Ministry of Hajj and Umrah Prepares Ready-to-Eat Meals for Pilgrims Ahead of Hajj Peak

REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, MAKKAH — The Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) of the Republic of Indonesia provides ready-to-eat meals for Indonesian Hajj pilgrims from the run-up to the peak of the pilgrimage through afterwards. The scheme was chosen as it is deemed more practical to distribute amid the density of millions of pilgrims, while still meeting nutritional needs.

Juru Bicara Kemenhaj Maria Assegaff said the catering service is one of the government’s main focuses during the peak phase of Hajj in Arafat, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna) 1447 Hijri/2026, alongside transport and accommodation aspects.

According to her, catering is not merely about providing meals, but an important part of the effort to maintain the stamina and health of pilgrims as they go through the demanding and energy-draining sequence of Hajj rites.

“The Armuzna phase is a period that is very dense and complex. Distribution of large quantities of food at the same time requires cross-sector coordination, precise logistics management, and optimal transport readiness,” Maria said a while ago.

The government has chosen the ready-to-eat meals (RTE) scheme as a solution for catering during the lead-up to, during, and after the peak of Hajj.

Maria explains there are four main considerations behind using ready-to-eat meals for Indonesian pilgrims. First, the speed of distributing meals to the pilgrims’ hotels. Second, the ease of consumption amid high mobility during Armuzna.