Oman looks to put standards behind halal tourism edge
Certification takes greater focus as Oman seeks to translate its established appeal to Muslim travellers into stronger commercial value
Published: 10:09 AM,Sep 01,2026 | EDITED : 02:09 PM,Sep 01,2026
Salalah: Oman is looking to place recognised standards and certification behind its established appeal to Muslim travellers, as it seeks to turn an existing tourism strength into greater commercial value for hotels, restaurants and other visitor businesses.
The distinction is important for Oman, where many of the needs of Muslim travellers are already embedded in the destination’s cultural and social environment.
The next step is less about establishing Oman as a halal tourism destination and more about developing standards, certification and consistent service benchmarks that can strengthen consumer confidence and help businesses reach wider markets.
That shift came into focus in Salalah on Tuesday, where tourism operators, hotels, restaurants, laboratories, inspection bodies and conformity-assessment organisations gathered for a three-day specialised workshop on halal tourism.
Oman already ranks among the world’s leading destinations for Muslim travellers. It placed 10th globally in the Global Muslim Travel Index 2026, which assessed 150 destinations, receiving an overall score of 73.
The index considers factors including access to prayer facilities, connectivity, communication, safety and the wider environment for Muslim travellers. Oman received particularly strong scores for prayer facilities and airport services.
However, being highly rated as a destination for Muslim travellers is different from operating a tourism ecosystem supported by formal halal standards and certification.
The latter requires requirements that can be consistently applied, assessed and recognised across businesses — an area now receiving greater attention as Oman develops its national halal framework.
Imad bin Khamis Al Shukaili, Director General of Standards and Metrology at the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, said Oman’s halal products and services sector is expected to grow by more than 7 per cent annually over the next five years.
He said growth would be driven by rising domestic demand, increasing numbers of visitors from Islamic countries and opportunities to reach regional and international markets.
Al Shukaili estimated the halal products and services market across the GCC at more than $300 billion annually, with food, tourism and Islamic finance among its main segments.
The push comes as tourism assumes a larger role in Oman’s economy. Tourism’s contribution to GDP at current prices rose to 2.9 per cent in the first quarter of 2026 from 2.6 per cent a year earlier, while direct tourism GDP increased 6.5 per cent to RO 293.8 million.
Restaurant services accounted for 18.3 per cent of direct tourism value added during the quarter, underlining the economic importance of food and dining within the wider visitor economy.
Standards and certification could therefore have implications beyond regulatory compliance, particularly for businesses seeking to differentiate their services and build confidence among visitors from different markets.
Oman is also strengthening the institutional framework supporting its halal sector. The country has been approved to become a member of the Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC) from 2027, paving the way for deeper cooperation in standardisation, metrology, accreditation and conformity assessment.
The membership is also expected to support the development of Oman’s national halal framework and greater alignment with standards used across Islamic markets.
The Directorate General of Standards and Metrology is responsible for issuing Omani standards and approving the Oman Halal Mark, alongside its work in conformity assessment, measurement and calibration.
Ihsan Ovut, Secretary General of SMIIC, said Oman already possesses many of the attributes sought by Muslim travellers, including cultural and religious compatibility, hospitality, natural diversity and a strong family environment.
He also identified family tourism as an area with further potential, noting that families increasingly consider comfort, safety and suitable services alongside accommodation and attractions when selecting destinations.
The addressable market is expanding rapidly. The Global Muslim Travel Index projects international Muslim arrivals to rise from 208 million in 2026 to 262 million by 2030, with annual expenditure expected to reach around $310 billion.
The Salalah workshop, held under the auspices of Azzan bin Qasim Al Busaidi, Under-Secretary of the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism for Tourism, continues until September 3.
Organised by the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion in cooperation with SMIIC, the Ministry of Heritage and Tourism and Omran Group, it covers restaurant certification, halal food requirements, conformity assessment and the wider quality infrastructure supporting halal products and services.
For Oman, the opportunity increasingly lies in putting recognised standards behind advantages it already possesses — and converting them into stronger consumer confidence, market recognition and value for its tourism economy.
Caption:
The Salalah workshop, held under the auspices of Tourism Under-Secretary Azzan bin Qasim Al Busaidi, continues until September 3.