Haj Ministry Inspectorate Raids Madinah Kitchen, Demands Timely Meal Deliveries for Pilgrims

The Inspector General (Irjen) of the Ministry of Haj and Umrah, Dendi Suryadi, conducted a surprise inspection (sidak) of the Uhud Astoneast Kitchen in Madinah on Wednesday (10/6/2026). This facility is one of 23 kitchens contracted to serve the consumption needs of Indonesian pilgrims during their stay in Madinah. During the visit, Dendi meticulously checked the production flow and operational standards applied by the catering service provider.

In front of the managers, Dendi stressed the importance of maintaining service standards so that pilgrims can worship peacefully. “I ask that you ensure the entire distribution of pilgrim consumption is truly on time, in the correct quantity, and of course, must be of the right quality. There must be no delays that make it difficult for pilgrims to meet their nutritional needs,” Dendi said.

The Uhud Astoneast Kitchen is of particular interest because it is owned by an Indonesian citizen and employs many workers from the homeland, including a team of chefs. Dendi appreciated this and encouraged the preservation of Indonesian cuisine flavours. He assessed that serving food with a distinctive Indonesian taste is crucial for maintaining the stamina and appetite of pilgrims during their Haj pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

Furthermore, the Inspector General also encouraged the kitchen to further optimise the supply of raw materials, especially cooking spices, imported directly from Indonesia. This step is taken not only to preserve the authenticity of taste but also to empower domestic products. In addition, Dendi reminded the owner to manage finances transparently, ensuring the owner receives full profits without any undue budget leakage.

Responding to this direction, the owner of the Uhud Astoneast Kitchen, Rosyida, fully guaranteed the quality of service provided. She affirmed that her party is highly committed to maintaining pilgrim satisfaction. “We ensure that the majority of spices we use are indeed imported directly from Indonesia to maintain the authentic taste that pilgrims favour, and we will continue to uphold this standard until the entire Haj operational series is complete,” said Rosyida.