A former national football player has turned his attention from the pitch to the kitchen, opening a food business in the Holy Land with the aim of serving Malaysian-style meals to pilgrims performing their religious journey.
Hairudin Omar said the idea came about during his own umrah pilgrimage, when he noticed many Malaysian pilgrims struggling to find food that suited their taste preferences while in Makkah.
He said the experience inspired him to introduce familiar Malaysian dishes abroad, allowing pilgrims to enjoy meals that remind them of home while focusing on their worship. “When I was here for umrah, I met many pilgrims who had difficulty finding Malaysian food in Makkah. That was when the idea started,” he explained.
Hairudin later established a restaurant serving local Malaysian favourites such as nasi lemak, roti canai and asam pedas. He added that the initiative is not purely business-driven, but also a way to ease the experience of pilgrims during their stay in the Holy Land.
However, he acknowledged that operating a food business in Saudi Arabia comes with strict regulations, particularly in food safety standards and kitchen requirements set by local authorities. Despite the challenges, he remained committed to maintaining quality and authenticity.
To ensure consistency, Hairudin brought in three Malaysian chefs to prepare dishes in a central kitchen. The restaurant now serves almost 100 per cent Malaysian-style menus, including nasi dagang and other traditional kampung dishes.
He also revealed that the business supplies meals to several pilgrim hotels, as some guests are only provided with lunch and dinner. To address this, additional breakfast options were introduced to better serve the needs of Malaysian travellers.
Beyond cooked meals, the business also provides essential Malaysian grocery items such as soy sauce, instant noodles and sambal, helping pilgrims feel more at ease during their spiritual journey.
