Ministry of Hajj Deploys 23 Kitchens in Madinah for Indonesian Pilgrims

JAKARTA, KOMPAS.com - The Indonesian Ministry of Hajj and Umrah (Kemenhaj) has deployed 23 catering kitchens to serve Indonesian Hajj pilgrims in Madinah.

Beny Darmawan, Head of Consumption at the Madinah Hajj Affairs Office, stated that all kitchens have undergone a rigorous selection process to guarantee food quality, cleanliness, and safety.

“A total of 23 catering kitchens have been deployed to meet the pilgrims’ dining needs in accordance with established quality standards. All kitchens have been selected and are ready to serve Indonesian Hajj pilgrims,” Beny said in Madinah, quoted from a press release on Tuesday (21/4/2026).

“Not only the quantity, but food quality is also a primary concern to ensure it remains suitable for the pilgrims’ tastes,” Beny added.

To preserve the distinctive Indonesian flavour, all cooking spices are imported directly from the homeland in the form of prepared pastes.

“This requirement must be met, and all kitchens have complied,” he stated.

Kemenhaj also provides special attention to elderly pilgrims (lansia).

Food menus can be adjusted, such as making the rice texture softer or turning it into porridge for easier digestion.

He added that the readiness of consumption services has reached 100 percent ahead of the arrival of the first wave of Hajj pilgrims on Wednesday (22/4/2026).

All aspects, from the availability of raw materials to the cooking staff, have been ensured to be ready.

In terms of supervision, Kemenhaj implements a multi-layered system to guarantee food safety and quality.

“Supervision is carried out from checking raw materials, the cooking process, to serving the food to the pilgrims,” he explained.

Food sample inspections are conducted at three points: the Madinah Hajj Affairs Office, the Indonesian Hajj Health Clinic (KKHI), and the pilgrims’ accommodation sector.

Consumption staff at the hotels also check the food before it is served to the pilgrims.