Dede Leni Mardianti, Jakarta – Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar said Indonesia has become the largest contributor to the mortality rate of Hajj pilgrims during the 2025 Hajj pilgrimage. He mentioned that the number of Indonesians who passed away in Saudi Arabia reached 447.
"The King (of Saudi Arabia) stated that Indonesia is the biggest contributor, which is 14 percent of the total Hajj pilgrims who passed away in Saudi Arabia," said the Minister of Religious Affairs after the 2025 Hajj operational activities in Jakarta on Monday, July 14, 2025.
Nasaruddin mentioned that this figure is a serious warning from the Saudi government about how the Hajj is organized in Indonesia. This evaluation became the main topic of discussion between Saudi Crown Prince Masyhur bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and President Prabowo when they met in Jeddah on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.
Nasaruddin stated that the Crown Prince had shown a tense expression when welcoming the Indonesian government delegation during the visit. "In the first meeting where all ministers were present, I saw a bit of tension when Mr. MBS did not smile at the beginning. It seems like the situation was tense," he said.
Director General of Hajj and Umrah Implementation Hilman Latief explained that the number of Indonesian pilgrim deaths during this year's Hajj season is still better than last year, which reached 461. However, the figure remains a critical concern for Saudi authorities.
"As noted by Saudi Arabia, in the coming years, this number is expected to decrease significantly," he said when presenting the report on the results of the 2025 Hajj implementation at the Ministry of Religious Affairs office in Jakarta on Monday, July 14, 2025. Hilman also mentioned that there are still 40 Indonesian pilgrims who are being treated in Saudi Arabia because it is not feasible for them to travel far.
On a separate occasion, the Head of the Health Division of the Saudi Arabian Hajj Organizing Committee, Mohammad Imran, stated that during the implementation of the fifth pillar of Islam, a total of 1,710 Indonesian pilgrims were hospitalized in Saudi Arabia. Imran mentioned that the highest diagnoses were pneumonia, diabetes mellitus, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
"Furthermore, pharmacy data recorded a total of 12,396 services, showing that the most widely used medications were combination flu and cough tablets," Imran said in an official statement on Saturday, July 12, 2025.
Previously, Saudi Deputy Hajj Minister Abdul Fatah Mashat also mentioned the issue of istitha'ah standards, or the pilgrims' ability standards, which are still considered very problematic for Indonesian pilgrims.
He also asked the Indonesian government to enforce stricter standards in evaluating the pilgrims' abilities. "Including in the screening, monitoring, and health assistance for pilgrims before their departure," he said in a written statement on Wednesday, July 2, 2025.