Indonesia is moving forward with plans to acquire land in Makkah for a dedicated Hajj village following high-level diplomatic engagement between President Prabowo Subianto and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, with negotiations ongoing through the Royal Commission for Makkah City.
Investment Minister Rosan Roeslani announced that Saudi Arabia has offered eight land plots ranging from 16 to 85 hectares, with some locations as close as one kilometer from Masjid al-Haram, marking a significant breakthrough in accommodating Indonesian pilgrims.
Saudi Arabia is willing to amend its laws to allow foreign ownership of land in Makkah specifically for Indonesia, with the legal changes expected to take effect in January 2026, making Indonesia the sole bidder for the land acquisition.
Minister of Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar supports the initiative as a strategic move, given that over 220,000 Indonesians perform Hajj annually while around 1.5 million undertake Umrah, making Indonesia one of the largest pilgrim populations visiting Makkah.
The project will be funded through Indonesia's sovereign wealth fund Danantara, which must submit a comprehensive master plan including infrastructure design and zoning details by October 2025 to enhance mobility and reduce accommodation costs for Indonesian pilgrims.
