Halal cluster to strengthen Dubai’s position as capital of Islamic economy

Dubai launched a dedicated Halal Cluster on Sunday that will strengthen Dubai’s position as a global capital of the Islamic economy.

The investors in the cluster will benefit from dedicated incentives. Spread across 6,771,781sqft, the cluster is a dedicated base for halal manufacturing and logistic companies in food, cosmetics and personal care industries.

It was announced by Dubai Industrial City chief executive officer Abdulla Belhoul during a news conference on the sidelines of the first day of Gulfood, the largest food exhibition in the world.

Abdulla Mohammed Al Awar, CEO of the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre, also joined the news conference along with Farah Al Zarooni, director of the Standards Department at Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology, or Esma; and Amina Ahmed Mohammed, director of the Accreditation Department at Dubai Municipality.

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

“We have only been able to accomplish this through the support of the Dubai Islamic Economy Development Centre, the Standards Department at the Esma and the Dubai Municipality.”

Speaking at the Press conference, Al Awar said: “The centre intends to work closely with its stakeholders, both in the public and private sectors, to streamline efforts and to align the incentives offered to halal businesses, resulting in an enabling environment for the halal industry. Today, Dubai Industrial City has offered a solution that addresses the needs in the industrial Halal sector.”

Al Zarooni said: “Standards are fundamental for removing the international trade barriers and hence provide vital support to strengthen the national economy.