Danantara acquires Makkah hotel to support Indonesian pilgrims

The Daya Anagata Nusantara Investment Management (DIM), a subsidiary of the Danantara Investment Management Agency, has completed the acquisition of the Novotel Thakher Makkah hotel and 4.4 hectares of land in Saudi Arabia. The property includes 1,461 rooms and suites, alongside land intended for the development of an Indonesian Hajj Village.

Mustolih Siradj, Chairman of the National Commission for Hajj and Umrah, stated that this strategic move aims to strengthen Indonesia's independence in managing Hajj and Umrah services. By owning assets directly, Indonesia seeks to build a more integrated ecosystem covering accommodation, consumption, and transportation, reducing reliance on local partners in Saudi Arabia.

While the acquisition is intended to improve service quality and accommodation certainty, Siradj noted that asset ownership does not automatically guarantee lower costs. He emphasized that the economic impact must be carefully managed through clear business planning and management models to ensure tangible benefits for pilgrims.