Around 4,000 people, mostly buyers and sellers of Halal products and services from 40 countries are expected to attend Halal Expo Dubai, which opened in Dubai today (September 18).

Amina Ahmed Mohammed, chief executive officer of the Emirates International Accreditation Centre (EIAC), officially opened the ninth edition of the show at Roda Al Bustan Hotel, two days after Malaysia officially recognised the UAE’s ‘Halal Products Control System’ national certificates and the national Halal mark issued by the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA), which will boost the UAE’s $20 billion (Dh73 billion) annual Halal imports.

The recognition will facilitate the trade of UAE halal products and ensure acceptance in Malaysian markets, as well as markets that accept Malaysian halal systems certification, of which there are 60 markets globally.

“This UAE-led initiative, a first of its kind in the Arab and Middle East, will open up export horizons to producers in the country, as well as export and re-export support to dozens of new markets, which is positively reflected on the support and encouragement of international industries, especially in the markets of East and South East Asia and the Australian continent, and also contributes to food security in the country,” Abdullah Abdul Qader Al Maeeni, director-general of ESMA, said in a statement.

The UAE is home to 5,000 importers, manufacturers and stockists of Halal products. Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA), the country’s standardisation authority, is expected to issue 18,000 Halal certification this year – which is one of the highest in the world.

More than 75 companies from 15 countries, including Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Spain, Pakistan, Switzerland, India, the United Kingdom, Brunei, Thailand, China and the U.A.E are participating at the show.

The global Halal economy is estimated to touch the $6.4 trillion mark by 2018, up from $3.2 trillion in 2012, according to a new report.

The GCC countries import $50 billion worth of Halal products, according to a latest research by Farrelly and Mitchell – a food and agri-business specialist. Of this, the UAE’s Halal import bill is $20 billion, or about 40 per cent of the GCC’s Halal products imports.

Dubai Food Park, a government initiative, has recently inked a Dh1.35 billion deal to establish a UAE-China food industrial cluster that will eventually support China’s US$1 trillion ‘One Belt One Road’ initiative and help promote the speedy expansion of the Halal products and services across Asia, Europe and Africa.

Raees Ahmed, director of Orange Fairs and Events, organiser of the Halal Expo Dubai, said: “Halal Expo Dubai is part of our efforts to help Dubai strengthen its position as the global hub of Halal and Islamic economy. The two-day exhibition will create the right meeting point for international buyers, sellers, producers, manufacturers, importers, exporters and wholesalers of Halal and Islamic products and services and help generate businesses for the leading international Halal suppliers through Dubai.

“Halal foods are considered to be healthy and hygienic. A growing number of non-Muslim consumers prefer halal foods, as they are deemed safer. As a result, the distribution of halal foods has expanded beyond traditional markets in cities such as Shanghai which has 80,000 Muslims.”

“The Muslim population is also younger than the national average and with more than 41 per cent of being younger than 19 years. This age profile and increase in the Muslim population are the key long-term drivers for domestic halal food consumption in China,” Ahmed added.

“China is witnessing a growth in the number of national halal food players as well as partial halal product lines. In addition to demand from Muslim population, growing popularity of halal foods as a healthy option is also driving demand.

“We have witnessed a strong response from the Chinese manufacturers – who are taking Halal products and distribution more seriously,” Ahmed said.

Globally, Muslim expenditure on food and beverage (F&B) was estimated at $1.12 billion in 2014 and potentially rising to $1.58 billion in 2020. Muslim expenditure makes up 16.7 per cent of global expenditure on F&B in 2014.

Halal Expo Dubai focuses on a number of business verticals, including, halal food, halal beverage, halal fashion, halal cosmetics and personal care products, halal travel and tourism, halal hospitality, halal banking and finance. – TradeArabia News Service