Rano Karno Describes Calm in Mecca and Medina Amidst US-Israel-Iran Tensions

Jakarta – Deputy Governor of DKI Jakarta, Rano Karno, recently returned from Umrah and reported a relatively calm atmosphere in Mecca and Medina, Saudi Arabia, despite escalating conflicts involving the United States and Israel against Iran.

Situation on the Ground

Speaking at Jakarta City Hall on Thursday, March 5, 2026, Rano Karno stated, “Alhamdulillah, God willing, for Hajj or Umrah pilgrims who use airplanes directly, there are no disturbances. Mecca and Medina are relatively safe, there are no problems.”

Transit Challenges

However, Rano Karno noted that pilgrims traveling through transit routes via Qatar and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) experienced disruptions. He explained that the closure of airspace in both countries led to significant delays, affecting over 38,000 Indonesian pilgrims who were unable to return as scheduled.

Direct Flights Remain Operational

Despite the regional tensions, direct flights between Saudi Arabia and Indonesia continued to operate normally. Rano Karno shared an account of a passenger who traveled overland from Doha, Qatar, to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, incurring a taxi fare of approximately IDR 28 million to secure a Garuda Indonesia flight back to Indonesia.

Hopes for Resolution

Rano Karno expressed hope for a swift resolution to the ongoing conflicts, stating, “Hopefully, in the future, we will pray that the fighting that is happening can end soon.”

Source: DetikNews