Halal Expo & Conference

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

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Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

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Frequently asked

Glossary

1

Halal

An Arabic term meaning permitted or lawful under Islamic law. In a trade-fair context it usually refers to food, drink, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals and services that comply with Islamic dietary and ethical rules, from ingredients through handling and packaging.

2

Haram

That which is prohibited under Islamic law - for example pork, alcohol as an ingredient, and meat from animals not slaughtered according to the required method. Exhibitors use the term when explaining why an ingredient or processing aid is excluded from a halal-certified line.

3

Zabiha

The prescribed method of slaughter for halal meat, involving a swift cut, invocation, and the animal being alive and healthy at the time of slaughter. Meat suppliers at the show are typically asked to document zabiha practice alongside certification.

4

Tayyib

Often translated as wholesome or good, used alongside halal to describe food that is also clean, safe and ethically produced. It appears in marketing for premium halal food brands aimed at quality-conscious retail buyers.

5

Halal certification body

An organisation that audits a producer's ingredients, premises and processes and issues a certificate confirming halal compliance, usually with a validity period and scope covering named products or production lines.

6

Halal certificate scope

The list of products, production lines or sites that a halal certificate actually covers. Buyers at Halal Expo Qatar routinely check that the certificate names the specific SKU or plant being sourced, not just the parent company.

7

Halal Assurance System (HAS)

The internal management system a producer runs to keep halal status intact - supplier approval, segregation of non-halal materials, sanitation between runs, and traceability records. Auditors ask for it when a certificate is renewed or a new line is added.

8

MS 1500

A widely referenced Malaysian halal standard covering production, preparation, handling and storage of halal food. Exporters often hold MS 1500 based certification because it is recognised by several Gulf and Southeast Asian importers.

9

OIC/SMIIC standards

Halal standards issued through the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries, used as a reference framework where importers want harmonised criteria across OIC markets.

10

Halal cosmetics

Cosmetics and personal-care products formulated without alcohol as a solvent in the restricted sense, pork-derived gelatin or collagen, and other non-permitted inputs, with production segregated from non-halal lines. Certification and ingredient declarations are the usual buyer questions.

11

Halal pharmaceuticals and nutraceuticals

Medicines, supplements and vitamins whose excipients, capsules and processing aids are checked against halal criteria - a category where gelatin capsules and alcohol-based carriers are the recurring technical issues discussed with suppliers.

12

Islamic finance and takaful

Financial products structured to avoid interest (riba) and prohibited activities, and the Sharia-compliant insurance model known as takaful. These institutions attend halal trade events to serve food, agri and manufacturing exporters who need trade finance.

13

Modest fashion

Clothing designed to meet Islamic modesty expectations, ranging from abayas and hijabs to contemporary womenswear and sportswear. Buyers compare fabric, sizing, seasonality and private-label capacity rather than only religious suitability.

14

Halal tourism

Travel services and destinations configured for Muslim travellers - halal dining, prayer facilities, alcohol-free options and family-friendly accommodation. Tourism boards and tour operators use the show to meet outbound agents from Gulf and Southeast Asian markets.

15

Halal logistics and cold chain

Transport and warehousing that keeps halal goods segregated from non-halal cargo, with dedicated containers, documented cleaning and traceable handling. It matters most for meat, frozen food and ingredients moving through Gulf ports.

16

Certificate of Islamic (halal) slaughter

A document issued by a recognised certifier confirming that meat was produced under halal slaughter requirements. Importers in GCC markets commonly require it alongside the health certificate for each consignment.