Halal cluster launched in Dubai Industrial City

Dubai Industrial City launched its "halal cluster" on the first day of Gulfood, which will serve as a dedicated base for halal manufacturing and logistic companies in food, cosmetics, and personal care industries.

The launch was hosted by Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of Dubai Industrial City, and supported by Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre, Farah Al Zarooni, director of standards department at Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (ESMA), and Amina Ahmed Mohammed, director of accreditation Department at Dubai Municipality.

The market is a big one. It was revealed that Muslim consumers spend over US $ 1 trillion for food and over $26bn in cosmetics and personal care. This is expected to increase by 50% in the coming five years to $1.6 trillion and $39bn respectively.

With the food market worth $85bn in the GCC, this makes it an attractive sector to capitalise on. Dubai Industrial City's halal cluster is spread across 6,771,781 sq. ft. Belhoul said he anticipated around 15-25 based there, dependent on the area of requirement. He also anticipates seeing five companies start up in the cluster within the first year.

The target market will include not only the GCC and MENA companies, but those from a global level. Belhoul indicated that many of the companies present at Gulfood would be interested in this development.

Belhoul said: “The creation of the halal cluster is another step towards H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai’s wise vision to become the capital of Islamic economy. It is truly rewarding seeing a project that has been a long-term goal finally come to fruition.”

Al Zarooni added that ESMA's plan - the UAE Scheme for Halal Products - is in alignment with this vision.

Mohammed said accreditation is important in the halal industry in general, and for halal food in particular, because it requires a lot of reliability and credibility and special certificates.

She added that accreditation is an impartial process conducted via a third-party, for attestation related to halal food issues, including testing laboratories, inspection and food control authorities, certification and Islamic societies providing halal certificates.