National Nutrition Agency Proposes Free Nutritious Meals for Indonesian Schoolchildren in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia

JEDDAH - Head of the National Nutrition Agency (BGN) Dadan Hindayana is exploring the possibility of providing Free Nutritious Meals (MBG) at the Indonesian School in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

‘If approved by the President, this would be the first pilot (MBG abroad),’ he said when met at King Abdul Aziz Airport in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Sunday 31 May 2026 evening.

Dadan visited the Indonesian School in Jeddah, which educates children of Indonesian Migrant Workers (PMI) in Jeddah on Sunday 31 May 2026 local time.

‘They are very well-informed about the MBG information in Indonesia. They spontaneously want to enjoy the programme enjoyed by their peers in Indonesia,’ Dadan said.

Besides this school, there is also an Indonesian school in Mecca with around 400 students.

‘Even though it was a holiday, the children at the Jeddah Indonesian School were enthusiastic waiting for my arrival, with around 100 people including 56 teachers welcoming me,’ he added.

The initial findings will be reported to President Prabowo Subianto. If approved, the Jeddah school will be the first overseas school to implement the MBG programme.

‘We came to assess and will report to the President whether it is possible to establish a Nutrition Service Unit (SPPG) at the Indonesian School in Jeddah,’ he said.

According to him, the procedure for establishing the MBG programme abroad is not much different from in Indonesia. However, coordination between agencies and ministries, namely the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Basic and Secondary Education, is required.

‘The mechanism is the same as in the homeland; we will partner with stakeholders for the SPPG,’ he said.

If implemented, the MBG menu will be adjusted to local ingredient availability. Menus can vary between Saudi Arabian dishes and traditional Indonesian cuisine.

‘Adjusted according to local raw material availability,’ he said.