4,000 traders attend Halal Expo Dubai 2018

The two-day exhibition was held at theCrowne Plaza Convention Hall in Dubai. (Photo/Supplied)

The 10th Halal Expo Dubai was held at theCrowne Plaza Convention Hall on Monday and Tuesday, just two months after theDubai Islamic Economy Development Centre (DIEDC) recognized the show as part ofthe Islamic Economy Week.

The recognition will facilitate the tradeof UAE halal products worldwide and acceptance of UAE halal standards in theinternational markets, as well as markets that accept UAE’s halalcertification, of which there are 60 markets globally.

The UAE is home to 5,000 importers,manufacturers and stockists of halal products. The Emirates Authority forStandardization and Metrology (ESMA), the country’s standardization authority,is expected to issue 18,000 halal certificates this year, which is one of thehighest in the world.

The two-day exhibition was attended by over4,000 people ? mostly buyers and sellers of halal products and services ? from40 countries. More than 75 companies from 15 countries, including Kazakhstan,Malaysia, Spain, Pakistan, Switzerland, India, the UK, Brunei, Thailand, Chinaand the UAE participated in the show.

These developments, organizers said, are adirect result of the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, vicepresident and prime minister of the UAE and ruler of Dubai, when he declaredhis plan to transform Dubai as the global capital of Islamic economy in 2013.

Subsequently, the government created theDubai Islamic Economy Development Centre, which supports the Halal Expo Dubai.

The global halal economy is estimated totouch the $6.4 trillion mark this year, up from $3.2 trillion in 2012,according to a report.

The GCC countries import $50 billion worthof halal products, according to the latest research by Farrelly and Mitchell, afood and agri-business specialist. Of this, the UAE’s halal import bill is $20billion or about 40 percent of the GCC’s halal products imports.

Speaking before the event, Raees Ahmed,director of Orange Fairs and Events, organizer of the Halal Expo Dubai, said:“Halal Expo Dubai is part of our efforts to help Dubai strengthen its positionas the global hub of halal and the Islamic economy. The two-day exhibition willcreate the right meeting point for international buyers, sellers, producers,manufacturers, importers, exporters and wholesalers of halal and Islamicproducts and services and help generate businesses for the leadinginternational halal suppliers through Dubai.

“Halal foods are considered to be healthyand hygienic. A growing number of non-Muslim consumers prefer halal foods, asthey are deemed safer. As a result, the distribution of halal foods hasexpanded beyond traditional markets in cities such as Shanghai, which has80,000 Muslims.”

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