Saudi Gazette

JEDDAH — The Indonesian Consulate General in Jeddah has disclosed that 221,000 Indonesians are expected to perform the Haj pilgrimage this year.

Umar Badarsyah, vice consul for information, social and cultural affairs at the consulate, said

the Indonesian pilgrims would start arriving in the Kingdom by the end of July.

Asked about the preparations for receiving the pilgrims, he said all arrangements are in place for the accommodation and transportation of the Haj pilgrims.

This Haj, there is a considerable increase in the number of pilgrims last year, when only 168,000 Indonesians performed the pilgrimage.

The increase follows the lifting by the Saudi authorities of a 20 percent cut in the pilgrimage quota for all countries, which was in force during the expansion work under way in the Grand Mosque in Makkah.

“We are confident that this year we will have better arrangements for the pilgrims with the help of Allah,” added Badarsyah.