The third edition of the Makkah Halal Forum concluded with the signing of 15 cooperation agreements aimed at strengthening international collaboration, harmonising halal standards, and improving product quality and certification systems across the global halal industry.

Held at the Makkah Chamber of Commerce and Industry Exhibition and Events Center, the three-day forum brought together government representatives, industry leaders and experts to discuss regulatory alignment, trade development and investment opportunities within the halal economy.

Organisers said the event reflected a shift toward a more outcomes-focused platform, moving beyond dialogue to support practical initiatives designed to enhance economic integration and reinforce trust in halal certification frameworks.

The forum attracted thousands of participants and featured 170 exhibitors from 15 countries showcasing products, services and innovations spanning the halal value chain, including food, logistics, certification, technology and related sectors.

In its closing recommendations, participants emphasised the importance of developing the halal sector as an integrated global system that combines ethical standards with economic growth. Key priorities included strengthening transparency, promoting standardisation, encouraging knowledge exchange, and supporting sustainable industry development.

The recommendations align with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives, which include expanding the Kingdom’s role in global halal markets and attracting investment into innovation-driven sectors.

Qatar Chamber and the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development (ICCD) have signed an agreement to establish a digital platform for halal products, aimed at improving transparency, traceability and trade facilitation across the global halal ecosystem.

The agreement was signed on the sidelines of the 41st General Assembly meeting of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development and the Makkah Halal Forum, held in Makkah.

According to Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim bin Mohamed Al-Thani, chairman of Qatar Chamber, the initiative reflects the growing efforts to strengthen digital infrastructure within the halal sector and enhance international cooperation among Islamic economies. He further noted that transforming halal systems into strategic economic tools could reinforce the GCC’s position as a regional and global hub while supporting diversification and food security goals.

Sheikh Khalifa stated that collaboration between chambers of commerce across Islamic countries would help harmonise standards and specifications, increase confidence in halal products, and enhance governance and transparency throughout the industry.

During the General Assembly meeting, members reviewed progress on implementing decisions from the previous session, elected board members for the new term, and approved the appointment of a new chairman. The assembly also endorsed financial reports, including the Chamber’s 2026 budget and 2024 financial statements, and discussed planned activities for 2026.

Four countries have joined the Global Halal Mark alliance launched by the Saudi Halal Center, as the organisation moves to unify halal certification standards and strengthen cross-border trade within the global halal economy.

The announcement followed the signing of two agreements with Indonesia and Thailand during the Makkah Halal Forum, according to Abdulaziz Al-Rushodi, chief executive officer of the Saudi Halal Center, who said additional countries are expected to join the alliance.

The initiative aims to standardize halal marks internationally and enhance reliability across certification systems with participation projected to reach 10 countries by the end of the year.

The forum also saw the launch of the Halal Academy, established in cooperation with the Islamic University of Madinah. The academy is intended to serve as a global scientific reference supporting skills development, research and capacity building within the halal ecosystem.

Separately, the Saudi Halal Center announced plans for a “Global Halal Hub,” an integrated digital platform designed to streamline certification processes and facilitate trade procedures between participating countries. The platform aims to simplify compliance requirements and improve transparency across supply chains.

To support the domestic industry, the center signed a memorandum of understanding with the Food Manufacturers Association, representing thousands of Saudi factories. The partnership seeks to encourage local producers to adopt the Saudi halal mark, enabling greater export readiness and improving access to markets across the Islamic world.

Established in 2018 under the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the Saudi Halal Center oversees halal certification by verifying compliance with Shariah and technical standards. Products carrying the halal mark indicate they have undergone regulatory auditing and meet defined Islamic compliance requirements.

Industry stakeholders highlighted the growing economic significance of halal certification initiatives. Yousef Khalawi, Secretary-General of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development, said the global halal market was valued at approximately $7 trillion in 2025 and is projected to reach $10 trillion by 2030 amid rising consumer demand and expanding investment across halal value chains.

Saudi Arabia currently leads global investment in the sector, with approximately $1.4 billion invested, followed by Malaysia, Kuwait, the United Arab Emirates and Indonesia.

Nigeria has launched a strategy to promote and grow its halal economy to diversify and tap into the lucrative global halal market. 

Nigerian President Bola Tinubu inaugurated the strategy, calling for disciplined, inclusive, and measurable action for the strategy to deliver jobs and prosperity across the country, according to the News Agency of Nigeria. 

The strategy hints at Nigeria’s readiness to capture a sizeable chunk of the global halal economy and to define the nation’s direction within the market, which is expected to add an estimated $1.5 billion to the nation’s GDP 2027, according to the premier. 

“This document is a declaration of our promise to meet global standards with Nigerian capacity and to convert opportunity into lasting economic value.”  

The halal food exports, developing pharmaceutical and cosmetic value chains would position Nigeria as a halal-friendly tourism destination, and mobilise ethical finance at scale by 2030, he added. 

“The cumulative efforts are projected to unlock over twelve billion dollars in economic value, while strengthening food security, deepening industrial capacity, and creating opportunities for small-and-medium-sized enterprises across our states,” President Tinubu added.

The premier quashed concerns that link halal solely with religious affiliations, adding that halal is no longer defined by faith alone but by trust through systems that emphasize quality, traceability, safety, and ethical production. 

Tinubu said many advanced Western economies had since “recognised the commercial and ethical appeal of the halal economy and have integrated it into their export and quality-assurance systems.”

Developed countries, including the UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand are currently among leading producers, certifiers, and exporters of halal food, pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and financial products, he added. 

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr Jumoke Oduwole, said the inauguration of the strategy was a public-private collaboration that has involved extensive interaction with stakeholders.

“We are going to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area to ensure we export our halal-friendly goods to the rest of Africa and beyond to any willing markets; participation is voluntary, “ the minister said. 

The Canadian federal government is investing up to $2.26 million to expand halal beef processing and packaging capacity at a facility in Prince Edward Island, as part of efforts to strengthen domestic meat production and meet growing consumer demand.

Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada announced that funding will be provided to Atlantic Beef Products Inc. under the $25 million kosher and halal investment program. This program supports federally regulated beef and veal processors in adopting new technologies to increase efficiency and output.

The investment of $2,256,786 will fund the installation of advanced processing and packaging technologies designed to increase meat yield and expand halal-certified product offerings for Canadian retailers, the department said.

Planned upgrades include equipment to recover more meat and reduce food waste, new packaging systems for retail-ready halal products, and in-line inspection technology to strengthen safety and quality control.

The government stated that the funding aligns with its Buy Canadian policy, which prioritises domestic suppliers in federal procurement and aims to strengthen Canada’s food system. The announcement comes amid ongoing debate over access to halal and kosher foods following a decision by the Quebec government last year to bar such foods from public institutions.

Pakistan’s halal meat exports to China rose sharply in 2025, driven by growing Chinese demand and improved market access, with shipments increasing more than threefold year on year, according to official Chinese customs data.

Data from the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) shows Pakistan exported halal meat products worth more than $14.32 million between January and November 2025, compared with $4.23 million during the same period in 2024 — a year-on-year increase of 239%.

Industry experts said the growth reflects stronger trade cooperation, rising Chinese demand for high-standard processed meats, and improved compliance with sanitary, phytosanitary and halal certification requirements. Promotional efforts at bilateral trade platforms, including Pakistan–China business-matching events held in Beijing in September 2025 during the Pakistani prime minister’s visit, have also supported exports.

Pakistan first secured GACC approval to export heat-treated meat products to China in 2019, but exports gained traction in 2023–2024 as more exporters obtained the certifications required to clear Chinese customs.

Analysts believe continued policy support and closer industry cooperation could help Pakistan increase its share of China’s growing protein import market, particularly as demand rises for certified halal and value-added meat products.

Malaysia's IslamiCruise, which was being launched as Asia’s first luxury Umrah cruise programme, in partnership with Saudi Arabia’s Aroya Cruises, is facing scheduling problems. The inaugural January–February 2026 voyage has been rescheduled as organisers revise routes and packages.

The 15-day, fully halal-certified cruise was officially introduced as part of Malaysia’s halal tourism push and recognised as a Visit Malaysia 2026 product. Departing from Port Klang, the one-way journey is designed to take pilgrims to Jeddah via Banda Aceh, Oman and the Maldives, before passengers complete their Umrah pilgrimage in Saudi Arabia.

IslamiCruise International announced on November 19, 2025, that sales had been temporarily suspended due to internal assessments indicating a need to better align sailing schedules with market demand and school holiday periods. The company said it remains in discussions with Aroya Cruises’ owners to finalise a revised and commercially viable launch date.

The cruise vessel can accommodate more than 3,500 passengers and offers four accommodation categories, ranging from standard cabins to suites and villas. Onboard facilities include swimming pools, water slides, sports amenities and halal dining, alongside religious programming and lectures led by Malaysian preacher Ustaz Wadi Anuar and Indonesian scholar Ustaz Abdul Somad.

While the programme is designed primarily for Muslim travellers performing Umrah, non-Muslim passengers are also permitted to join the cruise, with tailored packages that exclude pilgrimage activities.

Organisers estimate the initiative could attract between 6,000 and 8,000 visitors annually once fully operational, supporting Malaysia’s broader ambitions to strengthen its position in the global halal and Islamic tourism market.

A&M Capital Europe’s (AMCE) acquisition of French halal food producer Isla Délice has come under scrutiny after its strategic partner, Alvarez & Marsal, established a cybersecurity subsidiary in Tel Aviv, a development first reported by specialist halal media outlet Al-Kanz.

AMCE announced the takeover of Isla Délice on September 1, 2025, acquiring the company from British private equity firm Perwyn. Days earlier, Alvarez & Marsal registered A&M Cyber Risk Services Ltd in Tel Aviv, positioning the unit within Israel’s cybersecurity ecosystem at a time of heightened regional conflict.

Al-Kanz reported that while AMCE and Alvarez & Marsal are legally separate entities, AMCE publicly describes its relationship with Alvarez & Marsal as a “strategic partnership,” granting the fund access to the consultancy’s operational expertise and global network. The outlet said this link has raised reputational concerns for Isla Délice, France’s largest halal brand, particularly among Muslim consumers sensitive to Israel-linked business activity.

Isla Délice, founded in 1991, has faced recurring rumours over the years regarding alleged ties to Israel, which the company has consistently denied. In a previous statement, the company said it is French-owned and operates independently, with no Israeli ownership or operations.

According to Al-Kanz, the latest development differs from earlier claims because it involves verifiable corporate filings showing the establishment of Alvarez & Marsal’s cybersecurity subsidiary in Tel Aviv on August 27, 2025, prior to the completion of the Isla Délice acquisition. The subsidiary is located near Israel’s defence and military headquarters and focuses on cyber risk management and crisis response services.

AMCE has repeatedly highlighted its association with Alvarez & Marsal in investor materials, describing the relationship as central to its investment model. However, Isla Délice’s recent crisis communications have focused on the absence of a direct capital link between AMCE and Alvarez & Marsal, without addressing the broader strategic partnership outlined by its new owner.

Following Al-Kanz’s reporting, Isla Délice issued a press release and social media video rejecting what it described as “amalgamations” and “rumours.” In an email response to Al-Kanz, Isla Délice Chief Executive Officer Eric Fauchon said AMCE has no ownership or management connection to Alvarez & Marsal, and that communications were issued to protect the company and its employees.

The acquisition of Isla Délice was finalised in December 2025, and the brand has since increased its international visibility through marketing campaigns tied to major sporting events, as part of its broader European expansion strategy.

Pakistan has started exporting halal meat worth $14.5 million to Tajikistan, as both countries look to expand bilateral trade. 

The developments were shared by Pakistan’s Ambassador to Tajikistan, Muhammad Saeed Sarwar during a session with a Pakistani media delegation and local business representatives in Dushanbe, Pakistani state media reported. 

The Southeast Asian nation plans to export 143,000 tons of goods worth approximately $14.5 million to Tajikistan, Sarwar added. Halal products are expected to play a pivotal role in expanding bilateral trade, which is expected to reach $300 million in the coming years. 

A preferential trade agreement between the two countries is also on the cards, said Sarwar, emphasizing that trade liberalization would help promote regional economic integration.

The first-ever Tajik Cultural Week was inaugurated in Pakistan’s capital Islamabad recently, reflecting growing people-to-people and cultural ties. 

“Pakistan and Tajikistan share deep commonalities in faith, history, culture, and literature,” Sarwar remarked.

He further noted that Pakistan was among the first countries to recognize Tajikistan’s independence and establish diplomatic relations.