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Abu Dhabi's halal tourism companies are ready to capture the fast growing market.
The oil-rich emirate is drawing attention from global halal industry players, who have descended on the capital to participate at the first World Halal Travel Summit, or WHTS2015, which kicked off here.
With the first halal travel summit, Abu Dhabi has sent out a strong message to the outside world that its modern infrastructure is ready to venture into Halal travel and tourism as a growing number of Muslim pilgrims use Abu Dhabi as transit hub for their annual Haj and Ummrah pilgrimages.
The three-day event includes an exhibition with over 200 participants plus a 1,000-delegate conference, comprising keynote sessions, panel discussions, a Ministerial debate and 150 presentations from 70 international speakers.
It all started with the phenomenal growth of Etihad Airways in the last 12-years that made Abu Dhabi a major regional transit hub, bringing passengers from around the world.
The emirate in its efforts to diversify its oil economy is confident to get its due share in the halal travel sector which has the potential to grow as big as an estimated $238 billion by 2019.
Addressing the Summit, TCA Abu Dhabi's acting director-general, Jasem Al Darmaki called on halal tour operators and the emirate's tourism industry to embrace the opportunity.
"Halal travel is one of the fastest-growing sectors of global tourism and one that's already worth $135 billion and is set to double within the next five years."
He said Abu Dhabi is placing itself at the heart of this market in the gulf region, and is well placed to meet specific Muslim demands on a number of fronts including food and beverage, segmented family and gender-specific product and segmented sessions for females at mainline attractions, and is host to a number of high and medium-quality dry hotels.
The TCA Abu Dhabi official said Abu Dhabi is already well on course to deliver international marketing initiatives with leading halal travel partners.
"We have already begun partnering with the world's leading online accommodation booking platform and our local destination management companies are supporting international operators with halal products."
He predicted that the emirate's deep-rooted heritage and traditions and upcoming cultural institutions on Saadiyat Island would further set the emirate apart.
Participating in the WHTS2015 is an opportunity for many of the emirate's dry hotel chains to build market presence.
Ayla hotels, operators of two hotels in Al Ain's heritage heartland, the capital's Al Manzel's family-friendly fully furnished hotel apartments and UAE-based Vision Hotels are all hoping to reach new suppliers, open new markets and explore opportunities in the halal sector. Each property boasts alcohol-free facilities, dedicated dining areas and has set aside allocated timings for exclusive ladies-only activities.
Al Ain's Al Bada Resort - a luxury complex of 60 exquisitely appointed chalets - boasts a range of 100 per cent halal-compliant facilities and is using their presence at the summit to promote their forthcoming Al Bada Spa, dedicated to female guests, with indoor temperature-controlled swimming pool with Jacuzzi, sauna and steam rooms.
Local hospitality participating the show include Jannah Hotels and Resorts, Southern Sun Abu Dhabi, Hyatt Capital Gate, Le Royal Meridien Hotel Abu Dhabi, The St. Regis Abu Dhabi, Sheraton Abu Dhabi Hotel & Resort, Ramada Abu Dhabi, Armed Forces Officers Club & Hotel, the recently revamped Millennium Corniche Hotel and the dry Rayhaan Rotana & Al Khalidiya Palace hotels.
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