Muslim Friendly Tourism (MFT):

Understanding the Supply and Demand Sides

In the OIC Member Countries

The above is still about the control of food products entering the emirates and claiming to be

Halal. This is especially the case for meat. However currently there is no widespread use of

Halal certification for food outlets, although most food outlets in UAE are “assumed” to be

Halal.

Nabil Molla, secretary general of GCC Standardization Organization (GSO), said the

UAE’s halal

standards and mark are likely to be adopted at a GCC level. The GSO’s vision is to become the

pioneers of standardization and excellence, both regionally and internationally. Through the

facilitation of trade, the aim is to eliminate trade barriers.

Noaf Al Naqbi, Head of the Certification and Accreditation Section at the Dubai Accreditation

Centre under the Dubai Municipality, commented that

the center offers training on halal

requirements on certification and awareness sessions for slaughterhouses and food

manufacturers.

Prayer Facilities

Prayer facilities can be found with ease almost anywhere in UAE. Shopping malls, theme parks,

hotels etc. all have allocated prayer rooms for males and females. Dubai Mall is one of the

world’s largest shopping malls - prayer rooms for men and women are located throughout the

Mall. The Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, is the largest in the United Arab Emirates and eighth

largest in the world.

Ramadhan Services

Dubai hotels and beach resorts promote great offers and room rates combined with various

added value services during Ramadhan. In addition, shopping malls, restaurants and various

retail outlets also have in the fasting month special deals, discounts and other promotions.

Unique to Dubai is in the month of Ramadhan many hotels build in their lawn or foyer a

“Ramadan tent” or “Ramadan café” for the festivities.

Ramadan tent plays an important part in providing services in the month to Muslims. The aim

is to create an atmosphere or ambience of friendship. Various Muslims and even non-Muslims

which may include hotel guest would have their dinner in these tents. Both Iftars and Suhoors

are offered to all hotel guests in these tenets. Normally the hotel would bundle this meal into

the room rates. On average, hotels charges about US$30 to US$60 per guest for an Iftar meal.

Ramadhan services are well promoted. Many hotels promote their Ramadan Iftar meals on

various websites, for example Expat Echo Dubai

provides a

comprehensive listing of Iftar and Suhoor meals in Dubai for Ramadan. Dubai’s best Ramadan

tents

contains a list of the

leading Ramadan tents in the country.

Salah Ibrahim Sharaf, Executive Director of Sharaf Group mentions that

understating the

Muslim traveler needs is important towards providing Muslim friendly services. Dubai in his

opinion has developed an interesting and necessary approach in its offering of Ramadhan

services