Indonesia's 2023 Hajj Pilgrim Quota Capped at 221,000

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian government has received a quota of 221,000 for this year’s Hajj pilgrims without any set age limitation.

During the 2022 Hajj, Indonesia received 100,051 of quota for hajj pilgrims, or half the number in 2019 and selected pilgrims were below 65 years old due to restrictions imposed on account of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Religious Affairs Minister Yaqut Cholil Qoumas and Hajj and Umrah Minister of Saudi Arabia Tawfiq Al-Rabiah inked an agreement on Indonesia's 2023 Hajj quota in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday, Jan. 8.

"Alhamdulillah (praise be to God), the mission of the 2023 Hajj has started. Today, the Hajj minister of Saudi Arabia and I signed an agreement on Hajj. Indonesia gets 221,000 of the hajj quota," Yaqut said in a press statement issued by the Ministry of Religious Affairs.

Also read: Indonesia to Seek Increase in 2023 Hajj Quota to 100 percent

He explained that the quota comprised 203,320 for regular Hajj pilgrims and 17,680 for special Hajj pilgrims.

"Meanwhile, for officers, this year, we received a quota of 4,200 (people)," he added.

Yaqut stated that at the meeting with Minister Al-Rabiah, it was agreed that there would be no age limit for Hajj pilgrims this year.

The age limit of a maximum of 65 years, set by the government of Saudi Arabia during last year's Hajj pilgrimage to curb Covid-19 transmission, is no longer implemented.

"It means pilgrims aged over 65 years could perform the Hajj (pilgrimage) this year," he added.