize the preparations of accommodation, transportation, hotels, consumption, and other services to proffer the best experiences to pilgrims," he emphasized.
The bilateral meeting resulted in a joint commitment between Indonesia and Saudi Arabia to further stepping up their collaboration, which is necessary to offer safe and comfortable Hajj pilgrimages to Muslims from the Southeast Asian country.
