Jakarta, Sept. 8 -- Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto on Monday officially appointed Mochammad Irfan Yusuf as the country's first Minister of Hajj and Umrah, marking a new chapter in how the world's largest Muslim-majority nation manages religious pilgrimages.

Yusuf previously led the Hajj Organizing Agency (BP Haji), which has now been upgraded to a full government ministry. He had long been seen as the likely candidate for the new post.

During the 2025 Hajj season, Yusuf played a key role overseeing and evaluating Indonesia's pilgrimage operations, which were still under the Ministry of Religious Affairs at the time.

Starting in 2026, the new ministry will handle all aspects of Hajj and Umrah management independently.

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