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THE ANAGATA Nusantara Power Investment Management Agency (Danantara Indonesia) has reported on the progress of the Hajj Complex development project in Makkah, Saudi Arabia. The Thakher Area has been selected as the initial foundation for this project.
The Thakher area encompasses the Novotel Thakher Makkah, which has been operational with approximately 4.4 hectares of development space situated approximately 2-3 kilometers from the Grand Mosque. The complex consists of three towers with 1,461 rooms, in addition to about 14 plots of land designated for future expansion, including commercial and retail areas.
“This area is gradually being designed to accommodate approximately 6,000 rooms, with an estimated capacity of around 22,000 pilgrims, representing about 10% of the total Indonesian Hajj pilgrims each year,” stated Danantara Indonesia Chief Investment Officer (CIO) Pandu Sjahrir in an official statement issued in Jakarta on Wednesday (01/7), 2026.
Pandu explained that the development of the Thakher area will be focused on providing accommodation and directed at building a more integrated congregational service ecosystem, including retail facilities, logistics support, and various other supporting services.
“Our goal is to establish an ecosystem, not merely a collection of hotels. We are preparing the Thakher area as a base for developing more integrated and sustainable services for Indonesian pilgrims,” said Pandu.
In line with the acquisition of the Thakher area, he continued, Danantara is following and observing the auction process carried out by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites (RCMC).
RCMC is the development authority for the City of Makkah, whose task is to determine policy direction, regional planning, and development schemes for strategic projects in Makkah.
In accordance with this framework, Danantara has positioned the development of the Hajj Complex as a component of a comprehensive, long-term strategy. This strategy is aligned with the established master plan for Makkah City and the framework delineated by the RCMC.
RCMC offers a selection of area plots with varying characteristics, including location, designation, and proximity to the Grand Mosque.
The process involves bidding stages, technical and financial evaluation, and the selection of investors capable of developing the area according to the Makkah City master plan.
“RCMC plays a pivotal role in the Makkah development ecosystem. We are still involved in this process as part of the long-term exploration for the Hajj Complex, of course with a very selective approach and based on comprehensive studies,” Pandu affirmed.
The development of the Hajj Complex is carried out through two strategic paths in parallel. The first path involves strengthening the project foundation through the Thakher Area. The second path involves active participation and continuous exploration in the auction mechanism managed by RCMC for opportunities in other areas around the Grand Mosque.
Pandu explained that the Thakher area is the initial foundation because the assets are existing and ready to be developed. He added that the company is also following the RCMC auction process for opportunities in other areas that are closer to the center of Hajj and Umrah activities.
According to Danantara’s report, the initial phase of development for the Hajj Complex will be focused on fortifying the Thakher Area. This initiative is expected to create opportunities for future expansion within the RCMC framework in other strategic regions of Makkah.
This approach is implemented selectively and is based on a comprehensive study, in line with Danantara’s long-term strategy to build an integrated and sustainable Hajj complex. In the Thakher area, Danantara is implementing a phased investment strategy. This strategy includes enhancing initial assets and allocating capital expenditures (CAPEX) for regional development.
According to initial projections, further development is targeted to enter the groundbreaking stage in 2026, with additional hotel operations planned to begin in 2029, following project readiness and permits.
“Our primary objective is to ensure that each step is executed with prudence, measurability, and a focus on long-term benefits. The Hajj Complex was developed as a strategic, cross-generational initiative,” Pandu explained. [antaranews]
