Indonesia ensures safety of 49,000 Umrah pilgrims amid Saudi-Houthi conflict

The Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that 49,000 Umrah pilgrims, along with all Indonesian citizens and migrant workers in Saudi Arabia, are safe following an escalation in armed conflict between Saudi Arabia and the Houthi group from Yemen.

Recent Houthi drone attacks on aviation facilities, including King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh and King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, have caused casualties and disrupted flight operations. While flight cancellations and delays have been reported, officials confirmed that Jeddah and Madinah airports continue to operate normally. The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah has deployed personnel to maintain 24-hour standby duties at airports to assist any affected pilgrims.

Separately, Bank Jago Syariah reported a significant rise in financial activity related to religious pilgrimage, with 89,300 digital savings pockets created for Hajj and Umrah preparations as of September 2026. The bank noted that transactions using its Visa debit cards in Saudi Arabia reached 62,300 in September 2026, up from 36,000 the previous year.