Indonesian Hajj Dam Meat to Be Distributed to Palestinians

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah of the Republic of Indonesia has confirmed that the majority of the dam haji meat from Indonesian Haj pilgrims in 2026, which will be slaughtered in the Holy Land, will be distributed to Palestinians. The move is being coordinated through the Adahi programme and the Government of Saudi Arabia, in line with instructions from President Prabowo Subianto.

Dam haji is the mandatory penalty meat imposed on pilgrims for violations of rules or for certain acts of worship (such as using perfume during ihram or for some prohibited acts), or for not observing obligatory Hajj. It takes the form of slaughtering a livestock animal in the Haram or by fasting instead.

Deputy Minister of Hajj and Umrah, Dahnil Anzar Simanjuntak, said the government has asked that the dam haji meat from Indonesian pilgrims be prioritized for Palestinians in need.

“We have asked Adahi and, specifically, the Government of Saudi Arabia to distribute these dam haji meats to the Palestinian people,” Dahnil said in Mecca on Friday, 22 May 2026.

According to Dahnil, the policy is a gesture of Indonesia’s care for the Palestinian people and also broadens the benefits of the pilgrims’ dam worship. “This aligns with the President’s directive to give greater attention to our brothers and sisters in Palestine. The President hopes the dam haji meat from Indonesian pilgrims can be distributed to Palestinians in need,” he added.

Regarding dam haji management, the Ministry confirms that this year’s dam haji management will be more orderly and transparent. By Friday morning Saudi time, the total dam paid by pilgrims stood at 126,832 hadyu (slaughter animals).

Breakdown: 90,956 hadyu will be slaughtered in the Holy Land through the Adahi programme; 32,691 slaughtered in Indonesia; 3,195 pilgrims observed fasting; and 1,076 pilgrims performed hajj ifrad. “In the history of pilgrimages, nothing has been as orderly as this. In previous years, data recorded only around 10,000 hadyu. This year it has jumped to 126,000 in an orderly manner,” Dahnil said.

The slaughtering of dam in the Holy Land is scheduled to commence on 10 Zulhijah or Wednesday, 27 May 2026. The process will be witnessed directly by representatives of the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah and journalists as a demonstration of transparency to the public and the pilgrims.