On Sunday, 21 February 2027, at 10:30 am, RHS 2027 will host a panel at Sicilia Fiera in Misterbianco, dedicated to the Halal sector and the opportunities this market can offer Sicilian businesses. The event will explore the prospects for exports to the Gulf countries, product certification and the development of hospitality services increasingly tailored to the needs of Muslim customers.
Participants will include Federcarni, consultants from the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the United Arab Emirates (IICUAE), and other qualified speakers, offering businesses practical tools and insights to understand a growing market and its specific cultural and regulatory requirements.
**Halal: an opportunity that goes beyond the product**
When people talk about Halal, they often think primarily of food certification. In reality, the concept covers a much broader supply chain, including manufacturing across various product categories, raw materials, packaging and logistics, as well as tourism, hotels and restaurants. This opens up a wide range of opportunities for Sicilian businesses looking to expand into international markets and reach customers with specific requirements.
We discussed these issues with **Andrea Leonardi, Certified Advisor at the Italian Chamber of Commerce in the United Arab Emirates (IICUAE)**, to explore the potential of the Halal market and the opportunities it offers local businesses.
**Why can the Halal market represent an opportunity for Sicilian businesses?**
“Companies looking to enter the markets of the United Arab Emirates and, more broadly, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries need to understand a business culture that differs from the Western one. It is essential to prepare not only from a commercial perspective but also in terms of cultural awareness and regulatory knowledge, since many aspects of everyday life and business transactions in the Islamic world are shaped by religious principles.
For Sicilian businesses, this means being able to explore new markets while also understanding the rules required to operate successfully in them.”
**What does Halal certification involve for companies exporting food products?**
“Products
