JurnalPost.com, SURABAYA – Preparing for an Umrah pilgrimage involves more than just organizing travel documents and necessities for the Holy Land. Pilgrims must also understand security aspects, their rights and obligations, and the steps to take when facing challenges while abroad.
To improve this understanding, the Faculty of Law at Universitas Airlangga (FH UNAIR) has published a pocket guide titled “Safe Departure, Safe Abroad” which is designed as a practical guide for the public, particularly prospective Umrah pilgrims.
The book is an output of a community service program titled Secure, Modern, Adaptive, Reliable Travel (SMART) Academy: Strengthening Digital Competency, Pilgrim Data Protection, and Service Standardization for Hajj and Umrah Agencies in East Java.
The launch and distribution of the pocket guide took place during a seminar and training session themed “Strengthening Digital Capability and Umrah Pilgrim Data Protection,” held on Saturday, 7 November 2026, at the Aston Inn Hotel.
Through this publication, FH UNAIR aims to provide educational material that the public can use directly, not only during training sessions but also while preparing for and undertaking their pilgrimage abroad.
Designed as a Practical Guide for Umrah Pilgrims
The “Safe Departure, Safe Abroad” pocket guide was compiled by a community service team consisting of Masitoh Indriani, Lina Hastuti, Nilam Andalia Kurniasari, and Aida Setyawan, and published by FH UNAIR.
Its creation was motivated by the public's need for easily accessible information regarding departure preparations, personal security, and protection during international travel.
Umrah travel has unique characteristics as it involves crossing international borders, requiring adherence to various administrative procedures and regulations.
In addition to preparing for religious rituals, pilgrims must also pay attention to their health, financial readiness, document security, and understand the actions required in emergency situations.
For pilgrims traveling abroad for the first time, this information is particularly crucial. Differences in language, environment, and regulations in the destination country can cause difficulties if not anticipated in advance.
Therefore, this pocket guide is formatted to be concise and systematic, making it easy to read, understand, and use as a reference throughout the journey.
Three Important Stages of the Umrah Journey
The content of the pocket guide is divided into three main sections that follow the stages of the pilgrim's journey, from pre-departure preparation to the experience in Saudi Arabia and the return to Indonesia.
1. Pre-Departure Preparation
The first section contains a checklist to help pilgrims ensure all travel requirements are well prepared.
Key aspects include the completeness of travel documents, health readiness, financial arrangements, luggage, and mental and spiritual preparation.
This checklist is intended to help pilgrims reduce the risk of overlooking essential needs before departure.
Thorough preparation is the first step toward a more orderly and comfortable pilgrimage.
2. Protection and Security While in Saudi Arabia
The second section discusses various matters that pilgrims need to know while performing Umrah in Saudi Arabia.
The material covers understanding pilgrim rights and obligations, steps for maintaining personal security, and various preventive measures to reduce risks while in the destination country.
The book also provides mitigation guidance for pilgrims facing issues during their travels.
Understanding safety and self-protection procedures is considered essential so that pilgrims can make informed decisions when encountering unexpected conditions.
With this information, pilgrims are expected to not only rely on travel companions but also possess the basic knowledge to safeguard their own safety and interests.
3. Preparation for Returning to Indonesia
The third section contains guidance on matters to consider before returning from Saudi Arabia to Indonesia.
The information provided includes return preparations and the importance of keeping emergency contacts and information that may be needed throughout the journey.
This stage is part of the effort to ensure pilgrims can complete their journey safely until they return to their home country.
Strengthening Legal Literacy and Self-Protection Awareness
The publication of this pocket guide is a form of FH UNAIR's contribution to improving legal literacy and public awareness regarding self-protection during international travel.
Historically, Umrah preparation has often focused more on religious rituals and technical departure requirements. However, understanding rights, obligations, and emergency procedures is equally important.
Through this pocket guide, information that may have previously been scattered across various sources is now presented in a more structured format.
Its presence also expands the benefits of the SMART Academy Program, which not only provides training to Hajj and Umrah travel organizers but also produces educational tools for the public.
The pocket guide is expected to be an easily accessible resource that pilgrims can utilize at various stages of their journey.
Supporting Sustainable Development Goals
Beyond providing practical benefits to pilgrims, the publication of this guide is part of FH UNAIR's contribution to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The program aligns with SDG 4 on Quality Education and SDG 16 on Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions.
Support for SDG 4 is realized through the provision of educational materials that help the public gain practical knowledge regarding international travel, pilgrim rights, and legal protection aspects.
Meanwhile, the contribution to SDG 16 is reflected in efforts to increase public awareness of rights and obligations, as well as the importance of understanding protection mechanisms while abroad.
By disseminating information that is easier to understand, the public is expected to be better equipped to travel safely and responsibly.
A Form of Sustainable Community Service
The publication of the “Safe Departure, Safe Abroad” pocket guide demonstrates that community service activities can produce benefits that continue to be used long after seminars or training sessions conclude.
Through collaboration between academics and the travel industry, FH UNAIR strives to bridge legal knowledge with the daily needs of the public.
This book is expected to serve not only as reading material for SMART Academy participants but also to be utilized more broadly by prospective Umrah pilgrims who need practical guidance before traveling abroad.
Moving forward, the provision of information that is easy to understand and relevant to pilgrim needs is expected to improve public readiness in facing various situations during travel.
Thus, the presence of this pocket guide is part of FH UNAIR's commitment to providing community service programs that are applicable, responsive to public needs, and provide sustainable benefits for the community and the pilgrimage travel industry.
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