Mecca — Minister of Commerce Majid Al Qasabi on Sunday inaugurated the third Mecca Halal Forum 2026 with the theme “Halal: Specialized Industry”.
The forum, held at the Mecca Chamber of Commerce and Industry Exhibition and Event Center, brought together international officials, regulators and industry leaders, including representatives from the US, UK, Brazil, Malaysia and Turkiye, to highlight the Kingdom’s growing role as a hub for sustainable investment in the halal sector in line with Saudi Vision 2030.
In his opening remarks, Al Qasabi said the forum reflects the halal sector’s transition from a growth market to a fully integrated industry governed by standards of quality, governance and transparency.
He said the Kingdom has adopted a strategic approach to establish itself as a global hub for the halal industry through a progressive legislative and regulatory framework, reaffirming the ministry’s commitment to fostering a competitive environment that supports innovation and entrepreneurship.
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Abdullah Saleh Kamel, chairman of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Saudi Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said the forum has evolved from a forum for dialogue to a forum for decision-making.
Kamel said the event is designed to serve as a permanent international platform to redefine the halal industry and strengthen its role in the global economy, explaining that halal is a vision that balances value and growth.
At the opening ceremony, organizers launched the “Golden Halal” logo as a consumer trust mark reflecting high quality standards and compliance, and announced the establishment of the Halal Academy.
The forum also saw the signing of a memorandum of understanding between the Saudi Food and Drug Authority and Indonesia’s Halal Product Assurance Agency, and the Central Islamic Council of Thailand, with the aim of strengthening cooperation, unifying standards and expanding international recognition of certifications issued by Saudi Arabia.
