Meunasah Dayah LT – small village in Lhoksukon district, near the administrative center of North Aceh regency
Meunasah Dayah LT is an Indonesian small village (gampong) located within the territory of Kecamatan Lhoksukon, under Kabupaten Aceh Utara, in Aceh province, in the northernmost part of Sumatra island. Based on its coordinates (4.9967467° N, 97.334103° E), it is situated not far from the district center, in the region's lowland agricultural zone. The administrative center of Kabupaten Aceh Utara is Lhoksukon city; the regency's area is 2,705.26 km², its population was 602,793 according to the 2020 census, with official estimates for mid-2025 showing 647,619 inhabitants. No independent, village-level statistical source is available for Meunasah Dayah LT; therefore, the following discussion relies on data verifiable at the district and regency level, with this clearly indicated.
General overview
Meunasah Dayah LT is one of the gampongs (villages) of Kecamatan Lhoksukon, administratively belonging to Kabupaten Aceh Utara. The word "meunasah" in Acehnese tradition refers to a building type serving community and religious functions, its name appearing in numerous place names throughout the region. Kecamatan Lhoksukon has postal code 24382 and is one district of Kabupaten Aceh Utara. According to data available at the district level, Kabupaten Aceh Utara is one of the largest industrial regions outside Java, particularly since the opening of the PT Arun LNG liquefied natural gas processing facility in 1974. In the agricultural sector, the regency is known as an important rice producer. Lhoksukon itself, to which Meunasah Dayah LT belongs, is the regency's administrative center, with an area of 243 km²; the 2020 census registered 49,733 inhabitants, with mid-2023 estimates indicating 51,421 residents. In close proximity to the gampong flows the Krueng Peuto river, whose flooding periodically affects villages in Kecamatan Lhoksukon: on a recent occasion, the overflowing of Krueng Peuto affected five villages in the district. This indicates that the lower-lying settlements in the area – likely including Meunasah Dayah LT – are exposed to periodic flood risk, although village-level data on specific impact is not available. The inhabitants of Kabupaten Aceh Utara are predominantly Muslim; religious minorities are free to practice their own religions.
Real estate and investment
No independent local real estate market data is known to be available for Meunasah Dayah LT. The broader regional context – at the level of Kabupaten Aceh Utara and Aceh province – is described below. Kabupaten Aceh Utara is the region of Aceh province with the highest economic potential; per capita income without oil and gas exceeds 1.4 million rupiah, while including oil and gas it reaches 6 million rupiah. The province's investment strategy identifies four main sectors: agroindustry, energy and infrastructure, tourism, and Aceh economic development zones. From a real estate market perspective, transaction volume across Aceh province is relatively low compared to more tourism-frequented Indonesian regions. For foreign buyers, the general framework of Indonesian land ownership regulations applies: according to Indonesian agrarian law, foreigners cannot acquire full ownership (Hak Milik), as land ownership is reserved exclusively for Indonesian citizens. Foreigners may lease property for a maximum of 30 years, which can be extended by one 20-year renewal. Under relevant regulations, foreigners may acquire residential property rights through Hak Pakai (usage rights) or obtain ownership in residential buildings through strata title form. Aceh province's unique legal status is also influenced by the fact that it is the only Indonesian province possessing special privileges and broad autonomy in self-administration. All of this necessitates thorough familiarity with the local regulatory environment before any real estate transaction.
Safety and security
No source providing specific public safety statistics for Meunasah Dayah LT is known. The following can be verifiably established regarding the broader province's characteristics. Aceh province is the only Indonesian province that applies its own Islamic penal law, known as jinayah. The province enforces Islamic penal law in certain provisions; the legislation implementing this is called Qanun Jinayah, and although Indonesia's secular laws are also in force in Aceh, the province's special autonomy allows it to adopt supplementary regulations. According to the Jakarta Aceh provincial office, foreign nationals – both Muslim and non-Muslim – are exempt from the application of Sharia. According to 2024 data, the provisions of Aceh's Sharia law and corporal punishment apply only to Muslims, according to the head of the provincial office of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Aceh province. The general public safety situation in Aceh Utara cannot be precisely characterized based on available regional context, as general applicable criminal statistics are not available from sources at either provincial or regency level. It is recommended to consult the most current travel advisories and information from local authorities.
Tourist attractions
No named tourist attractions identifiable in sources are known for Meunasah Dayah LT itself. However, the broader territory of Kecamatan Lhoksukon and Kabupaten Aceh Utara contains numerous verifiably named attractions. Near the district seat, Lhoksukon, is located the Rumah Cut Meutia museum: the former residence of national heroine Cut Meutia, a building converted into a museum, standing in Gampong Masjid Pirak village, within Kecamatan Matang Kuli (Kabupaten Aceh Utara); it is accessible approximately 31 kilometers from Lhokseumawe city, but only about 9 kilometers from Lhoksukon city. Within the territory of Kabupaten Aceh Utara is also found Pantai Lancok beach, located in Gampong Lancok village, within Kecamatan Syamtalira Bayu. Among the regency's natural attractions is the Air Terjun Tujuh Bidadari (Seven Fairies Waterfall), a seven-tiered waterfall located in the middle of a forest, accessible only through difficult terrain; the forest is named Syiah Utama Selatan, Syiah Utama. In Lhoksukon city, the Masjid Agung Baiturrahim Lhoksukon (locally known as Mesjid Raya Lhoksukon) is a well-known religious attraction of Kecamatan Lhoksukon, with postal coordinates: Meunasah Asan Ab, Lhoksukon, Kabupaten Aceh Utara. These attractions are not located within Meunasah Dayah LT itself, but rather in the broader territory of the district and regency.
Summary
Meunasah Dayah LT is a small-sized gampong in Kecamatan Lhoksukon, near the administrative center of Kabupaten Aceh Utara, in Aceh province, in the northern part of Sumatra. No village-level statistical or tourism data is available from sources for the village; however, the broader region of Kecamatan Lhoksukon and Kabupaten Aceh Utara can be characterized by its industrial and agricultural potential, as well as by its natural and historical attractions accessible nearby. For foreigners planning to acquire property and reside in the area, thorough familiarity with Indonesian and Aceh's special legal regulations is essential.
