TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Indonesian Ministry of Religious Affairs said the government is mulling the option to open sea routes for Hajj pilgrimage. Minister of Religious Affairs, Nasaruddin Umar, said the plan is one of the results of President Prabowo Subianto's visit to Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
Nasaruddin said the ministry has been communicating with the Saudi Arabian authorities to realize the plan. "We believe that introducing Umrah and Hajj by sea is feasible in the future," Nasaruddin said in a written statement on Tuesday, July 8, 2025.
He explained that the government hopes to provide a cheaper Hajj and Umrah pilgrimage via the sea route compared to air travel. He added that this would make the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages more inclusive for all walks of life, those who come from wealth and poverty.
The government also considers sea transport to allow Asian pilgrims to reach the Holy Land via ports, including one in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. "Not only countries in the nearby region such as Egypt, but even Indonesia and other parts of Asia can access it," Nasaruddin said.
Hajj and Umrah by sea could also provide added value for Saudi Arabia, as it's more open to various innovations and strategic investments there. "Saudi Arabia's approach is very business-focused now, with consultants from America. This is really taking advantage of Saudi Arabia's geographical potentials," he added.
Hajj by sea is not news to Indonesian pilgrims, as it has been taking place long before the country's independence. Hajj pilgrims used to gather at various major ports across several islands, such as Sumatra, Java, and Bali. They would then choose the sea route to Saudi Arabia.
Sea travel to Saudi Arabia initially could take up to six months, affected by the weather conditions and the long route. But the travel became shorter since the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869. The use of sea vessels as a mode of transportation for the Hajj pilgrimage continued after Indonesia's independence. The Indonesian government ceased the use of sea routes for Hajj by 1979, and switched to air travel since.
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