WNAM REPORT: Indonesia’s Ministry of Hajj and Umrah plans to increase the number of female guides to improve services for women pilgrims during the 2026 Hajj season.
During a meeting with the House of Representatives (DPR) on Wednesday, Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf said female guides play a crucial role in ensuring women pilgrims receive guidance suited to their worship needs and comfort.
He added that their presence has strategic value in strengthening protection for pilgrims, especially in accommodation services, places of worship, and spiritual guidance activities that require a gender-sensitive approach.
The initiative is part of the government’s efforts to create a more pilgrim-friendly Hajj administration, based on equality and improved service quality for all Indonesian pilgrims.
Yusuf said the ministry continues to enhance service quality through training, certification, and competency development for guides under Hajj and Umrah Guidance Groups (KBIHU).
Each KBIHU is also encouraged to prepare female guides with sufficient knowledge and understanding of Hajj rituals.
Aside from increasing numbers, the ministry is also working to improve the quality of guides through systematic worship guidance aligned with Islamic principles.
Capacity-building programs include pedagogical training, Hajj jurisprudence (fiqh) understanding, and communication and group management skills.
“By improving the quality and quantity of guides, the 2026 Hajj administration is expected to be more professional, inclusive, and focused on pilgrim satisfaction,” Yusuf remarked.
According to the ministry’s schedule, pilgrims will start entering Hajj dormitories on April 21, 2026.
The first wave will depart on April 22, and the second wave will begin on May 7. The return phase is scheduled from June 1 to July 1, 2026.
