TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Geopolitical tension involving Iran, Israel, and the United States in the Middle East has created a dilemma for umrah travel organizers in Yogyakarta.
This follows the government's call, particularly from the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, to postpone umrah departures for the sake of safety. One concern about the delayed departure is the potential loss of all the accommodation funds paid by the umrah organizers.
Association DPD Chair of Indonesian Muslim Hajj and Umrah Organizers (AMPHURI) in Yogyakarta, Adam Basyori, stated that if Umrah departures are postponed, funds that have already been paid may not be refundable. "All costs paid to airlines and hotels may be at risk of being lost," said Adam on Tuesday, March 3, 2026.
Adam explained that most of the document preparation, such as obtaining visas and making hotel reservations, has already been completed. The organizers have also paid all the necessary expenses for the pilgrims.
According to Adam, financial losses pose a real threat to travel agencies if postponements are made unilaterally and airlines or hotel providers in Saudi Arabia do not offer refunds.
Based on the latest information, the contacted airlines have not yet planned to postpone departures and are still waiting to see how the situation develops. Nevertheless, Basyori expressed his high regard for the government's call due to its focus on safety.
He also revealed that, amidst the current dynamics, some pilgrims still want to depart according to the schedule, given that it is the peak season coinciding with the month of Ramadan.
Based on the information he received, Adam said that flights that were delayed at transit points such as Dubai, Doha, and Abu Dhabi are now returning to normal.
Meanwhile, the Acting Head of the Regional Office of the Ministry of Hajj in Yogyakarta, Jauhar Mustofa, stated that the call to postpone umrah departures to the Holy Land refers to the outcome of the meeting on Sunday, March 1, 2026, when the conflict in Iran began. This step was taken as a measure of protection for Indonesian citizens.
Especially, Jauhar mentioned, for those using airlines with routes that transit countries directly affected by the conflict. "Hence, travel agencies are advised to postpone umrah travel plans, while waiting for a conducive situation in the Middle East," he said.
On the other hand, Jauhar stated that there is no plan to reschedule hajj preparations as of now, even though the situation in the Middle East remains tense. The hajj preparations scheduled to begin on April 21, 2026, are still on track.
Furthermore, Jauhar hopes the conflict in the Middle East will ease soon, so it will not disrupt the operational launch of the Yogyakarta International Airport (YIA) in Kulon Progo. The airport will send off the first Hajj convoy from the region. "The hajj departures are still on schedule, set to begin on April 21, with the first convoy to depart from the Yogyakarta International Airport," he said.
Read: Indonesians Urged to Postpone Umrah Due to Iran-US Unrest
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