At its height in the ninth and tenth centuries, Baghdad was arguably the wellness capital of the world. The historian Hilal al-Sabi' (969-1056) put the number of bathhouses in the city at its height at 60,000, a figure most historians now treat as inflated but one that still captures how central bathing culture was to Abbasid life. 

The Bimaristan al-Adudi, built on the banks of the Tigris in 981, employed dozens of physicians and doubled as a teaching hospital. It treated patients of any background free of charge and ranked among the most advanced medical institutions anywhere in the medieval world.

That was a thousand years ago. Ask most travellers today to name the Middle East's next wellness destination, and they are unlikely to say Iraq, let alone connect it to that history. For most of the past two decades, the idea would have sounded absurd. The 2003 invasion and the sectarian violence that followed left Iraq associated with survival, not well-being. Then came the ISIS occupation of the country's north from 2014 to 2017, which set any such ambitions back further still. That a wellness sector is now emerging, however modestly, is a turnaround few would have predicted ten years ago.
 

Change is underway 
A convergence of international hotel brands returning after decades of absence, Kurdish mountain terrain generating a micro-boom in nature retreats, an ancient therapeutic springs tradition being slowly restored, and a government that has, for the first time, framed tourism as a serious national priority, has all led to a return to Baghdad's past.

While none of this yet adds up to a rival to the UAE's ultra-luxury spa resorts or Jordan's Dead Sea wellness circuit, the foundations are being laid, and the pace of change since 2022 is faster than most observers expected.

The numbers, in context
The scale of Iraq's tourism revival depends on how you count it. Iraq's tourism minister announced in late 2024 that over 400,000 tourists visited the country that year, up sharply from just 120,000 in 2022, according to Iraqi News. A broader measure of inbound arrivals, which includes religious pilgrims and transit visitors, puts the 2024 figure at 892,000, ranking Iraq seventh in the Arab world, according to Shafaq News, citing Country Cassette data. The two figures use different counting definitions and are not directly comparable; both, however, point in the same direction.

Tourism revenue climbed to $5.7 billion in 2024, up from $4.6 billion the year before, according to the Iraqi Tourism Authority. Iraq still trails regional leaders by a wide margin. The UAE recorded $57 billion in tourism revenue in the same period, and Saudi Arabia $41 billion.

Much of Iraq's inbound tourism remains driven by religious pilgrimage. The Arbaeen pilgrimage alone brought over 3.4 million foreign visitors in 2024, according to government figures cited by Karbala Intelligence. The leisure and wellness segment remains nascent by comparison.

Baghdad's selection as the Capital of Arab Tourism for 2025 by the Arab Tourism Organisation brought renewed investment pressure on the hospitality sector, most visibly in the opening of what Accor described as the country's first internationally branded hotel to launch in over 40 years.
 

Baghdad's first international brand in a generation
Accor's Mövenpick Hotel Al Zaytoon Baghdad was inaugurated by Prime Minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani in April 2025 and is set within the Green Zone, according to Accor, as a hub for corporate travellers and high-end leisure guests. The property has 197 contemporary rooms and suites, plus 72 serviced residential-style apartments, six restaurants, bars and lounges, and leisure facilities spanning three pools. Wellness amenities include jacuzzis, saunas, steam rooms and beauty services with separate men's and women's areas.

Raki Phillips, Accor's Regional President for the Middle East, Africa, and Türkiye, framed the opening as a signal of confidence. Writing on LinkedIn, he said the debut reflects "the strength of our partnerships and the growing confidence in a market that is entering an exciting new chapter of development."

Baghdad's existing high-end options continue to hold their ground alongside the new arrival. The Babylon Rotana has a full spa within its distinctive ziggurat-style building. Further north in Erbil, the Divan operates a 1,300-square-metre spa and fitness centre, including a Turkish bath, sauna, steam room, indoor pool, and six massage rooms, according to its property listing on Travelmyth.

But some of the most telling signs of Baghdad's wellness shift are at street level rather than at five-star hotels. 

Mahdi Zwein, founder of the newsletter Mahdi In Iraq and a close observer of Baghdad's changing consumer culture, describes a city where disposable income is flowing into health and leisure in ways unimaginable a decade ago. Speaking to Salaam Gateway: "There's a women-only spa and day-club in Karrada that offers spa treatments, sports like padel and tennis, and even dental services under one roof," he added. "And there are women-only psychological wellness retreats that run programmes in the mountains — they take groups to Korek Mountain and use resorts there for yoga, Pilates and therapy-focused retreats." 

Zwein sees a clear driver behind it all: "Previously, people used to care about electricity, bombs and everything. Now they still do, but it's much less. There's a lot of money, a lot of cash, and people want to spend their time in places similar to the outside. They're starting to take care of their health. That's why gyms are getting better, wellness is getting better, everything."

The padel boom he references is independently documented: Baghdad was the first Iraqi city to adopt the sport, after which it began spreading to other governorates, according to 964 Media, with courts now operating in Erbil, Fallujah and Ramadi. The broader retreat trend is also verifiable. Retreat Iraq, which describes itself as Iraq's first luxury therapeutic retreat for women, markets programmes that combine psychology, yoga, meditation, nature, and spa treatments, using mountain resorts in Kurdistan as its setting.
 

Kurdistan's mountain wellness frontier
The clearest evidence of Iraq's emerging wellness character is found in the mountains of Iraqi Kurdistan. The Radisson Blu Resort & Spa, Korek Mountain, accessed via a four-kilometre cable car through the Soran Valley, sits in the Zagros range and combines outdoor activities, including skiing, snowboarding, and hiking, with a full spa, an indoor pool, and panoramic mountain-view dining, according to the Radisson Hotels website. 
 

Rixos Duhok, the Turkish luxury brand's Iraqi outpost, brings a comparable standard to the north. According to the property's listing on Trip.com, its Rixos Royal SPA offers a traditional Turkish hammam experience, along with sauna, steam, and relaxation facilities.

The emergence of smaller, nature-first properties may be more telling of where the Kurdish region is heading. Risha Resort in Przhé, in the Choman district of Erbil, describes itself on its own website as an eco-friendly retreat perched 2,000 metres above sea level, beside a quiet river and spring and surrounded by Iraq's tallest mountains. It has tents, villas and hill villas, and frames its proposition around altitude, nature and restorative quiet, closer to what international wellness travellers recognise as a retreat than anything in Baghdad.
 

At the policy level, the Kurdistan Regional Government has focused on improving access to natural sites by upgrading roads and investing in tourism-friendly infrastructure, according to Kurdistan 24. Private sector investment has followed. Environmentally friendly lodges and nature retreats have opened across the region, alongside a growing supply of low-impact tour services.

An ancient tradition being restored
Iraq's wellness story has roots far older than any five-star hotel. Hammam al-Alil, whose name translates as "the baths of the sick," is a spa town on the western bank of the Tigris River, roughly 30 kilometres south of Mosul, where for centuries Iraqis travelled to receive treatment from its therapeutic waters. The sulfur-rich geothermal springs are said to be effective for skin disease, rheumatism and arthritis, a tradition documented in Arabic texts dating to the 10th century, according to an academic field study of Iraqi therapeutic tourism published in Lex Localis (2025).

The site was occupied and desecrated by ISIS from 2014 until its liberation in November 2016. In 2019, according to Wikipedia, citing Iraqi government sources, authorities undertook renovation works costing $500,000. Since then, the mineral spa has been drawing visitors from across Iraq, including Iraqis who had not returned since before the conflict. 

The national strategy behind the revival
These individual developments are increasingly backed by policy. The Iraqi Tourism Authority, in a strategy approved by the federal Cabinet and announced publicly in January 2026, has set a target of attracting 10 million international visitors by 2035. The plan, developed with a German consultancy, calls for restoring major tourist sites, upgrading basic infrastructure, training local human resources and increasing tourism's contribution to national GDP. Ali Yasin Abdul-Ridha, the Authority's Director of Relations and Media, described it as treating tourism as "a comprehensive state-wide project."
 

And while Iraq is not yet building world-class wellness retreats in the sense that the phrase implies an internationally competitive sector, the pieces are assembling. 

For decades, the global conversation around the annual Hajj pilgrimage has been around scale. Millions of pilgrims. Vast crowds. Endless logistics. But the most meaningful transformation in recent years has been less about scale and more about the experience. 

Increasingly, the kingdom is redesigning Hajj and Umrah as a unified process that begins long before a pilgrim reaches the holy city of Makkah and continues through every stage of the pilgrim’s worship and movement.

“Saudi Arabia is building a pilgrimage system that is not only bigger, but more organized, more responsive, and more aware of the person moving through it,” says Abdulrahman Alkheraigi, communication advisor at the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

At its core, this evolution reflects Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 ambition to make Hajj and Umrah journeys more seamless, while preserving the sanctity of the pilgrimage itself.

“If I had to pick the single most meaningful shift, it would be the move away from a fragmented, manual system to a more integrated journey,” Mohammed Binmahfouz, founder and CEO of digital platform Umrahme tells Salaam Gateway. 

“That sounds obvious when you say it, but if you were operating in this space five or six years ago, you would know how far things have come.”

Fragmented to digital

For many pilgrims, the Hajj travel experience once began with uncertainty.

Applications were often handled through layers of intermediaries. Information could be inconsistent. Language barriers complicated planning. Pilgrims frequently relied on informal advice networks to navigate one of the most important journeys of their lives.

Saudi Arabia’s growing digital ecosystem is changing that.

Platforms such as Nusuk and Nusuk Hajj now allow pilgrims to access permits, accommodation, transportation information, and verified packages more directly. The system is still evolving, but the psychological impact is already significant.

“Better access to information, greater transparency, digital permits, and the ability to manage key parts of the journey without going through a chain of intermediaries are all significant,” says Binmahfouz, who has also worked with the Ministry of Hajj and Umrah to develop a digitalization roadmap.

“For pilgrims arriving from dozens of countries with different languages and expectations, that is more important than people outside the industry might appreciate.”

Behind the scenes, the improvements go beyond digital convenience. They reflect a broader restructuring of how the pilgrimage sector functions.

“What I find equally notable is how much work has gone into coordinating the ecosystem around the pilgrimage,” he says. “Government entities, transport providers, accommodation, health services, crowd management, and licensed operators are now working within a more joined-up framework.”

That coordination matters because Hajj remains one of the most operationally complex annual gatherings in the world.

“Hajj is unique because it’s not simply about bringing people to Makkah,” explains Binmahfouz. “It’s about safely moving very large numbers of pilgrims through a sequence of time-sensitive rituals.”

“Any improvement in flow, scheduling, medical response, transport allocation, or camp services has a direct impact on safety and comfort.”

The invisible infrastructure of care

Many of the biggest improvements to Hajj and Umrah are intentionally invisible.

Pilgrims may never see the command centers coordinating movement between Mina, Arafat, and Muzdalifah, holy places essential for completing Hajj rituals. They may not notice the predictive systems managing transport flows or the expanded medical preparedness operating in the background.

What they encounter instead is something simpler: shorter waits, clearer directions, and faster support when problems arise.

According to Alkheraigi, the transformation centers on reducing avoidable stress around the pilgrimage experience. “A pilgrim’s journey to Hajj rarely begins in Makkah. For many, it begins months earlier, at a desk or on a phone, with a set of questions that are practical but deeply personal.”

“How do I apply? Which package can I trust? Where will I stay? How will I move between the holy sites? What happens if I get lost, fall ill, or cannot understand the instructions around me?”

“These are not small concerns,” he adds. “For a pilgrim preparing for one of the most important journeys of a lifetime, uncertainty can weigh almost as heavily as the physical demands of Hajj itself.”

Reforms to Hajj increasingly attempt to address that anxiety. Health services, shaded areas, hydration infrastructure, emergency response systems, multilingual guidance, and accessibility measures have all expanded over the past few years. 

At the two Holy mosques located in Makkah and Medinah, new services — including interactive maps, free luggage storage, and childcare centers — are intended to improve comfort and peace of mind.

“I would also highlight the growing attention given to elderly pilgrims and people with disabilities,” says Binmahfouz. “Better accessibility, dedicated support services, wheelchair arrangements, improved mobility planning, and stronger medical readiness are all contributing to a more dignified and inclusive journey.”

One of the latest initiatives involves the deployment of 6,000 wheelchairs and 400 electric carts throughout the Grand Mosque to facilitate the movement of worshippers.

Language access has also become a critical layer of the infrastructure.

“Multilingual guidance, translation tools, and wider access to the Arafat sermon have helped worshippers feel less isolated in the crowd,” says Alkheraigi. “To understand what’s being said, where to go, and what comes next is not merely a practical advantage; it allows a pilgrim to remain calm enough to focus on worship.”

Building a resilient ecosystem

The overhaul of Hajj and Umrah services is closely tied to Saudi Arabia’s larger tourism ambitions.

In 2025, the Kingdom recorded over 122 million domestic and international tourists, a 5% increase year-on-year. The figure included nearly 19.5 million Hajj and Umrah pilgrims arriving from abroad.

That growth is changing how the ecosystem connects to the wider Saudi economy.

“The broader destination picture matters too,” says Binmahfouz. “AlUla, Jeddah, Riyadh, Taif, Asir, the Red Sea, Diriyah, and the Eastern Province are all part of a wider story. Visitors increasingly have reason to experience more of the kingdom.”

Projects led by the Royal Commission for Makkah City and Holy Sites and the Madinah Region Development Authority are also reshaping how pilgrims experience historic and religious landmarks beyond the core rituals, according to Binmahfouz. 

Among them is the recently rehabilitated 157-kilometer Badr Historical Path west of Madinah, designed to revive sites connected to prophetic history.

Meanwhile, infrastructure projects such as the Haramain High Speed Railway and the Makkah Route Initiative have improved connectivity and reduced congestion.

The Makkah Route has emerged as one of the kingdom’s most consequential reforms. The program allows visitors to complete visa processing, health checks, and baggage coding at airports in their home countries before flying to Saudi Arabia and proceeding to their accommodations without lengthy arrival procedures. Since its launch in 2017, the initiative has served more than 1.2 million pilgrims.

The next phase: Delivering a seamless experience

Despite the progress, industry leaders argue that the next phase of reform will be harder.

The challenge is no longer building infrastructure. It’s connecting the ecosystem so thoroughly that pilgrims barely notice the systems supporting them.

“The biggest opportunity right now is consistency,” Binmahfouz says. “The journey still has uneven patches depending on the arrival point, the operator, transport connectivity, guide quality, and how well services are coordinated on the ground.”

He argues that many operators continue to depend on traditional coordination methods that can create fragmentation during critical stages of the journey.

“Many businesses still rely heavily on manual processes and WhatsApp coordination,” he says. “Giving them proper digital tools for bookings, operations, supplier management, VAT-compliant invoicing, dynamic packaging, and guest support would raise the quality floor of the ecosystem noticeably.”

Artificial intelligence and predictive analytics are expected to play a larger role in the years ahead.

“There’s the longer-term opportunity around data and AI,” Binmahfouz says. “Predictive crowd management, smarter transport allocation, service monitoring, accessibility planning, personalised itinerary building, and real-time guest support will all matter more as the system becomes better connected.”

Still, both industry and government voices insist the future of pilgrimage services cannot be judged solely by technology or infrastructure.

For pilgrims, success is often measured in subtle ways. It’s finding the right bus without panic. Understanding instructions in a familiar language. Reaching the rites safely. Resting in shade. Receiving help before confusion becomes fear.

“The future of Hajj and Umrah services will not be judged only by the scale of infrastructure or the sophistication of technology,” Alkheraigi says.

“For pilgrims, success is felt in smaller, more immediate ways.”

From animation studios in Islamabad to YouTube channel operators in Dhaka and Maharashtra, South Asia is emerging as one of the most dynamic frontiers for Islamic children’s animation. 

Long overshadowed by Western and East Asian content giants, the region is now cultivating its own ecosystem - one rooted in Islamic storytelling, cultural authenticity, and rapidly evolving digital tools. 

Pakistan offers innovation amid economic instability

Pakistan has long been a wellspring of animation talent, producing some of the region’s most influential Islamic and socially conscious children’s content.

The country’s modern animation trajectory is often traced back to Burka Avenger, the internationally acclaimed animated TV series that blended superhero storytelling with themes of girls’ education and social justice.

“Over the past few years, many strong animation studios have emerged in Pakistan, largely driven by the success of Burka Avenger,” Abbas Saleem, a UAE-based transmedia specialist, and producer of Burka Avenger, tells Salaam Gateway. 

“The show helped spark a new generation of animators and paved the way for numerous animation projects that followed,” adds Saleem, who operates across games, animation, and UX comics.

Pakistan has also played a pioneering role in animation technology – becoming the first nation to produce an animated film built using Unreal Engine, the 3D creation platform developed by US-based Epic Games.

“This milestone was achieved by 3rd World Studios in Islamabad, which went on to create two films built using this tool,” says Saleem. 

“At the time, using Unreal Engine - one of the most widely used engines in game development -for animation was revolutionary. Today, studios around the world are adopting it for animation and visual effects, making it a pioneering achievement for Pakistan.”

More recently, the country has witnessed experimentation at the intersection of faith and artificial intelligence. In September 2025, Pakistan’s Jinn TV – a new-media channel rolled out last July - launched Zayd & Fatima, the country’s first AI-powered Islamic cartoon series. Designed for early childhood audiences, the show introduces children to everyday prayers, patience, gratitude, and kindness through playful storytelling.

Jinn TV, which attracted more than two million views on YouTube by December, reportedly plans to expand to India, Bangladesh, and other regional markets.

Alongside studios and platforms, independent creators are reshaping the landscape - often bypassing traditional broadcasters altogether. YouTube has become a critical launchpad for Islamic themed children’s animation, allowing creators to reach global audiences with modest resources.

Pakistan-based 3D artist Dr. Hina Mahmood launched the Jannah Kids YouTube channel last August, using relatable, family-based storytelling to introduce Islamic values.

“I want children to learn good manners, the lives of the Prophets, stories of the companions, teachings from the Qur’an and Hadith - and understand Islamic knowledge in a simple, enjoyable form,” Mahmood tells Salaam Gateway. 

Her long-term vision includes interactive tools, augmented reality-supported lessons, and partnerships with Islamic scholars.

Her work prioritizes realism and emotional familiarity. “I try to keep the cartoon world very close to real life,” she says, “where children can see their own homes, families, and daily routines reflected in the characters.”

Beyond moral storytelling, Jannah Kids integrates early childhood education within meaningful narratives. “The experience becomes like an online school for kids. This blended approach makes our content accessible and relatable even for non-Muslim families,” adds Mahmood. 

How Bangladesh can leverage demand to achieve scale

Bangladesh has also become a fertile ground for Islamic children’s animation, particularly on YouTube. Channels such as AMP Young Stars, Islamic Cartoon Bangla, and Prio Cartoon Tube are gaining traction by delivering Islamic storytelling in Bengali.

“I’ve loved cartoons since childhood, which led me to take a course in animation and eventually start creating cartoon videos for YouTube,” Mahbubur Rahman, founder of Prio Cartoon Tube tells Salaam Gateway.

“As I explored the platform, I noticed that while there was an abundance of children’s cartoons, very few focused on educational storytelling,” he adds. 

“That gap inspired me to create educational animated content. Because Islam is a complete way of life, I chose Islamic values as the foundation for these stories.”

Launched in 2016, Prio Cartoon Tube currently has close to one million subscribers. Its videos, so far 121 in number, have attracted more than 296 million views, despite being produced exclusively in Bengali - a fact Rahman sees as both a limitation and an opportunity.

“At present, we produce Islamic cartoon videos only in Bengali but expanding into other languages would allow us to reach a much wider audience, making Islamic knowledge more accessible and helping educate more people through engaging, values-based storytelling.”

“The number of Islamic cartoon channels in South Asia remains very small, despite the region’s strong potential,” he says. “Our most-watched video has surpassed three million views, and it is produced entirely in Bengali.”

India’s Islamic animation push

Meanwhile, India - home to some 172 million Muslims and the world’s third-largest Muslim population after Indonesia and Pakistan - is also emerging as a gold mine for Islamic-centred animation aimed at young audiences.

“There is definitely a growing demand for Islamic cartoons in India,” Qari Ziya Ur Rahman Farooqui, founder and director of Kids Message, India’s first 3D Islamic cartoon channel, tells Salaam Gateway.

“This interest is driven by several factors: rising parental awareness about children’s digital content consumption, concerns about inappropriate or faith-compromising themes in mainstream cartoons, and a stronger desire to preserve Islamic identity from an early age.”

Launched in 2020, Kids Message was founded with a clear mission: to nurture the faith of the next generation through modern digital storytelling. Since its debut, the channel has amassed more than 206,000 subscribers.

Its 761 videos have collectively drawn nearly 39 million views - a sign of robust appetite for values-driven children’s programming in a crowded online market.

“The inspiration for the channel came from observing how deeply children are attached to mobile phones,” says Farooqui. 

“Keeping them completely away from screens has become extremely difficult... Instead of discouraging screen time, we decided to provide a meaningful alternative - Islamic 3D cartoons that are engaging, entertaining, and rooted in authentic values.”

To maximise reach, Kids Message maintains an active presence across multiple social media platforms, positioning itself squarely within digital ecosystems where children and families already spend considerable time.

A market coming into focus

With nearly 650 million Muslims spread across South Asia - more than any other region in the world - the geography represents a vast and largely untapped audience for Islamic animated content.

Yet despite its traction, scaling up remains a challenge. Funding constraints continue to limit the scope and ambition of Islamic animation in India.

“What is currently missing in the market is large-scale, professionally produced Islamic 3D animated content from India. This field requires significant funding, time, skilled teams, and technical infrastructure. Because of the high cost and long production cycles, very few organizations are willing to invest in it,” explains Farooqui.

Taken together, developments across South Asia point to a sector on the cusp of maturation. While challenges remain, the building blocks are firmly in place: creative talent, scalable digital platforms, and a massive, underserved audience hungry for meaningful children’s content.

As studios professionalize, creators collaborate across borders, and investors take notice, Islamic children’s animation in the region is shifting from niche to necessity, reshaping how young Muslims view themselves and their faith.

The Muslim tourist population is a fast-growing segment, expected to reach 230 million by 2028, with an estimated expenditure of $225 billion, reflecting the increasing economic impact of Muslim tourists.

To cater to this growing travel niche, resorts around the world have developed ecosystems that offer halal dining options, privacy-focused leisure activities, prayer-friendly environments, and family-oriented hospitality. 

Many such resorts also provide easy access to prayer facilities, whether through on-site prayer rooms, clear Qibla directions, or proximity to nearby mosques. Some go further by adopting alcohol-free policies altogether or offering private, women-only, or family-only swimming and spa areas.

Methodology
Unlike airlines or mobile apps, resorts do not publish standardised guest numbers, making a strict “most visited” ranking impossible. To ensure credibility, this list uses a proxy-based methodology grounded in publicly verifiable signals. First, resorts were assessed based on demand visibility. Properties that consistently appear on Muslim-focused booking platforms (such as HalalBooking), as well as major mainstream platforms like Booking.com and TripAdvisor, were treated as high-demand candidates.

Second, we evaluated the strength of Muslim-friendly features, including clearly stated halal dining, alcohol-free policies, women-only or family-private beaches and pools, and access to prayer facilities either on-site or nearby.

Third, and crucially, this list applies a diversity constraint: No more than two resorts from any single country are included unless the available data overwhelmingly supports broader representation.

This prevents the ranking from being dominated by one destination and reflects the global nature of Muslim-friendly resort travel today.

Finally, only resorts were included; city hotels, villa-only rentals, and destinations without a defined resort experience were excluded.
 

1. Wome Deluxe, Türkiye
Wome Deluxe has become one of the most recognisable names in halal resort tourism. Operating an alcohol-free model with extensive women-only and men-only beaches, pools, and spa facilities, it offers a fully faith-aligned resort experience without sacrificing scale or comfort. Its visibility across Muslim travel platforms and repeat family demand place it firmly at the top.
 

2. Adenya Hotel & Resort, Türkiye
Adenya is widely regarded as a benchmark for privacy-focused Muslim holidays. With women-only beach zones, segregated pools, and halal all-inclusive dining options, it attracts families seeking clarity and structure. Its long-standing reputation and consistent guest volumes justify Türkiye’s second and final spot on the list.

3. Fiyavalhu Resort Maldives, Maldives
Unlike many Maldivian resorts, Fiyavalhu operates as an alcohol-free property, making it especially appealing to observant travellers. Set on a local island, it blends natural beauty with a halal-friendly environment, offering a calm alternative to party-oriented luxury resorts.
 

4. Hideaway Beach Resort & Spa, Maldives
Hideaway represents the Maldives’ luxury-private-villa appeal for Muslim honeymooners and families prioritising seclusion. While not fully alcohol-free, its space, privacy, and strong halal accommodation options make it one of the most frequently booked Muslim-friendly resorts in the country.
 

5. Heritage Awali Golf & Spa Resort, Mauritius
Mauritius has one of the highest Muslim population shares outside the Middle East and Asia, and Heritage Awali benefits from that ecosystem. With halal dining readily available, family-friendly facilities, and easy access to mosques, it offers an all-inclusive experience that feels both relaxed and culturally comfortable.
 

6. Salalah Rotana Resort, Oman
Oman’s naturally halal-friendly environment makes Salalah Rotana an easy choice for Muslim travellers. Designed with traditional Omani architecture, the resort combines beachfront relaxation with a calm, alcohol-free atmosphere. It is especially popular with families and couples seeking a quieter alternative to the UAE.
 

7. Rixos The Palm Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Rixos The Palm stands out in Dubai’s hotel-heavy landscape as one of the few all-inclusive resort-style properties. While Dubai is not alcohol-free, halal food is standard by law, and the resort’s family focus, private beach, and extensive amenities make it a stress-free choice for Muslim travellers.
 

8. Barceló Coconut Island, Thailand
Thailand is rarely associated with halal resort tourism, but Barceló Coconut Island demonstrates how privacy and flexibility can bridge that gap. Located on a secluded island near Phuket, the resort offers private villas, customizable halal dining, and a tranquil atmosphere that avoids Thailand’s party-centric stereotypes.
 

9. Banyan Tree Mayakoba, Mexico
An unexpected but compelling entry, Banyan Tree Mayakoba caters to Muslim travellers through private villas, in-room dining, and tailored halal meal requests. Its eco-luxury positioning and high privacy standards make it popular with Muslim honeymooners exploring the Caribbean coastline.

10. Beaches Turks & Caicos, Caribbean
While the Caribbean is still emerging as a Muslim-friendly region, Beaches Turks & Caicos earns its place through its scale, family appeal, and flexible accommodations. Halal meals can be arranged on request, and the villa-style layout offers privacy that many Muslim families value.
 

Mobile gaming has become one of the biggest global entertainment industries, but until recently, Islamic-themed games occupied only a small corner of the app ecosystem. That has now begun to shift. A new generation of Muslim developers and mainstream studios, tapping into faith-driven educational spaces, has helped children-focused Islamic gaming grow into a recognisable niche of its own. The most popular titles combine quizzes, puzzles, storytelling, and gamified learning, making Islamic knowledge accessible to children, teens, and families worldwide.

The surge in demand is driven by several factors: Muslim-majority countries becoming smartphone-first; parents wanting halal, safe digital spaces; and the ongoing growth of faith-based edutainment. While the genre is still dominated by lightweight quiz and learning games rather than high-production 3D titles, the audience is large and loyal, and the Android app store numbers reveal just how widely these apps have spread.

Below is a ranking of the Top 10 Islamic-themed gaming apps in 2025, compiled using available download data and a transparent methodology.
 

Methodology
Ranking Islamic-themed gaming apps is uniquely challenging because app stores do not release complete download or user data. To build a list that is credible and replicable, this article uses the only reliable quantitative metric available to the public:

Google Play download tiers (primary metric)
Android is the only major platform that provides visible install bands such as “10K+”, “100K+”, “500K+”, or “1M+”. These tiers serve as the foundation of the rankings.

Cross-platform reach (secondary metric)
If multiple apps fall within the same download tier, apps available on both Android and iOS are ranked higher than those available only on Android.

Ecosystem visibility and credibility (tertiary metric)
When apps remain tied after tiers and platform availability, additional signals break the tie:

• the reputation of the developer
• presence in curated Islamic app lists
• longevity and user feedback
• integration with larger Islamic educational ecosystems

Gaming-only scope
Many Islamic apps are utilities (adhan reminders, Qibla finders, Qur’an readers) or streaming services. These were excluded unless they contain gameplay elements. A separate “Not Games but Popular” section is added for context.

Data limitations
Only Android shows download tiers; Apple does not disclose any numbers. This ranking, therefore, relies primarily on Android availability and download visibility. Apps without gameplay, regardless of their popularity, were excluded from the Top 10.

With that, here are the top-ranking Islamic-themed gaming apps of 2025:
 

1. Noorani Qaida Arabic Alphabets (1M+ downloads)
Platform: Android

The most widely downloaded Islamic learning game, Noorani Qaida uses interactive lessons, letter tracing, and pronunciation guides to teach Arabic letters. Its simple design and Qur’an-learning focus give it universal appeal among parents beginning their children’s literacy journey.

2. Kalma and Dua (1M+ downloads)
Platform: Android

This app brings the foundational six Kalimas and essential duas to life through audio playbacks, memory tools, and gamified recitation practice. Its popularity stems from its blend of spiritual content and lightweight learning mechanics accessible to all ages.

3. Learns Quran with Marbel (1M+ downloads)
Platform: Android

Marbel’s brightly animated lessons, quizzes, and Quranic recitation exercises make the app one of the most engaging introductions to Islamic studies for young children. Its game-like reinforcement methods—stars, badges, and rewards—keep kids coming back.

4. 10 Surah for Kids Word By Word (1M+ downloads)
Platform: Android

Designed for early Quran learners, this app breaks down each surah into word-by-word explanations paired with audio recitation. The repetition loops and reward-based progress tracking give it the feel of an educational mobile game with a spiritual core.
 

5. Learn Arabic Alphabet: Games (1M+ downloads)
Platform: Android

This app uses matching games, puzzles, timed challenges, and tracing activities to build familiarity with Arabic letters. It is one of the most game-like titles in the Islamic learning category.
 

6. Zehni Azmaish Quiz App (500K+ downloads)
Platform: Android, iOS

Linked to the global Dawat-e-Islami network, Zehni Azmaish is a competitive Islamic trivia app with over 800 questions, lifelines, and offline play. Its strong diaspora following gives it cross-regional appeal well beyond South Asia.
 

7. Muslim Kids Guide: Salah & Wudu (500K+ downloads)
Platform: Android

Through animated characters and interactive tutorials, the app teaches step-by-step Salah and Wudu. Quizzes and mini-games reinforce correct practice in a child-friendly, gamified environment.
 

8. Daily Dua for Kids (500K+ downloads)
Platform: Android

Daily Dua for Kids turns essential supplications into a collectible learning game. Children unlock duas across daily routines—waking, eating, traveling—while audio recitations aid memorization and proper pronunciation.
 

9. Miraj Stories: Quran for Kids (100K+ downloads)
Platform: Android, iOS

Although the install tier is lower, Miraj is one of the most polished Islamic gaming ecosystems. Its interactive stories, puzzles, recitations, and mini-games make it a subscription-based “Muslim Netflix for kids.” Cross-platform reach and high production values raise its ranking above other 100K+ apps.
 

10. Muslim Millionaire Classic (100K+ downloads)
Platform: Android

This popular quiz-show-style game challenges players with increasingly difficult Islamic questions using a “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” model. It remains one of the most competitive Islamic trivia games available.

Popular Islamic educational apps 
These apps appear frequently in Islamic app lists but do not contain gameplay, so they were excluded from the Top 10:

• We Muslim: Athan, Qibla & Quran (50M+)
• Ali & Sumaya: School (50K+)
• Islamic Cartoon Plus (10K+)
• Quran Readers, Athan Apps, Islamic TV Apps

They remain hugely popular but fall outside gaming criteria.

Children’s animation centered around Islamic values has passed the tipping point in terms of growth and demand, undergoing a dramatic shift in recent years. The once-esoteric, media outlier has expanded from a niche space into one of the fastest growing segments of the global industry. 

The visibility is long overdue, given its under-representation for decades – according to a 2021 study, less than 2% among 8,500 characters from 200 major films spanning the US, UK, Australia, and New Zealand, were Muslim. 

A surge in demand has paved the way for new platforms, studios, and creators, boosted by growing interest from Muslim households and streamers, investments from deep Gulf pockets, and new production hubs in Southeast Asia. 
 
Investment reshapes the narrative

Investment from Gulf-based cultural institutions - particularly Saudi Arabia and the UAE - has emerged as a prominent driver. Grants, accelerator programs, and co-production schemes have been rolled out, that have rapidly elevated production quality across the region.

In the UAE, this momentum builds on an existing tradition of animation centered on local values, heritage, and moral storytelling. This foundation has helped the country expand its creative infrastructure to produce content that resonates with Muslim and Arab audiences. 

A flagship example is Mansour, the Emirati series that first aired more than a decade ago. In 2024, it returned with a major reboot - The Adventures of Mansour: Age of AI - featuring 52 new episodes. 

Blending themes such as artificial intelligence, climate change, and space exploration with lessons on family and friendship, the series embodies the region’s drive toward culturally rooted yet globally competitive animation. It debuted on MBC’s streaming platform Shahid, reaching audiences across MENA.

At the same time, Gulf studios are delivering broadcast-level 2D and 3D animation and developing original content inspired by Islamic history, ethics, and culture.

Saudi Arabia’s creative sector is at the forefront of this shift. A standout example is Azooma Escape, a homegrown PC game by Ash Games Studio that emerged from the NEOM-backed Level Up Accelerator. The action-adventure title – which centers on a young guest trying to slip out of an overly generous Saudi gathering - shot to the top of online game platform, Steam’s upcoming chart, on launch day. 

Abbas Saleem, a transmedia specialist and executive producer for Azooma Escape says the pace of change across the region’s animation landscape has been swift and unmistakable. Which is why, Azooma Escape is a major intellectual property with potential to grow far beyond gaming. 

“This is a transmedia experience. Although the concepts are Islamic in nature, everyone gets them, and the humor is universal,” he tells Salaam Gateway.

“There’s been a lot of movement in Saudi Arabia in terms of animation… the GCC, especially Saudi, is now a primary hub for Islamic animation and gaming.”

A recent partnership between Riyadh’s Public Investment Fund-backed Savvy Games Group and London animation studio Feed Me Light underscores this ambition. Led by acclaimed motion designer Denis Bodart, the studio will open a new Riyadh-based creative hub - uniting international specialists with a growing Saudi talent pool.

“Saudi Arabian enterprises are bringing in a lot of creative studios … At the same time, they're investing a lot in the country and setting up production facilities. NEOM is one of them,” adds Saleem.

“People think NEOM is a line in the desert. It's actually a large-scale cultural transformation project of the country. Saudi Arabia - and the GCC more broadly - aren’t trying to replicate the West; they’re building a production economy with runway and infrastructure to sustain it. That’s the true game changer.”

Muslim stories enter mainstream galleries

Saudi Arabia’s cultural momentum has also attracted international creators. This year’s debut of the Canadian-produced animated film Time Hoppers: The Silk Road in Riyadh and Jeddah signals a new global appetite for Muslim-centered storytelling.

Developed by Alberta-based production house Milo Productions with US distributor Fathom Entertainment, the film celebrates the Golden Age of Islam and highlights historical figures such as Al-Khwarizmi, Ibn al-Haytham, Maryam al-Astrolabi, and Mansa Musa.

“We really wanted to showcase the contributions of Muslims and Arab scholars throughout time, and that’s something we want to continue doing,” says Flordeliza Dayrit, co-founder and chief creative officer at Milo Productions.

The film is part of a broader multimedia franchise - including a game, a TV series, and a planned sequel. 

“We would definitely like to see investors and people in the field join us on this journey,” adds Dayrit.

Time Hoppers is slated for release in 200 theaters across MENA, and in more than 500 theaters in the US, UK, and Canada next February - making it the first Muslim animated film to receive a nationwide US release.

“There are over two billion Muslims around the world, yet it's an untapped market. If we want to capitalize on that and make an impact, it does require investment,” Michael Milo, CEO of Milo Productions tells Salaam Gateway. 

Milo Productions is positioning its streaming service, Muslim Kids TV, to be a key access point.

“We have direct access to the end consumer… and the ability to market content through other channels, be it Netflix or Apple TV,” Milo says.

Competing with global giants

Despite rapid growth, Islamic animation still faces structural hurdles.

Major children’s media is dominated by global franchises - Disney, Barbie, and others - with vast budgets and established merchandising pipelines.

Another challenge, says Milo, is the industry-wide tendency to create “generic” content for broad appeal. 

“If we look at the successes of the Korean or Turkish animation industry, they're unapologetic about their culture; they represent who they are. Kids don't mind seeing things that are different and learning from them, and they like to see themselves reflected in the media that they're watching.”

Despite the odds, demand for Islamic values-aligned children’s content is rising, but the larger trend points to something deeper: a global appetite for Muslim stories narrated with creativity, cultural confidence, and commercial ambition.

Backed by interest, investment and inclination, the next generation of Islamic values-inspired animation is poised to be more sophisticated, exportable, and influential. 
 

Tourism has been hit by turbulence in the form of geopolitical tensions, rising costs, and policy-related concerns, but countries that have weathered these storms have emerged as winners on the other side. Despite the headwinds mentioned earlier, there has been an overall 5% increase in international tourism for 2025. One country that has played a significant role in increasing these numbers is Türkiye, which, according to data provided by the Turkish Statistical Institute, has recorded tourism revenue increases of up to $61.1 billion in 2024, along with welcoming 62.3 million visitors, both all-time highs. 

Behind the impressive numbers lies a deliberate strategy that blends sustainability mandates, digital marketing, airline-driven connectivity, and new visa pathways to attract a wider range of travelers. Combined with its strong appeal to Muslim visitors, Türkiye is positioning itself as one of the world’s most adaptive and forward-looking tourism destinations.

Imbibing sustainability as a standard
Türkiye is now the first country to make sustainability mandatory across its tourism industry. The National Sustainable Tourism Program, launched by the Türkiye Tourism Promotion and Development Agency (TGA) in partnership with the Global Sustainable Tourism Council (GSTC), requires all hotels and tourism businesses to meet global standards through third-party auditing. In 2025, more than 2,000 hotels had earned GSTC-recognized certification, turning sustainability from a voluntary marketing label into a condition for doing business. This move has given international buyers and tour operators a rare sense of predictability and credibility at a national level. 

Converting stopovers into stays
At the heart of Türkiye’s tourism strategy is Turkish Airlines (THY), the country’s flag carrier and one of its most powerful marketing tools. As Istanbul Airport continues to rank as Europe’s busiest hub by daily traffic, handling 39.1 million passengers in the first half of 2025, THY has expanded its “Stopover in Istanbul” program — offering up to two free hotel nights for economy passengers and three for business travelers with long layovers. The offer now covers key markets, including the U.S., Canada, Japan, and Singapore, converting transit passengers into first-time visitors. 

In parallel, THY’s Hotel Service provides accommodation for eligible travelers with extended layovers, easing transit fatigue and introducing Istanbul to millions of potential return visitors. These airline-led experiences have proven to increase repeat travel and length of stay, helping turn a connecting flight into an immersive first impression.

Leveraging digital storytelling at global scale
In the digital sphere, Türkiye has become a powerhouse. GoTürkiye, the nation’s official tourism platform, now ranks among the most-followed destination brands globally, with fast-growing audiences across TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. In 2025 alone, its campaigns generated hundreds of millions of video views, translating traditional tourism marketing into continuous mobile engagement. This “always-on” strategy ensures Türkiye remains top of mind in traveler discovery feeds, where decisions are increasingly shaped by short-form video and influencer-driven storytelling rather than brochures or billboards.

Laying out the red carpet for digital nomads 
In 2024, Türkiye launched a Digital Nomad Visa, offering long-stay options for remote workers from select countries. The initiative targets off-peak season travelers who spend more per stay and contribute to local economies over longer periods. Simultaneously, the cruise sector has rebounded to levels not seen in over a decade. By August 2025, Türkiye’s 18 cruise ports had welcomed around 1.5 million passengers, the highest figure in 12 years. Ports like Galataport Istanbul and major Aegean stops have become anchors for a broader shore-excursion economy. Together, these initiatives extend tourism beyond summer peaks, attracting digital professionals and cruise travelers who spread economic benefits to coastal towns and heritage cities.

The tariff effect 
Beyond its own reforms, Türkiye has also benefited from shifts in global travel demand. The U.S. tourism market softened in 2025 amid tariff disputes and political uncertainty, resulting in forecast downgrades and declining bookings from key origin countries. Analysts report double-digit declines in bookings from Canada, Japan, and Germany, a gap that value-driven destinations like Türkiye are filling.  Türkiye has cleverly positioned itself, promoting its advantages: strong value for money, simplified e-visa systems, and an expanding global network through Turkish Airlines. Its connectivity and affordability make it a natural alternative for travelers redirecting trips once bound for the U.S.

The Muslim traveler base
Türkiye already ranks among the top global destinations for Muslim travelers. The 2025 Mastercard–CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) ranks it near the top, citing its extensive halal dining options, prayer facilities, family-friendly hospitality, and rich Islamic heritage, from Istanbul to Konya.

According to Amira Patel, founder of The Wanderlust Women, Turkiye's rise as a popular destination for Muslims was always on the cards. Speaking to Salaam Gateway, she said: "From a Muslim perspective, Türkiye’s rise as a leading travel destination is deeply connected to its strong Islamic heritage, hospitality, and ease of practicing faith while traveling. With thousands of mosques, rich Ottoman and Seljuk history, halal food widely available, and a culture that respects modesty and prayer, Muslim travelers feel both spiritually comfortable and culturally welcomed. Türkiye offers a rare balance where one can explore breathtaking landscapes, historical sites, and vibrant cities while remaining connected to Islamic values. This sense of familiarity, combined with safety, warmth, and shared traditions, has made Türkiye especially attractive to Muslim tourists and contributed significantly to the growth of its tourism sector."

Yet Türkiye’s growth is not confined to one segment. Its infrastructure, from halal food standards to multi-generational lodging, also resonates with non-Muslim travelers seeking quality, safety, and value. Its sustainability credentials attract eco-conscious Europeans, while the digital-nomad visa appeals to location-independent professionals. The country’s cruise resurgence, coupled with a thriving art and culinary scene amplified by GoTürkiye’s social storytelling, positions it as a multifaceted destination for families, culture seekers, adventure travelers, and remote workers alike.