Ministry of Hajj and Umrah: 23 Kitchens to Provide Meals for Indonesian Hajj Pilgrims in Madinah

The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) has assured that meal services for Indonesian hajj pilgrims during their time in Madinah are ready and operating optimally. A total of 23 catering kitchens have been prepared to meet the pilgrims’ dining needs in accordance with established quality standards.

The Head of the Consumption Section of the Madinah Working Area Office (Daker), Beny Darmawan, stated that all kitchens have undergone a rigorous selection process to ensure food quality, cleanliness, and safety. “All kitchens have been selected and are ready to serve Indonesian hajj pilgrims,” he said in an official statement, quoted on Tuesday, 21 April 2026.

During their approximately nine days in Madinah, pilgrims will receive 27 meals, or three per day, following the Indonesian eating pattern. Kemenhaj also emphasises the importance of maintaining food quality and taste to suit the pilgrims’ preferences.

To achieve this, cooking spices are imported directly from Indonesia in the form of prepared pastes. Each kitchen is required to have at least two main chefs and four assistants from Indonesia. “This requirement must be met, and all kitchens have complied,” Beny said.

He noted that meal service readiness has reached 100 percent ahead of the arrival of the first wave of hajj pilgrims on Wednesday, 22 April 2026. All aspects, from raw materials to cooking personnel, are reported to be fully prepared.

Kemenhaj has also prepared special menus for elderly pilgrims. Adjustments include softer rice texture or processing it into porridge for easier digestion.

For supervision, Kemenhaj implements a multi-layered system to ensure food safety. Inspections are conducted from raw materials, cooking processes, to serving. Food samples are tested at three points: the Madinah Daker Office, the Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic (KKHI), and the pilgrims’ accommodation sector.

Additionally, consumption officers at hotels conduct checks before meals are served to the pilgrims. With this scheme, Kemenhaj states that pilgrims can perform their worship more peacefully without worrying about meals during their time in Madinah.