Muslim tourists pictured in Indonesia. Thierry Falis / LightRocket via Getty Images
Muslim tourists pictured in Indonesia. Thierry Falis / LightRocket via Getty Images

How halal tourism is travelling in the right direction



A dedicated "halal cruise" is the latest in a stream of tourism offerings ­being marketed directly towards Muslim travellers, as global companies reposition themselves to cater to the growth market.

The cruise, touted as the first of its kind in Turkey without alcohol, pork products or gambling services on board, is set to sail next month, and follows a swath of travel apps, websites, hotels, airlines and Muslim-­friendly guides clamouring to cater to the increasing number of tourists looking for a thoughtful holiday experience.

“It will be a cultural and historic tour that promises an atmosphere of social networking,” Kemal Gunay, the general manager of the host company Fusion Tour, said in the Turkish media last week.

With the world’s Muslim population expected to increase from 1.6 billion to 2.2 billion by 2030, projections suggest halal ­travel will outpace the growth of any other tourism sector within the next four years. According to the MasterCard-Crescent­Rating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2015, while the sector was worth US$145 billion (Dh532.6bn) last year, it’s expected to grow to $200bn by 2020.

“It’s becoming a hugely competitive market now as tourism bodies realise the potential of attracting this high-spending market,” says Abu Dhabi-based event director Andy Buchanan, who in October will assist the UAE’s capital in hosting the World Halal Travel Summit – an event that is being promoted as “the largest B2B (business-to-business) gathering of global halal-travel specialists ever assembled”.

“Succeeding in halal travel is a very high priority for Abu Dhabi – almost every Abu Dhabi stakeholder is involved,” adds ­Buchanan.

So what is halal tourism? Essentially, it involves a process of taking into account the needs of the Muslim traveller, including halal food, prayer facilities and private areas for men and women. It’s a subcategory of tourism geared towards families who abide by rules of Islam.

Its growth is being driven by several factors, according to Fazal Bahardeen, the chief executive of CrescentRating – a Singapore-­based halal-tourism online platform that’s developed into an ­authority on the sector with the only globally recognised rating system. An increasing Muslim population, an increasing Muslim middle class with disposable income and more destinations around the world realising the opportunities to service this niche market are all contributing.

“The UAE is one of the top outbound markets,” Bahardeen says. “The UAE’s outbound Muslim travellers are becoming more and more aware of Muslim-friendly options, and there is a growing demand for that.”

Bahardeen says feedback from the broader global Muslim community has been good, but there’s always room for improvement.

“More and more Muslims are now very keen to explore new destinations. However, they still feel some of their requirements are not adequately met in many ­destinations.”

Chrisa Chatzisavva is a businesswoman hoping to help change that. She’s the driving force behind the halal-tourism website Muslim Break (www.muslimbreak.com), which aims to “offer Muslims the opportunity to have their dream holiday without feeling uncomfortable”.

“Our offering is 100 per cent tailored to Muslim travellers’ needs and lifestyles. They don’t need to doubt whether they’ll be able to find halal food, prayer rooms or privacy,” Chatzisavva says.

The site, which was launched five months ago, offers reviews and advice on holidays that it tailors to the clients’ needs. The idea, says the marketing professional, came about while she was holidaying in Greece with her family five years ago.

“I noticed we were having constantly increasing inbound tourism from Morocco and Algeria, but that halal-tourism infrastructure was non-existent. So many Muslim tourists were getting ­frustrated,” says Chatzisavva.

Her vision was to “make the modern Muslim traveller a true citizen of the world and bridge the gap between Islam and other traditions”.

Chatzisavva's site, which is run out of London, is one of many on the market with the same aim. Others include Halal Booking (www.halalbooking.com), ­CrescentRating's HalalTrip (www.halaltrip.com) and the Muslim Travel Warehouse (www.muslimtravelwarehouse.com).

Halal Booking, not unlike Muslim Break, “provides holiday packages that allow you to relax, soak up the sun and enjoy sandy beaches and crystal clear waters of the Mediterranean Sea, without compromising the values of your beliefs”.

According to the website: “All ­activities are geared towards maintaining the values and modesty of Muslims.”

While Muslim-friendly travel websites have been steadily increasing with demand, hotels all over the world are also recognising the increased value in tailoring their services to religious travellers, making adjustments to their services to take into account the needs of this group. Across Europe, hotels are now providing Arabic-speaking staff, Arabic television channels and rooms with the qibla, which shows the direction of Mecca, along with prayer mats and halal food options. Some are avoiding alcohol and steering clear of having nightclubs on site, and during Ramadan and Eid, even generate special menus.

According to the GMTI 2015, the world’s most halal-friendly destinations are Malaysia, followed by Turkey and the UAE, and it’s easy to see why these countries rate highly – they cater to religious travellers better than any others. Other countries are now specifically vying for this tourist market, too.

“During the last 18 months, we have seen awareness and interest growing among destinations and service providers,” says Bahardeen. “There are now Crescent­Rated entities in more than 50 countries.”

Last month, the Tourism Authority of Thailand joined the movement, launching its first smartphone app designed to help Muslim visitors locate mosques, halal restaurants and hotels, shopping centres with prayer rooms and other facilities of cultural importance in the country.

“We hope it will be useful to the many Muslim visitors,” says Juthaporn Rerngronasa, the acting governor of the Thai tourism body. “The Muslim population worldwide is about 1.6 billion, representing 23 per cent of the total global population. Thailand has great ­potential to serve this market.”

Other apps to have made their way on to the market this year ­include HalalTrip, an extension of the website of the same name. The app, which has been available since January, is more food-­related and helps users locate and share new halal food spots.

The HalalTrip app was developed because of a surge in ­restaurants and hotels expressing a desire to become halal-certified.

“We want to make it easier and more fun for people to plan trips, and discover very important things that influence their travelling decisions, such as places to eat along their journey,” says Bahardeen, whose company also has an in-flight prayer calculator app that offers users prayer times and qibla directions. “They can then share this with their network and other travellers.”

He believes the app will help drive halal tourism. “Halal food is one of the most important aspects for Muslim travellers, and we have seen a huge increase in the industry from restaurants wanting to become halal and more Muslim-friendly.

“Muslims, just like the general population, love to discover new places to eat and share their ­experiences. This food feature will allow Muslims to share their experiences and track their journey,” he says, adding that earlier this week CrescentRating released the world’s first glossary of halal travel, which promotes accurate and consistent use of halal terms and is available online.

So what do Muslim travellers think of all this? Sanila Basim of Abu Dhabi says she prefers religiously friendly resorts and when she travels makes a point of ­ensuring wherever she stays offers halal food.

“I don’t book my trips online, but I’ve heard of the Muslim-friendly websites, and they are pretty popular among my peers, who prefer a hassle-free trip especially when they are travelling with kids,” she says. “I think it would be great if more popular tourist spots were Islam-friendly so we can have easy access to prayer rooms and mosques, halal food and if local residents respect our headscarf and attire.”

The finance specialist says that while the world is becoming more aware of the value of the Muslim traveller to the economy, she recently travelled to Europe and was told it would be better to remove her headscarf and be more modern in how she dressed. “Well, I totally disagree with that,” she says.

Satwat Irfan, a married mum-of-one also from Abu Dhabi, says she greatly appreciates the interest global tourism operators are taking in Muslim travellers.

“I really prefer to use Muslim-­friendly sites and apps – it’s good not to have to think about religious chores when travelling. I love to travel without any fear of missing my prayers.”

With the Muslim travel market comprising 11.6 per cent of global travel expenditure, the Abu Dhabi Government is striving to become a world leader in the field.

“Our ambition is to become a leader in the global halal-tourism market and gain a greater share of the global market,” Sultan Al Dhaheri, the acting executive director of tourism at Abu Dhabi’s Tourism and Culture Authority, told media a few months ago.

And with the capital’s tourism body having hosted its first halal-­tourism workshop earlier this year, October’s World Halal Travel Summit, at Adnec from October 19 to 21, is sure to attract a great deal of interest from all over the world.

Where to go

Need inspiration for your next holiday? CrescentRating and MasterCard joined forces to identify the top destinations for Muslim travellers, based on factors such as safety, halal dining, accommodation, airport services, access to prayer rooms, ease of communication and family-friendly options. They divided the lists into OIC (Organisation of Islamic Cooperation) and non-OIC countries.

Top 10 OIC holiday destinations

1. Malaysia

Malaysia receives the thumbs up because of its safe travel environment, dining and accommodation options, access to prayer rooms, ease of communication, opportunities for families and understanding of Muslim travel needs. It’s the second-most-visited destination by Muslim travellers.

2. Turkey

Turkey offers easy access to prayer rooms, a safe travel environment and good halal dining options, not to mention great cultural attractions. It also attracts a high volume of Muslim visitors.

3. UAE

It’s no surprise that the UAE, with its heavy tourism focus, rates highly. It receives the best possible rating for safety and access to prayer facilities, and also ranks highly for dining options and ease of communication.

4. Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia attracts the highest number of Muslim travellers – 10.2 million in 2014. While Umrah and Haj contribute significantly to these numbers, the country also scores highly when it comes to ease of travel for Muslims.

5. Qatar

With a top rating for its safe travel environment, easy prayer room access and good airport facilities, Qatar also scores highly on its halal dining options.

6. Indonesia

7. Oman

8. Jordan

9. Morocco

10. Brunei

Top 10 non-OIC destinations

1. Singapore

The only non-Muslim country to feature in the overall top 10 ratings, Singapore offers a safe travel environment with good halal dining options and access to prayer rooms.

2. Thailand

Airport services and awareness of Muslim travel needs give Thailand extra points when it comes to halal travel.

3. United Kingdom

The UK is favoured because of its safe travel environment and ease of communication, and is considered a top family-friendly destination.

4. South Africa

In addition to great scenery and wildlife, South Africa offers a safe travel environment for Muslims.

5. France

Another great family destination, France also offers Muslim visitors a safe travel environment and world-famous attractions.

6. Belgium

7. Hong Kong

8. United States

9. Spain

10. Taiwan

mhealy@thenational.ae

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Round 1: January 17-19, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 2: January 22-23, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 3: February 7-9, Dubai Autodrome – Dubai
 
Round 4: February 14-16, Yas Marina Circuit – Abu Dhabi
 
Round 5: February 25-27, Jeddah Corniche Circuit – Saudi Arabia
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Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong

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How Islam's view of posthumous transplant surgery changed

Transplants from the deceased have been carried out in hospitals across the globe for decades, but in some countries in the Middle East, including the UAE, the practise was banned until relatively recently.

Opinion has been divided as to whether organ donations from a deceased person is permissible in Islam.

The body is viewed as sacred, during and after death, thus prohibiting cremation and tattoos.

One school of thought viewed the removal of organs after death as equally impermissible.

That view has largely changed, and among scholars and indeed many in society, to be seen as permissible to save another life.

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German intelligence warnings
  • 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
  • 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
  • 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250 

Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution

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Other workplace saving schemes
  • The UAE government announced a retirement savings plan for private and free zone sector employees in 2023.
  • Dubai’s savings retirement scheme for foreign employees working in the emirate’s government and public sector came into effect in 2022.
  • National Bonds unveiled a Golden Pension Scheme in 2022 to help private-sector foreign employees with their financial planning.
  • In April 2021, Hayah Insurance unveiled a workplace savings plan to help UAE employees save for their retirement.
  • Lunate, an Abu Dhabi-based investment manager, has launched a fund that will allow UAE private companies to offer employees investment returns on end-of-service benefits.
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Dubai is on a mission to record good air quality for 90 per cent of the year – up from 86 per cent annually today – by 2021.

The municipality plans to have seven mobile air-monitoring stations by 2020 to capture more accurate data in hourly and daily trends of pollution.

These will be on the Palm Jumeirah, Al Qusais, Muhaisnah, Rashidiyah, Al Wasl, Al Quoz and Dubai Investment Park.

“It will allow real-time responding for emergency cases,” said Khaldoon Al Daraji, first environment safety officer at the municipality.

“We’re in a good position except for the cases that are out of our hands, such as sandstorms.

“Sandstorms are our main concern because the UAE is just a receiver.

“The hotspots are Iran, Saudi Arabia and southern Iraq, but we’re working hard with the region to reduce the cycle of sandstorm generation.”

Mr Al Daraji said monitoring as it stood covered 47 per cent of Dubai.

There are 12 fixed stations in the emirate, but Dubai also receives information from monitors belonging to other entities.

“There are 25 stations in total,” Mr Al Daraji said.

“We added new technology and equipment used for the first time for the detection of heavy metals.

“A hundred parameters can be detected but we want to expand it to make sure that the data captured can allow a baseline study in some areas to ensure they are well positioned.”

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When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.

How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
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UAE squad

Rahul Chopra (captain), Aayan Afzal Khan, Ali Naseer, Aryansh Sharma, Basil Hameed, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Waseem, Omid Rahman, Rahul Bhatia, Tanish Suri, Vishnu Sukumaran, Vriitya Aravind

Fixtures

Friday, November 1 – Oman v UAE
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.

Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.

Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.

“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.

Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.

From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.

Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.

BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.

Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.

Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.

“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.

Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.

“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.

“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”

The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”

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