TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A total of 117 Indonesian citizens arriving at Prince Mohammad bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Madinah were denied entry by Saudi Arabian Immigration authorities. They were suspected of attempting to perform the hajj pilgrimage using work visas.
All of these Indonesian citizens were sent back to Indonesia on May 15, 2025. The Consul General of the Republic of Indonesia in Jeddah, Yusron B. Ambary, explained that the KJRI Jeddah's Hajj Protection Team received information on May 14, 2025, about several Indonesian citizens detained by Saudi Immigration.
It was discovered that they had entered using work visas meant for laborers but were suspected of intending to perform the hajj pilgrimage without following proper procedures. Yusron noted that these 117 Indonesians arrived in two groups. Forty-nine arrived on Saudia flight SV827 on May 14, and sixty-eight arrived on SV813 on May 15.
The Immigration authorities grew suspicious because some of the Indonesians appeared elderly yet held construction worker visas. After questioning, some admitted their real intention was to perform the hajj pilgrimage.
"The KJRI Jeddah's Hajj Protection Team accompanied the entire examination process, starting from taking statements to fingerprinting by the Saudi Immigration authorities," said Yusron in a statement from the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Friday, May 16, 2025.
The Indonesian citizens were repatriated on May 15, 2025, aboard Saudia flight SV3316. They first transited through Jeddah before continuing to Jakarta on Saudia SV826.
KJRI Jeddah reported that between May 3 and 15, 2025, more than 300 Indonesian workers arrived at various Saudi airports using work visas with the intention of performing hajj. Some also used visit visas under suspicion of planning to perform the pilgrimage illegally.
Yusron explained that the methods used by these individuals are evolving. While earlier attempts involved visible attributes such as uniforms and matching luggage, they now try to disguise themselves to avoid detection. KJRI Jeddah urged all Indonesian citizens to avoid non-procedural hajj activities and to comply with Saudi regulations.
Chairman of the National Commission on Hajj, Mustolih Siradj, revealed several significant technical problems affecting the 2025 hajj pilgrimage. These include reports of pilgrims being separated from their groups due to a multi-sharia system and unforeseen visa issues.
Mustolih said all reports are being verified before being submitted to the relevant authorities.
"The reports that we receive are not immediately disclosed, but the identities of pilgrims, embarkation, hotels, and sectors are verified first to make it easier for the handling and monitoring by the PPIH," Mustolih said when contacted on Thursday, May 15, 2025.
The National Commission on Hajj has coordinated with the Chief of the Mecca Working Area to address the technical complexity of hajj operations, which involve multiple parties. Mustolih also mentioned that the commission’s establishment of a complaint center is part of its effort to involve civil society in overseeing the pilgrimage.
According to the National Commission’s records, visa issues this year differ greatly from the past three years, especially after the pandemic. In 2024, for example, out of a total quota of 241,000 pilgrims, only 45 slots went unused, and visa problems were nearly nonexistent.
This year, however, Mustolih said some pilgrims are unable to depart because their visas have not been issued.
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