The international Halal food market, considered one of the fastest growing segments of the worldwide food industry and currently worth $1.1 trillion globally, occupies an integral part of Gulfood 2015 — the 20th anniversary of the food and hospitality trade show.
In all, more than 1,000 international halal food brands and companies will convene at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) from Feb. 8-12 to display thousands of Halal products — from energy drinks, vegan and vegetarian foods to meat and poultry, canned goods, gourmet and fine foods — at the second annual Halal World Food.
With more than 80,000 international food industry professionals expected to attend the largest edition of Gulfood, Halal World Food will cement its standing as the world's biggest annual halal food sourcing trade show. Beyond the significant, sector-specific commercial and trading opportunities presented at the dedicated show-within-a-show concept, the inaugural Halal Investment Conference on Feb. 10 will debut as part of the three-day Gulfood Leaders Events program.
"The global halal food market now accounts for a fifth of the world's food trade (Datamonitor, 2014), and as the primary trading hub for halal food in the MENA region, Dubai has both the ambition and world-class infrastructure to become a worldwide halal center," said Trixie LohMirmand, SVP, exhibitions and events management, DWTC.
Topics to be covered at the Halal Investment Conference include among others the role of halal in Dubai's capital of Islamic Economy vision, business opportunities in the global halal marketplace.
“Dubai, with its vision to become the capital of the Islamic economy and the introduction of its halal scheme will level the playing field for all halal manufactures and restore consumer confidence," said Idris Mohammed, director, Tilly-Sabco Bretagne — a French leader in chicken production and slaughtering, and the title sponsor of the Halal Investment Conference.
Global halal food market is worth $1.1 trillion
Global halal food market is worth $1.1 trillion
PIF-backed AviLease achieves revenue of $664m and 19% growth in 2025
RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund-backed AviLease achieved exceptional performance and sustainable business growth during 2025, supported by the strategic expansion of its global platform.
According to its financial results for 2025, AviLease recorded total revenues of $664 million, an annual increase of 19 percent, driven by disciplined growth in its asset portfolio and strong performance in aircraft remarketing amid sustained global demand for modern, fuel-efficient aircraft, the Saudi Press Agency reported.
Profit before tax doubled compared to the previous year, reaching $122 million. The year witnessed an expansion in AviLease’s portfolio, reaching 202 owned and managed aircraft, leased to over 50 airline companies in more than 30 countries.
The total value of the company’s assets stabilized at $9.3 billion. AviLease maintained a 100 percent fleet utilization rate, reflecting the resilience of its business model, the efficiency of its asset management, and the strength of its strategic relationships with airlines around the world.
AviLease concluded purchase agreements for aircraft from Airbus, including the A320neo family and A350F, and Boeing 737 aircraft, aiming to enhance its future asset portfolio with modern, fuel-efficient aircraft. This step will contribute to supporting future growth and meeting increasing customer demand for the latest aircraft, aligning with the Kingdom’s ambitions to become a leading global aviation hub.
AviLease strengthened its prestigious credit standing by obtaining a strong Baa2 credit ratings from Moody’s and BBB from Fitch, reflecting its financial solidity, managerial discipline, and efficiency in managing leverage. The company also successfully issued senior unsecured bonds worth $850 million last November under Regulation 144A/RegS. This issuance contributed to diversifying its funding sources and enhancing its financial flexibility.
Commenting on the results, AviLease CEO Edward O’Byrne said: “This exceptional performance reflects the quality of the company’s investment portfolio, the strength of its partnerships with airlines, and its strategic focus on responsibly deploying capital into highly sought-after, efficient, modern aircraft assets.”
He added: “As aviation markets continue to grow, AviLease is strategically positioned to continue its expansion plans and deliver sustainable long-term value for shareholders, contributing to the Kingdom’s ambitions.”
Throughout 2025, AviLease continued to play a pivotal role in the Kingdom’s growing aviation sector and contributed directly to the launch and scaling of the new national carrier, Riyadh Air, by completing a sale and leaseback transaction for a Boeing 787-9 aircraft, which thereby became the first aircraft to join the airline’s fleet.
AviLease also established a strategic partnership with Hassana Investment Co. This partnership aims to provide an opportunity for local and international investors to enter the aircraft financing asset class and benefit from AviLease’s technical expertise and operational capabilities to support partnership growth and enhance performance.
Hassana Investment Co. has agreed to acquire an initial portfolio of 10 modern aircraft from AviLease.
