Prime Highlights:
- Saudi Arabia’s Global Halal Mark alliance expands, with four countries joining and plans to reach 10 by the end of 2026, unifying halal standards worldwide.
- The Halal Academy and Global Halal Hub initiatives aim to develop skills, support the halal ecosystem, and simplify international trade for halal products.
Key Facts:
- Saudi Arabia leads global halal investments with SR5.5 billion ($1.4 billion), followed by Malaysia, Kuwait, UAE, and Indonesia.
- The Saudi Halal Center, founded in 2018, issues halal certificates after verifying compliance with Shariah and technical standards, helping local products reach international markets.
Background:
Four countries have joined the Global Halal Mark alliance, a new initiative launched by the Saudi Halal Center, following agreements with Indonesia and Thailand, the center announced during the Makkah Halal Forum. Abdulaziz Al-Rushodi, CEO of the Saudi Halal Center, said the number of participating countries is expected to reach 10 by the end of 2026. The alliance aims to unify Halal marks worldwide and ensure the highest reliability in the sector.
At the forum, the center introduced the Halal Academy in partnership with the Islamic University of Madinah. The academy will act as a global reference, helping develop skills and support the halal industry worldwide.
Al-Rushodi said the Global Halal Hub will be a digital platform to unite halal certifications and make trade between countries easier.
The center also signed an agreement with the Food Manufacturers Association, which represents thousands of factories. The deal will help Saudi products get the halal mark, encourage manufacturers to use it, and reach more international markets.
Founded in 2018 under the Saudi Food and Drug Authority, the Saudi Halal Center gives halal certificates to products that follow Shariah and technical standards. Products with the center’s logo are regularly monitored to ensure they comply with halal rules.
The global halal market reached an estimated $7 trillion in 2025 and is expected to grow to $10 trillion by 2030, according to Yousef Khalawi, Secretary-General of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development. Saudi Arabia is the top investor in the global halal sector with SR5.5 billion ($1.4 billion). It is followed by Malaysia (SR4.7 billion), Kuwait (SR4.1 billion), the UAE (SR3.7 billion), and Indonesia (SR1.5 billion).
These investments show Saudi Arabia is playing a bigger role in setting halal standards and promoting its products around the world.
