Ministry of Religious Affairs to provide 15 ready-to-eat meals during the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage

The Ministry of Religious Affairs has ensured the availability of 15 portions of ready-to-eat (RTE) meals with Indonesian flavours for Indonesian pilgrims during the peak of the Hajj pilgrimage. The Director General of Hajj Ecosystem Development at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Jaenal Effendi, stated that the special Indonesian menu, such as rendang, is prepared to alleviate the pilgrims’ longing for their homeland and provide them with comfort and peace of mind during their worship. “The meals will be distributed from the kitchen to all hotels. Hopefully, this will run smoothly so that our pilgrims can perform their worship in peace,” said Jaenal after a meeting with catering service providers in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, on Friday (May 15) evening. He explained that the distribution of ready-to-eat meals to all hotels for Indonesian pilgrims will be carried out on 6 Dzulhijjah 1447 H or May 23, 2026. During the peak Hajj rituals in Arafah, Muzdalifah, and Mina (Armuzna) from the afternoon of 8 Dzulhijjah to the morning of 13 Dzulhijjah, the food supply for pilgrims will be handled by the Saudi Hajj service provider companies, namely Rakeen Mashariq and Albait Guest. “This (food provided by the companies) is ready and will be distributed,” said Jaenal. The Ministry of Religious Affairs, through the Hajj Pilgrimage Organising Officers (PPIH) in Saudi Arabia, continues to strictly maintain the quality standards of the meals. Monitoring is carried out thoroughly, starting from the selection of raw materials to ensuring the involvement of Indonesian cooks in the kitchens. Jaenal expressed his gratitude that, so far, the catering providers have met the three main service indicators, namely maintaining the quality of Indonesian flavours, providing portions (grammage) that meet standards, and ensuring timely delivery to the hotels of the pilgrims. His team will continue to carry out periodic monitoring and evaluation to ensure the best service for the guests of Allah.