The halal food market includes a large variety of products from raw chicken and beef to halal processed foods and cold drinks. The Chamber report estimates that in 2012, halal food and beverage market accounted for 16.6% of the global food and beverage market. The report expects the market to be worth US $1.6 trillion by 2018.

 

 

Dubai Chamber chairman H.E. Abdul Rahman Saif Al Ghurair said: "We see opportunities to enhance the halal food industry. The research finding on halal food sector is of considerable importance for the UAE food and beverage business, especially since halal food is a key pillar in the Dubai Capital of Islamic Economy initiative launched in 2013.

 

"Based on the initiative, Dubai has the capability to create new avenues for growth in this sector, andbecome an international centre for halal industry."

 

According to the report, the UAE halal food consumption market was valued at around US $20 billion in 2012. Halal meat is an important component of this market, dominated by unpackaged meat which, according to 2013 estimates, constitutes about 78.7% of the market share while packaged meat took the remaining 21.3%.

 

 

Most of the meat sold in the UAE is uncooked, with retail sales accounting for about 43.8% of the UAE uncooked meat market in 2013 while food service business, including hotels, restaurants and catering outlets, constituting about 47.9%, says the report.

 

 

Globally, halal food industry is growing in a number of markets mainly in countries in the MENA region, South and South East Asia. Indonesia is the biggest halal food market with market value of US$197 billion in 2012, according to the report. Turkey, with US$100 billion, is the second largest market.

 

As a major centre for halal food, Dubai imports meat from a number of markets. Brazil accounted for more than half of Dubai's meat imports in 2013, supplying 166 thousand metric tons (TMT) of the total volume of 314 TMT to take 53% of the market share, far ahead of the US at second place with 14%, Dubai Chamber stated based on Dubai Customs data. The US exported 43 TMT while Australia was a distant third with 27 TMT, taking just 9% market share. Among the neighbouring countries, Pakistan and India each supplied 5% of the total volume, while Ethiopia cornered 3%.

 

 

Business opportunities in global halal food market are not limited to food production, but span the entire halal food value chain. This value chain includes businesses providing inputs such as seeds and fertilizers, farms raising livestock, businesses providing technology for food production, food processing facilities, logistics companies moving perishable food items, importers of food and finally retail outlets selling halal food products.