Makkah: Makkah Region hosts 640 food factories, underscoring their vital economic role in meeting pilgrims' needs and extending their impact to regional and international markets, as Saudi Arabia's national food industry has reached a level of maturity that enables it to serve the world's largest human gathering during the Hajj season.

According to Saudi Press Agency, the industrial sector in Makkah has shifted from a seasonal supplier to a year-round system providing continuous services, a transformation that achieves two complementary objectives: supporting economic development and serving pilgrims with continuity and efficiency, as the food products consumed by pilgrims are locally manufactured by skilled Saudi hands.

The Jeddah Food Cluster, launched in 2024, represents a qualitative leap in the industrial sector, comprising more than 354 factories, with a target of reaching 800 factories by 2035 and investments exceeding SAR20 billion. Meanwhile, occupancy rates in industrial cities in Makkah Region have reached 95%, among the highest in the Kingdom, reflecting strong investor confidence in these vital areas.

The industrial and logistics base in Makkah Region serves as a key pillar in meeting pilgrims' needs, as the Ministry of Industry and Mineral Resources, in cooperation with Saudi Authority for Industrial Cities and Technology Zones 'MODON', oversees the preparation of more than 735,000 square metres of space for seasonal zones covering food supply, catering, and service kitchens, ensuring the highest standards of quality and reliability during the season, while the industrial sector seeks through these efforts to develop advanced infrastructure underpinning all initiatives aimed at serving pilgrims.