Indonesia is positioning itself to become a major supplier in the global Hajj and Umrah food chain, targeting sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, livestock and processed halal goods. The ambition was set out at the Indonesia-Saudi Arabia Partnership Forum 2026, a business matching event held in early August 2026 that brought producers, exporters and pilgrimage service providers together with Saudi importers.

A wider catering opportunity

According to Prof. Dr. Jaenal Effendi, Director General of Hajj and Umrah Economic Ecosystem Development at Indonesia's Ministry of Hajj and Umrah, the opportunity extends well beyond ready-to-eat meals. He said Hajj catering requirements encompass a wide range of commodities, including rice, meat, fish, vegetables, spices and processed products.

Effendi, speaking in a statement dated August 4, said this breadth offers openings for Indonesia's agriculture, livestock, fisheries and food industries to integrate into the pilgrimage supply chain. He stressed that realizing the potential requires connectivity, coordination and structured partnerships so that Indonesian products can compete and remain sustainable in the Saudi market.

The forum was organized by the Amanah Hajj and Umrah Association of the Republic of Indonesia, known as ASHURI, under the theme "Building Strategic Partnerships for a Sustainable Pilgrim Supply Chain." It gathered government officials, business players, exporters, importers, logistics companies, pilgrimage service providers and investors from both countries.

Halal food and the domestic economy

ASHURI Chairman Nur Faidzin said the forum supports the government's vision of strengthening the Hajj and Umrah economic ecosystem in a way that delivers tangible benefits to the public and the business community. He described Indonesia as holding great potential as a global producer of high-quality halal food.

Commodities such as rice, cooking spices, cooking oil, processed foods and beverages, along with catering raw materials, could help meet the consumption needs of millions of Hajj and Umrah pilgrims each year, he said. Faidzin argued that this would boost national exports while generating added value for farmers, micro, small and medium enterprises, the food industry and logistics firms.

The event gave business players a platform to present products, hold discussions and explore partnerships, including the signing of memoranda of understanding between Indonesian and Saudi companies. Representatives from Saudi importers expressed a commitment to strengthening cooperation by importing food raw materials and halal products to serve pilgrims, particularly the large annual contingent from Indonesia.

Why it matters

Indonesia sends one of the largest national contingents to Hajj each year, and its pilgrims have long expressed a preference for familiar food during their stay in the Kingdom. Building a direct supply channel could align Indonesian tastes with the catering served in Makkah, Madinah and the holy sites, while opening a durable export market for local producers.

For businesses and pilgrims following this development, several points stand out:

  • Halal certification is central. Producers seeking to enter the Saudi pilgrimage market should ensure their halal credentials are complete and internationally recognized.
  • Logistics partnerships matter. Reliable shipping and cold-chain arrangements will be essential for perishable goods such as fish, meat and vegetables.
  • MSMEs can participate. The initiative explicitly aims to bring small and medium enterprises into the supply chain, not only large exporters.
  • Pilgrims may benefit. A stronger supply link could mean more familiar, quality catering for Indonesian pilgrims in future seasons.

The forum, officials said, is intended not only as a one-off business meeting but as a foundation for a lasting ecosystem connecting Indonesian producers to the pilgrimage economy.