East Java Governor Thanks Saudi King for Approving Indonesian Hajj Village

RRI.CO.ID, Surabaya - During a fast-breaking event with the Religious Attaché of the Saudi Arabian Embassy at the Al-Akbar National Mosque in Surabaya, East Java Governor Khofifah Indar Parawansa expressed her gratitude to the King of Saudi Arabia for granting permission for the establishment of Indonesian Hajj Village in Mecca.

"We express our gratitude to His Majesty King Salman and Prince Mohammed bin Salman for granting Indonesia permission to establish an area in Mecca, near the Grand Mosque, as the Indonesian Hajj Village," she said in a statement in Surabaya on Sunday, February 22, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

According to Khofifah, the granting of permission by Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and Mohammed bin Salman to establish a special area for Indonesia near the Grand Mosque is an important milestone in Indonesia's religious diplomacy. She emphasized that the permit is not merely a physical facility, but a manifestation of the long-standing trust and friendship between the two countries.

"This isn't just about the location, but also about trust and respect for Indonesia as the country with the largest number of Hajj pilgrims in the world," she said.

Beyond its diplomatic dimension, Saudi Arabia's latest policy also opens up economic opportunities. For the first time, catering for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims is permitted to be provided by national businesses.

This policy is considered to have a multiplier effect: improving the quality of service for pilgrims while empowering domestic businesses. Three catering companies from East Java have even been entrusted with supplying logistics for the 2026 Hajj season.

"This is a great opportunity for our MSMEs and businesses to upgrade and compete internationally," said Khofifah.

The plan to develop the Indonesian Hajj Village is an initiative of President Prabowo Subianto's administration as part of efforts to improve hajj and umrah services. This facility is expected to become an integrated service center for Indonesian pilgrims in Saudi Arabia, while strengthening Indonesia's position in global hajj governance.

The fast-breaking event, held in collaboration with the Religious Attaché of the Saudi Arabian Embassy in Indonesia, Sheikh Ahmad bin Izza Al Hazimy, also symbolized the close social and religious ties between the two nations. On the occasion, the King of Saudi Arabia presented gifts of dates and Qurans to Quran memorizers in East Java.

Furthermore, the event also broke three Indonesian World Record Museum (MURI) records: serving 12,000 servings of date juice, 20,741 servings of nasi kebuli (a savory, spiced rice dish cooked with goat broth, milk/coconut milk, and ghee, giving it a distinctive aroma and a strong, savory flavor, a blend of Middle Eastern and Indonesian cultures, and is very popular among the Betawi people) , and simultaneously reciting the 99 Names of Allah (Asmaul Husna) by 18,000 participants.

Meanwhile, Sheikh Ahmad bin Izza Al Hazimy expressed his appreciation for the event to the governor and the entire people of East Java.

"The Custodian of the Two Holy Lands, Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, extends his warm greetings to all the people of East Java and continues to pray that East Java will always be under the protection of Allah SWT, granted safety and blessings," he said. ***