The third edition of the Makkah Halal Forum kicked off under the patronage of Commerce Minister Dr. Majid bin Abdullah Al-Kassabi.

Organized by Manafea initiative, the three-day event runs through February 16 at the Makkah Chamber Exhibitions and Events Center.

The opening day featured a keynote address by the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Development Secretary-General, Yousef Hassan Khalawi. He hailed the forum as a flagship project of Manafea, designed to position Makkah and Madinah as global hubs for Muslim business, investment, and trade.

This year’s theme, “Halal: A Professional Industry”, signals a shift from viewing halal simply as religious compliance to a full-fledged ecosystem built on standards, governance, transparency, and institutional trust. Khalawi stressed that the sector’s future hinges on professional management, operations, financing, and marketing.

Khalawi stressed that no venue holds greater prestige or authenticity than Makkah Al-Mukarramah for leaders to convene and chart the future of the halal industry. He made clear this isn’t about overshadowing or rivaling other global platforms. It’s simply an acknowledgment of the Holy City’s unique significance, symbolism, and deep place in Muslims’ hearts worldwide.

Day one features a high-level conference with five key sessions on global halal branding, investment, Islamic finance, and economic assets, plus specialized workshops and a closed-door roundtable for top leaders addressing exports, imports, franchising, and more. This agenda deepens professional discussions about the future of the halal economy amid surging global attendance.

The Makkah Halal Forum 2026 is a strategic platform that blends economic insights, regulatory standards, institutional support, and tech innovation. It bolsters Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the global economy and halal sector by leveraging Makkah’s sacred status as a hub for the Islamic world. The event underscores the Kingdom’s commitment to growing this vital industry and to building its professional frameworks, regionally and globally, in line with Saudi Vision 2030.

UzA