Maisah

The export will cut catering costs and meet pilgrims’ preference for Indonesian rice, with shipments targeted during early Ramadan.

Key Takeaways

• Indonesia plans to ship 2,280 tonnes of rice to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj season.
• The rice will serve 205,420 pilgrims and officers across 111 meals during their stay.
• This will reduces costs and caters to pilgrims’ preference for local rice texture.

Indonesia is preparing to export 2,280 tonnes of domestically produced rice to Saudi Arabia for the 2026 Hajj pilgrimage, serving an estimated 205,420 Indonesian pilgrims and Hajj officers. The shipment is targeted for the first week of Ramadan 1447 AH to ensure arrival well ahead of the pilgrimage season.

Hajj and Umrah Minister Mochamad Irfan Yusuf announced the plan during a briefing at the Pondok Gede Hajj Dormitory in Jakarta. He detailed that the rice allocation is calculated based on the complete meal schedule for each pilgrim: 78 meals in Makkah, 27 meals in Madinah, and six meals during the Armuzna (Arafah, Muzdalifah, Mina) phase, totaling 111 meals per person.

Each meal package will contain 170 grams of rice, 80 grams of side dishes, 75 grams of vegetables, and mineral water. The total rice requirement is calculated at approximately 2,280 tonnes for the entire contingent.

Currently, Saudi catering providers use rice imported from other countries at a cost of nearly Rp17,000 (approximately US$1) per kilogram. By supplying Indonesian rice, the cost is projected to drop to around Rp16,000 per kilogram, achieving significant efficiency across 22.8 million meals.

Beyond cost savings, the decision responds to Indonesian pilgrims’ strong preference for domestic rice, which they describe as having superior texture and taste compared to imported varieties. Coordinating Minister for Food Affairs Zulkifli Hasan confirmed that the government is optimizing Indonesia’s abundant rice reserves to support the program.

The National Food Agency (Bapanas) will issue an official assignment letter to state logistics company Bulog to execute the export plan. This marks one of the largest state-facilitated food exports specifically tailored for Indonesian pilgrims abroad.

Published Date: February 12, 2026