By: Farah Salsabila Karim
Ramadan 1447 Hijriah marked a bold move by the government under President Prabowo Subianto to secure strategic land in the city of Mecca. On this spiritual occasion, the country went beyond mere worship, taking a concrete decision by winning the auction for land and property projected to become the Indonesian Hajj Village. This move immediately positioned Indonesia as a state actor with a tangible presence in serving pilgrims in the Holy Land.
The decision to secure land in a strategic area of Mecca represents a shift in the government’s approach to managing the Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages. For years, pilgrim services have relied heavily on seasonal accommodation rentals, often at high costs and of variable quality.
The government has now chosen the long-term asset ownership path to enable more sovereign, efficient, and sustainable service delivery. Ramadan is a meaningful starting point, as the policy was born amidst a month of reflection and strengthening community commitment.
Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar emphasized that Indonesia is the first country to obtain special permission to purchase property in Mecca and Medina. This opportunity has never been granted by Saudi Arabia to any other country.
The government is taking advantage of this opportunity to ensure integrated facilities for Indonesian pilgrims and to affirm the country’s permanent presence in the two holy cities. Nasaruddin explained that this policy did not emerge suddenly, but rather resulted from the increasingly solid bilateral relationship between President Prabowo Subianto and Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Muhammad bin Salman.
Diplomatic relations at the leadership level have opened up Indonesia’s access to strategic locations previously difficult to reach. Nasaruddin explained that the Indonesian Hajj Village is planned to be built on a vast area spanning tens of hectares, approximately one to three kilometers from the Grand Mosque.
The government is also preparing a connectivity design for the area to facilitate pilgrim mobility, including plans for a direct link to the worship center. This approach demonstrates that the Hajj Village project is not just about physical development, but rather a comprehensive planning of the worship service ecosystem.
Indonesia’s success in winning the bidding for strategic land in Mecca was also confirmed by Minister of State Secretary Prasetyo Hadi. The government emerged victorious from dozens of international bidders in a highly competitive auction process.
The secured land is located in the Eastern Hindawiyah area, chosen for its relative proximity to the Grand Mosque and its favorable land conditions for integrated development. Prasetyo views this achievement as a tangible result of President Prabowo’s active diplomacy, which has opened the door to foreign ownership of assets in Saudi Arabia.
According to Prasetyo, Indonesia’s victory over approximately 90 other bidders demonstrates the government’s commitment to prioritizing the interests of pilgrims. Ownership of hotels and land in Mecca is not merely a symbol of prestige but also a long-term public policy instrument.
The government now has the space to set service standards, control costs, and ensure the safety and comfort of pilgrims without relying entirely on fluctuating local market mechanisms.
From the investment management side, the Head of the Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara) Investment Management Agency, Rosan Roeslani, explained that the Indonesian Hajj Village project has entered the design and technical planning development stage.
Danantara targets physical construction to begin in the fourth quarter of 2026. The area will be developed as an integrated complex specifically serving Indonesian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims, with state-owned companies involved in the construction process.
Rosan explained that the Indonesian Hajj Village is designed to have 13 hotel towers with a capacity of approximately 6,000 rooms. The area will also feature a hospital, a mosque, and various other supporting facilities, including a culinary area showcasing Indonesian cuisine.
This approach emphasizes that the Hajj Village project is not only oriented towards accommodation, but also towards the psychological comfort of the congregation so that they feel closer to the atmosphere of their homeland.
In terms of economic value, Danantara’s investment in the Thakher City area and other strategic land in Mecca has reached approximately USD 1.2 billion, or nearly IDR 20 trillion. Rosan views this investment as a rational move, considering the number of Indonesian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims reaches millions each year. By owning its own assets, the government has a significant opportunity to reduce logistics and accommodation costs, while simultaneously increasing the efficiency of Hajj operations in the long term.
The momentum of Ramadan 1447 Hijriah was finally recorded as the beginning of a major change in national Hajj management. Securing strategic land in Mecca marked a more assertive state presence in serving the congregation, no longer merely as a regulator but as the owner of the service infrastructure that determines the standards and quality of pilgrim services.
Through the Indonesian Hajj Village, the government is paving the way for a more measurable, efficient Hajj administration system that prioritizes the comfort of pilgrims from departure to return.
The project not only reflects the success of cross-border diplomacy and investment, but also affirms the government’s policy direction, which places the dignity of the congregation at the heart of intergenerational public service, while also establishing a legacy of more sovereign worship governance for Indonesia’s future. (*)
Public Policy Observer