Ambassador Salem Balfakeeh Attends Opening of “From Batavia to the House of Allah” Exhibition in Jakarta

His Excellency Ambassador Salem Ahmed Balfakeeh attended on Thursday, August 20, 2026, the opening of the “From Batavia to the House of God” (Dari Batavia ke Baitullah) exhibition, organized by the Jakarta Museums Administration under the Jakarta Provincial Government at the Museum of Archaeology on Onrust Island. The exhibition highlights the history of Indonesian pilgrimage journeys to the holy lands, the maritime routes followed by pilgrims in the past, and the religious, commercial, and cultural exchanges that developed along these routes between the Indonesian archipelago and the Arabian Peninsula. Yemen, through its historic ports of Aden, Hadramout, and Hodeidah, played a role within the network of maritime routes connecting the Indonesian archipelago with the Arabian Peninsula. Benefiting from its strategic geographical location and longstanding historical ties with Indonesia, Yemen contributed to the development of deep civilizational, cultural, and religious bonds between the two peoples. Ambassador Balfakeeh’s participation reflects the Embassy’s interest in highlighting Yemen’s presence in the shared history with Indonesia, strengthening cultural cooperation between the two countries, and showcasing the depth of the historic and civilizational ties that have connected their peoples through centuries of maritime, commercial, religious, and cultural exchange.