The UAE is emerging increasingly as a worldwide leader in the certification of products. It is emerging as a source of trusted halal products that are now not only loved by the consumers in the Middle East but also around the globe. It issues difficult certification processes for food and cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other consumables for compliance with the strict conditions of Islamic dietary laws, rendering them permissible for Muslims to consume.
Here, we will see what is involved in UAE halal certification and why it matters. We will also determine how businesses can apply for this certificate so as to tap into an expanded market.
Halal Certification in UAE: What is it?
Official procedure to have the products certified as halal or allowable under the rules of Islamic dietary laws, making the products “halal”. Be it food and drinks or cosmetics and drugs, there are ample products that take the certification for the label of “halal”. In order to acquire the halal certification in UAE.
The ESMA was previously the sole regulatory authority for the proceedings, but it has since passed on its responsibility of halal certification to the Emirates International Accreditation Centre. The UAE also launched the Halal National Mark-a globally accepted mark for products that are in nature and of nature or presentation and quality that fit and pass the critical standards of the UAE.
Why is there such an importance of Halal Certification in the UAE?
Halal certification, therefore, plays a significant role in the UAE, where a substantial percentage of the citizens adhere to the Islamic dietary prescriptions. It builds consumer confidence in the fact that products must have undergone strict scrutiny and complied with the Islamic requirements. For business people, it becomes an entry point into local and global markets whose consumers are Muslims.
Some of the benefits of halal certification in UAE include:
Access to Huge Markets: International companies will have use of the enormous markets of the UAE, GCC, and other Muslim-majority countries through Halal certification.
Consumer confidence and credibility: The UAE’s halal certification mark is reliable and thus builds up consumer confidence in the products being halal compliant.
Economic Diversification and Growth: The halal sector aids in achieving economic diversification for the UAE and creates jobs and attracts foreign investments. International Standards Compliant UAE halal standards comply with OIC standards; hence, the products comply with international requirements of halal.
How to Obtain Halal Certification in UAE?
How to obtain halal certification in UAE is very systematic; hence, all products will strictly comply with high standards. The step-by-step process is the following:
Application Submission: Application will be submitted by those businesses stating ingredients, sources, and the processing of their product.
Inspection and Evaluation: The certifying authorities thoroughly inspect the manufacturing facility and confirm that the product does not contain contamination caused by haram substances.
Approval and Halal Mark: As soon as the product meets the evaluation standards, it is approved and marked with the Halal National Mark, which means it meets the UAE’s requirements and halal certification.
Regular Compliance Audits: The compliant companies are audited periodically so that they may not continue their noncompliance over time. Through a transparent and thorough process, the UAE empowers businesses as well as consumers to be assured about the conformity of halal accredited products with the principles of Islamic diets.
Advantages of Halal Certification for Businesses in UAE
Attaining halal accreditation provides a company operating within UAE with numerous benefits. The following are a number of the reasons a company should embark on halal accreditation:
More Market Opportunities: Halal certification opens access to a large and rapidly increasing global market of over 1.8 billion Muslim consumers for the businesses. Getting halal certification would mean access for any business in the UAE to Muslim majority markets in the UAE as well as to markets across the world.
Increased Brand Credibility: Having the halal certification in UAE adds to the reputation of the company to be of quality goods and in high standard compliance catering to both Muslim and non-Muslim customers alike.
Vision: Reforms such as the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030 will see the UAE become one of the world’s leading hubs for halal as the country seeks to boost domestic manufacturing and exports of halal products.
Consumer Confidence: For consumers, guarantees of halal certification mean that a product is good enough in terms of religion, ethics, and hygiene
The Future of Halal Certification in the UAE
Indeed, the proactive approach in the UAE on halal certification perfectly lines up with its leadership ambition in the halal economy. In this light, the investment by the government into the Dubai Industrial Strategy 2030 underscores how halal will be one of the priority sectors. Such forward-looking strategy would include advanced technological ones, like blockchain for greater traceability and transparency of the halal-certified products, which would then enable tracking through the whole process of halal certification-from sourcing to manufacturing-from the customer’s perspective.
The role of UAE in the global halal market has a high prospect because of increased demand for halal products across the globe. In business, following the UAE standards of halal and certification processes will be crucial in exploiting these available markets.
