The 9th Halal Expo Dubai recently concluded at the Roda Al-Bustan Hotel on a successful note. A majority of the 100 exhibiting companies reported having brisk business with local and international trade visitors — part of the 4,000 people who came to the two-day business-to-business event.
Amina Ahmed Mohammed, chief executive of the Emirates International Accreditation Center (EIAC), officially opened the 9th Halal Expo Dubai, on Sept. 18. This was two days after Malaysia officially recognized the UAE’s “Halal Products Control System” national certificates and the national halal mark issued by the Emirates Authority for Standardization and Metrology (ESMA), which will boost the UAE’s $20 billion annual halal imports.
“The Halal Expo Dubai provides a great opportunity to showcase and promote halal products across the world and I’m glad that this is happening in Dubai — which our government wants to promote as a global center for the halal economy,” said Mohammed.
She added: “We are increasingly receiving applications from halal accreditation bodies across the world and have already received applications from 65 of the 120 bodies and more than 1,000 halal products manufacturing plants. We have already certified 35 of the halal accreditation bodies and will complete the rest within the next few years — which will allow halal products to enter the UAE markets without any further hassles.”
More than 100 companies from 15 countries, including Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Spain, Pakistan, Switzerland, India, the UK, Brunei, Thailand, China and the UAE, participated in the show.
“This UAE-led initiative, a first of its kind in the Arab and Middle East, will open up export horizons to producers in the country, as well as export and re-export support to dozens of new markets, which is positively reflected on the support and encouragement of international industries, especially in the markets of East and South East Asia and the Australian continent, and also contributes to food security in the country,” said Abdullah Abdul Qader Al-Maeeni, director-general of ESMA.
Abdirahman M. Abdi, minister for fisheries and maritime resources, Somalia, said: “The fisheries sector of Somalia is estimated to be worth somewhere between $800 million to $1 billion ... This sector has a huge potential and we are participating at the expo to explore new opportunities through Dubai.”
Halal Expo 2017 successfully draws to a close
Halal Expo 2017 successfully draws to a close
Alfanar Engineering signs MoU with Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia
Alfanar Engineering Services announced the signing of a strategic MoU with Schneider Electric Saudi Arabia during its participation in the Saudi Arabia Smart Grid Conference. Both Schneider Electric and Alfanar Engineering have committed to further enhancing operational excellence and customer-centric service delivery thereby ensuring long-term asset reliability of their clients in the Kingdom.
Alfanar Engineering brings to the collaboration a strong in-Kingdom service footprint, supported by extensive operations and maintenance capabilities, advanced testing and commissioning equipment, and a network of specialized service centers and labs strategically located across Saudi Arabia. These capabilities enable the delivery of responsive, high-quality technical support tailored to the needs of critical infrastructure and industrial operations. Schneider Electric, with its extensive installed base of energy management and automation solutions, plays a key role in supporting mission-critical facilities and national industries across the Kingdom.
The collaboration was signed by Sattam Al-Motairi, chief operating officer of Alfanar Engineering Services, and Mohamed Shaheen, cluster president — Saudi Arabia, Schneider Electric. It brings together Alfanar’s local operational expertise and service reach with Schneider Electric’s global technologies and service standards. Together, the two companies will enhance service reliability, improve response efficiency, and deliver greater value through sustainable solutions that optimize asset lifecycles. The MoU also supports the development of localized technical services, contributing to the Kingdom’s objectives for sustainable infrastructure, localization, and industrial resilience.
Al-Motairi said: “At Alfanar Engineering Services, we believe that true value is created long after equipment is installed, through reliable service, fast response, and teams that understand the realities of the field. This collaboration with Schneider Electric enables us to enhance the delivery of after-sales services across the Kingdom, combining deep local expertise with world-class technology. Our focus is clear: keeping critical operations running, supporting our customers’ long-term success, and contributing meaningfully to Saudi Arabia’s industrial and infrastructure ambitions.”
Oday Al-Aithan, vice president of field services for Schneider Electric in Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Yemen, and Bahrain, said: “At Schneider Electric, we are turning advanced energy management and digital solutions into tangible outcomes through our partnership with Alfanar Engineering Services. By combining our integrated technologies, extensive installed base, and global expertise as a leading energy technology partner with Alfanar’s strong in-Kingdom field services, we deliver smarter, faster, and more reliable solutions that optimize asset performance, accelerate response times, and support resilient, sustainable infrastructure, contributing to the Kingdom’s Vision 2030.”
