Restrictions target hidden commissions and coercive deals
In a statement reported by ANTARA on Friday, Simanjuntak said the Saudi measures support Indonesia's efforts to eliminate predatory middlemen and make Hajj service contracts transparent and accountable.
"We welcome the circular issued by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah regarding its firm stance on monitoring and strictly prohibiting brokerages and scalping practices in the Hajj procurement process," Simanjuntak said in a statement.
The Saudi ministry's circular bans coercive arrangements involving middlemen, gifts in kind and commissions presented as marketing fees. Saudi authorities said these practices raise the cost of the pilgrimage without delivering better services and warned that violators would be prosecuted under the kingdom's laws.
Indonesia links direct procurement to anti-corruption efforts
Simanjuntak described joint enforcement as part of Indonesia's campaign against corruption and illicit Hajj trading networks. Alongside the task force's planned direct negotiations with accredited providers, he called on the public to report fraud and unauthorized brokers.
Indonesian police had reported handling 42 Hajj and Umrah fraud cases in 2026 as of April, with losses totaling about Rp92.64 billion, or approximately $5.4 million. At an April 9 press conference in Jakarta, Deputy National Police Chief Dedi Prasetyo said one case had advanced to the next stage of prosecution. The National Police were working within the Hajj and Umrah task force.
Prasetyo also said authorities had stopped 1,243 people from departing during the 2025 Hajj season because they were suspected of using unauthorized channels.
Financial oversight was the focus of a September 28, 2026, meeting with President Prabowo Subianto at the Presidential Palace in Jakarta. Afterward, Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf and Simanjuntak said the president had called for comprehensive governance reforms and ordered an immediate forensic audit of Hajj financial management, coordinated with the Financial and Development Supervisory Agency, known as BPKP.
The officials also said Prabowo welcomed the ministry's launch of a hotline to combat Hajj and Umrah mafias.
Saudi enforcement also covers Umrah service standards
Saudi Arabia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has separately announced measures against Umrah operators over service quality and accommodation violations.
A notice published February 1, 2026, announced the suspension of existing contracts with 1,800 foreign Umrah travel agencies out of approximately 5,800. A periodic review had identified performance shortcomings and poor service quality, and the agencies were given 10 days to correct their status.
The ministry limited that suspension to the issuance of new visas: pilgrims with valid visas or existing bookings were not affected. It said contracts would be reactivated after the deadline once the agencies met the requirements.
In an October 7, 2026, announcement, the ministry said it had suspended four Umrah service companies and four external agents over violations involving the placement of several pilgrims in unlicensed accommodations. The companies were referred to the Committee for Considering Pilgrim Complaints for investigation and statutory penalties.
