Jakarta (ANTARA) - Minister of Religious Affairs Yaqut Cholil Qoumas met with Saudi Arabia's Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq F Al-Rabiah to discuss the readiness to implement the 2022 Hajj pilgrimage.
According to a written statement here on Friday, the meeting was held at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah's office, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The meeting was attended by Director-General of Hajj and Umrah at the Ministry of Religious Affairs Hilman Latief, Special Staff of Religious Affairs Minister Abdul Rahman and Abdul Qadir, Director of Foreign Hajj Services Subhan Cholid, and Consul for Hajj at the Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah Nasrullah Jasam.
Minister Qoumas conveyed to the Saudi minister that his visit to Jeddah was in accordance with President Joko Widodo's instruction to ensure the readiness and quality of services that will be provided to Indonesian Hajj pilgrims.
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"The Indonesian government will follow the regulations of the Government of Saudi Arabia, including those related to health protocols. We believe all of them are implemented to provide comfort, including for Indonesian pilgrims," Qoumas remarked.
The Minister of Hajj and Umrah of Saudi Arabia affirmed his commitment to improving services to all pilgrims, including those from Indonesia. With a quota of 100,051 people, Indonesia is the country that sends the most pilgrims among other countries in the world.
"Indonesia holds a special place in the (hearts of the) citizens and government of Saudi Arabia," he stated.
Minister Qoumas arrived in Saudi Arabia on May 18, 2022. The minister had earlier monitored and checked the quality of services that will be provided to Indonesian Hajj pilgrims during their stay in Mecca. Those services include accommodation, food, and transportation.
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The first batch of Indonesian Hajj pilgrims is scheduled to depart on June 4, 2022.
Earlier, Saudi Arabia had announced that the 2022 Hajj pilgrimage is open for one million pilgrims from various countries.
Although it has opened the Hajj pilgrimage for foreign pilgrims, Saudi Arabia has laid down two conditions this year. First, the pilgrims must be maximum 65 years of age and have received the full dose of COVID-19 vaccine approved by the Saudi Ministry of Health.
Second, pilgrims traveling from abroad must have a certificate showing negative PCR results, with the test taken no more than 72 hours prior to departure.
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