Dubai has been named the best travel destination in the world for Muslims in an inaugural awards judged by Islamic travel experts.
The Salam Standard, an online hotel reference tool dedicated to Islamic travellers, commended the emirate for its Muslim-friendly credentials, with halal food, prayer facilities, cultural experiences and accommodation, and because it is a family-focused destination with wide appeal for all nationalities.
Also recognises for their Muslim-friendly appeal were other tourism businesses such as hotel chains, airports and events. Three airports in Asia, Singapore’s Changi, Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia and Kansai International Airport in Japan, were honoured alongside three hotel groups: Mövenpick Hotels & Resorts, Fairmont Raffles Hotels International and Indonesia’s Archipelago International.
The World Halal Travel Summit & Exhibition (WHTS), the inaugural edition of which took place at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre last year, was named best event.
The programme aims to recognise the growing influence of Muslim travellers, said Salam Standard founder Faeez Fadhlillah, who described the market as fast-growing. “They spent $142 billion (Dh521 billion) on travel in 2014, according to Thomson Reuters, and this is on track to rise to $233 billion by 2020, accounting for 25 per cent of total global travel expenditure. Travel entities that fail to jump on board with this trend are missing a trick.”
Nominees were judged by a panel of Muslim travel experts against a number of criteria, such as the availability and range of Muslim services and facilities provided, as well as the promotion of the halal travel concept locally and internationally.
“All of our winners stand out as pioneers in the global halal travel market, offering products and services that cater to the specific faith-based needs of Muslim travellers, or in the case of WHTS, providing a platform for the growth and development of this fast-growing tourism sector,” said Salam Standard founder Faeez Fadhlillah. “At Salam Standard we applaud these efforts as we, alongside our winners, strive to provide Muslim-friendly travel options that make them feel at home.”
Kuala Lumpur International and Changi Airport received awards for their broad range of Muslim-friendly services and facilities, including prayer rooms and halal food options, while Kansai Airport was recognised as a “pioneer in creating Muslim facilities and services and promoting an inclusive travel experience for all,” said Fadhlillah.
The three hotel group winners stood out for offering halal-friendly facilities and services at most of their hotels around the globe, demonstrating that they “take the needs of their guests seriously and go the extra mile to ensure their wellbeing.”
Judges considered the WHTS a trailblazer in halal travel too, providing a global platform dedicated to the rise of Muslim travellers. “The event is one of the biggest gatherings of travel agencies and NTOs, with the single aim to promote the concept of Muslim travel globally,” confirmed Fadhlillah.
Launched in October, Salam Standard is an online reference tool that provides information on “Muslim-friendly” amenities and services available at hotels, resorts and destinations around the globe. More than 20,000 properties have become part of this online reference tool.
