Hajj and Umrah Spending Reaches Rp60 Trillion Annually as DPR Oversight Team Highlights Foreign Supply Dependence

DPR 2026 Hajj Oversight Team member Nurdin Halid has called for better utilisation of Indonesian food products to meet the needs of Indonesian Hajj and Umrah pilgrims in Saudi Arabia. Nurdin stated that the economic value of Hajj and Umrah consumption reaches Rp60 trillion annually, highlighting it as a significant market opportunity for Indonesian farmers, fishermen, small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and cooperatives. ‘With 221,000 Hajj pilgrims in 2026, the economic value of consumption alone amounts to Rp18.2 trillion. When combined with approximately 1.7 million Umrah pilgrims, the total reaches over Rp60 trillion annually. This potential must be harnessed to boost the national and people’s economy,’ Nurdin said in a statement on Tuesday (26 May 2026). He explained that for the 221,000 Indonesian Hajj pilgrims in 2026, the economic turnover for food consumption is Rp18.2 trillion. This figure is based on 2.78 million catering boxes for 111 meals per person over 40 days, managed by 75 kitchens across Mecca and Medina. The 2026 Hajj catering cost is set at 40 riyals per day, equivalent to approximately Rp180,000 (at an exchange rate of Rp4,500 per riyal). Nurdin highlighted that this substantial economic potential remains underutilised. He noted that Indonesia’s Hajj catering food supplies have largely depended on products from Thailand, Vietnam, Brazil, and Middle Eastern countries. Therefore, Nurdin urged the Hajj and Umrah logistics and catering sectors to adopt economic strategies prioritising domestic products and national food industries. ‘The Hajj momentum should generate a multiplier effect for national businesses. Indonesia has abundant products from farmers, livestock breeders, fishermen, SMEs, and cooperatives capable of supplying various catering needs, from rice and vegetables to meat and spices,’ Nurdin added.