Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index reveals trends shaping the future of Halal travel

Dubai, UAE – As awareness of Muslim travelers' needs grows, Halal travel is increasingly shaping how destinations design and deliver experiences. According to the newly released 2025 Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI), international Muslim arrivals reached 176 million in 2024 – up 25% from 2023 – and are projected to grow to 245 million by 2030. By then, total travel spending is expected to reach USD$230 billion, highlighting the growing influence and economic potential of this vibrant market.
To stay competitive, travel and tourism stakeholders must adapt to the evolving needs of Muslim travelers, prioritizing purpose, inclusivity, and digital innovation. The 10th edition of the GMTI identifies the key trends and destination leaders shaping the future of Halal-friendly travel.
Key Consumer Trends Impacting Halal Travel
GMTI 2025 highlights five important trends shaping Muslim travel preferences today:
Smart Apps for Halal Journeys: Muslim travelers are embracing digital tools that offer seamless access to faith-aligned services and personalized experiences.
The Modern Female Muslim Traveler: Women are shaping the Halal travel sector in powerful ways, driving demand for safer, inclusive, and thoughtfully designed spaces.
Muslim-friendly facilities: Destinations that offer alcohol-free environments, Halal-certified dining, prayer facilities, and gender-segregated pools and spas are becoming essential.
Solo Travel Surge: Younger Muslim travelers are embracing solo adventures, favoring autonomy and personalized itineraries.
Digital Detox Retreats: Inspired by Islamic values of mindfulness and balance, many travelers are seeking tech-free escapes rooted in nature and spirituality.
Destinations Leading the Way in Muslim-Friendly Travel
The GMTI 2025 highlights leading destinations around the world that are setting benchmarks in Muslim-friendly travel.
Among OIC destinations, Malaysia retains the top spot, recognized for its accessible Halal-friendly services and infrastructure. Türkiye, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) share the second spot, each offering a strong combination of cultural heritage, modern amenities, and dedicated efforts to enhance the Muslim travel experience. Indonesia also ranks highly, supported by its rich cultural appeal. Other notable destinations in the Gulf region include Qatar, Oman, and Kuwait, all of which continue to strengthen their offerings for Muslim travelers.
Among non-OIC destinations, Singapore remains the leader – recognized for its emphasis on inclusivity and cultural sensitivity. Thailand and the Philippines are steadily emerging as rising Muslim-friendly destinations in Southeast Asia. Thailand offers warm hospitality and a growing range of Halal-certified services, while the Philippines is enhancing its capacity to serve Muslim travelers through better Halal food access and Muslim-friendly features at key tourist sites.
In addition, Hong Kong has emerged as standout non-OIC destination, ranking third in the GMTI 2025. The city has invested significantly in Muslim-friendly infrastructure, with 61 hotels accredited by CrescentRating and 153 restaurants Halal-certified by the Trustees of the Islamic Community Fund of Hong Kong. Hong Kong also received the Most Promising Muslim-Friendly Destination of the Year award, part of the Global Muslim Travel Index Awards.
Taiwan has also continuously positioned itself as a Muslim-friendly destination, offering a welcoming environment that respects cultural and religious diversity. Over 230 restaurants and hotels have been Halal-certified by the Chinese Muslim Association, many of which include separate kitchens to meet dietary requirements.
With the global Muslim travel market entering a dynamic new growth phase, GMTI 2025 serves as a timely guide for stakeholders looking to tap into this fast-evolving landscape.
Download the full GMTI 2025 report here: https://www.crescentrating.com/halal-muslim-travel-market-reports.html
About CrescentRating
CrescentRating is the leading authority on Halal travel and tourism. The company uses insights, industry intelligence, lifestyle, behavior and research on the needs of the Muslim traveler to deliver authoritative guidance on all aspects of Halal travel to organizations across the globe. Founded in 2008, CrescentRating services are used by every tier of the tourism industry, from government bodies and tourism agencies to hospitality service providers, to better serve the needs of the Muslim traveler.
CrescentRating's products and services include rating & accreditation, research & consultancy, training, & certification (CR Academy), industry reports, Halal-In-Travel conferences, HalalChefWorld program, destination marketing and content provisioning. HalalTrip is a sister brand of CrescentRating.
Website: https://www.crescentrating.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cresentrating
Twitter: https://twitter.com/crescentrating
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/crescentrating/
About Mastercard (NYSE: MA), www.mastercard.com
Mastercard powers economies and empowers people in 200+ countries and territories worldwide. Together with our customers, we're building a resilient economy where everyone can prosper. We support a wide range of digital payments choices, making transactions secure, simple, smart and accessible. Our technology and innovation, partnerships and networks combine to deliver a unique set of products and services that help people, businesses and governments realize their greatest potential.
Appendix – 2025 Global Muslim Travel Index Rankings and Awards
GMTI 2025 Rank
Top 10 Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Destinations
GMTI 2025
Rank
Top 10 Non-OIC Destinations
1
Malaysia
1
Singapore
2
Türkiye
2
United Kingdom
2
Saudi Arabia
3
Hong Kong*
2
United Arab Emirates
4
Taiwan
5
Indonesia
5
Thailand
5
Qatar
6
Ireland
7
Oman
6
Australia
7
Kuwait
8
Philippines
9
Jordan
9
Spain
9
Iran
9
Germany
*Hong Kong received the Most Promising Muslim Friendly Destination of the Year, having improved their GMTI score by 10 points – the biggest jump among non-OIC destinations.

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Learn with AIFact CheckingText to SpeechAI Summary

Related Articles

Khaleej Times

an hour ago

• Khaleej Times

Passwords hacked worldwide: UAE cybersecurity experts urge companies to boost IT security

UAE-based cybersecurity experts are urging companies to boost password security to stay ahead of emerging threats in every aspect of operations, following news over the weekend that more than 16 billion login credentials globally were found exposed. The breach contains usernames and passwords from tech giants like Apple, Google, Facebook, Telegram, GitHub, and even some government websites, according to researchers at Cybernews, who said the findings were the result of an ongoing investigation that the team started early this year. They warned: 'With more than 16 billion login records exposed, cybercriminals now have unprecedented access to personal credentials that can be used for account takeover, identity theft, and highly targeted phishing. It is especially alarming that these aren't just old breaches being recycled. This is fresh, weaponisable intelligence at scale.' Speaking to Khaleej Times, Dubai-based cybersecurity Rayad Kamal Ayub said: 'The gravity of this situation cannot be overstated. This is weaponising intelligence at scary scales for extortion. 'With such a significant number of login records compromised, the potential for abuse is immense. Cybercriminals can leverage these fresh datasets to orchestrate more sophisticated attacks, making it easier for them to impersonate individuals and gain access to sensitive information. The fact that these records are recent means that they reflect current user behaviors and trends, which can enhance the effectiveness of phishing attempts and other forms of exploitation,' added Ayub, who is also the managing director of Rayad Group. Ayub said although the UAE has achieved a top-tier classification in the Global Cybersecurity Index 2024, it is strongly advised for organisations to boost password security by using password managers, enforcing minimum length and complexity standards, and enabling multi-factor authentication. Companies should also regularly audit access controls, monitor for credential leaks, and adopt real-time detection solutions. 'It is advisable to hire professionals or cybersecurity companies to maintain databases and access control. Hospitals, banks and retailers should keep their data unencrypted and not put customers at risk,' added Ayub, who noted in the data leak 'Ana' appeared in 178.8 million instances. Joker, Batman, Thor, apple, rice used as passwords Ayub said profane language also showed up in 165 million passwords; while few of the frequently used pop culture terms in passwords included 'Mario' (9.6 million), 'Joker' (3.1 million), 'Batman' (3.9 million), and "Thor" (6.2 million). More than 10 million of the passwords featured 'apple', 4.9 million passwords have 'rice', and 3.6 million "orange," while 3.3 million opted for "pizza." Carolyn Duby, field CTO and cybersecurity GTM lead at Cloudera, noted: 'Cybercrime is expected to cost the world $10.5 trillion by 2025, having already cost $9.5 trillion in 2024 alone. 'Attacks by ransomware now happen every 11 seconds, and the average cost of a data breach has increased to $4.88 million. Companies using automation and artificial intelligence (AI) in their security operations are saving $2.22 million on average for each breach. Duby underscored 'data is both a strategic asset and a prime target. Protecting data at scale calls for intelligence, adaptability, trust, and immediate call to action to avoid massive data breaches. She recommended the first and most crucial step in protecting consumer trust is securing critical and personally identifiable information (PII). 'All data is equal in the eyes of AI, and will be used blindly, unless proper parameters are set,' she underscored. Detect, protect, defend, repeat Louise Bou Rached, director–Middle East, Turkey, and Africa at Milestone Systems, reiterated: "Today, protecting the future of innovation, reputation, and digital freedom requires more than just preventing breaches. 'Companies must implement a layered, zero-trust strategy that goes beyond reactive defense and involves constant verification of each user, device, and application. Strong access controls, multi-factor authentication, endpoint security, and frequent security audits are all part of this,' she added. Maintaining basic cyber hygiene is essential. But more importantly, according to the cybersecurity experts, protecting companies from cyberthreats is a collective thrust. 'Cybersecurity is now a fundamental component of trust, resilience, and business continuity in today's hyperconnected world, not just an internal IT function,' Rached pointed out, underscoring: 'Given that even the most sophisticated systems can be compromised with a single click, encouraging staff members through cybersecurity awareness training is equally crucial.'

UAE Moments

5 hours ago

• UAE Moments

Telegram's Pavel Durov to Divide Wealth Among His 100+ Kids

In true plot-twist fashion, Pavel Durov—founder of encrypted messaging giant Telegram —is planning to share his multi-billion-dollar fortune with over 100 children across the globe. Yes, 100+, and no, this isn't a sci-fi storyline. Speaking to French magazine Le Point, the 40-year-old tech mogul confirmed he has fathered six official children, along with dozens more through sperm donations in at least 12 countries. "I don't want them to tear each other apart after my death," he told the publication. His goal? Equal rights and zero posthumous drama. But don't expect these heirs to be cashing in anytime soon. Durov revealed that none of the kids—official or donor-conceived—will have access to their inheritance for another 30 years. 'I want them to live like normal people... to build themselves up alone... not to be dependent on a bank account,' he said, explaining that character matters more than cash. Based in Dubai, Durov recently made his will, citing the risks that come with his mission to defend freedom and privacy in an increasingly monitored world. 'Defending freedoms earns you many enemies, including within powerful states,' he noted. Telegram, launched in 2013, has become one of the world's most-used messaging platforms, clocking over a billion users monthly. But its unfiltered nature hasn't gone unnoticed by law enforcement. French authorities arrested Durov last year for allegedly failing to combat criminal activity on Telegram—accusations he firmly rejects. 'Just because criminals use our messaging service among many others doesn't make those who run it criminals,' he said. From creating an app used by millions to now creating… a massive inheritance plan for over 100 kids, Durov is definitely in a league of his own.

Arabian Business

10 hours ago

• Arabian Business

GCC tourism spending projected to hit $223.7 bn by 2034

The Statistical Centre for the Cooperation Council for the Arab Countries of the Gulf (GCC-Stat) has released data showing visitor spending in GCC countries is expected to reach $223.7 billion by 2034. The projections indicate that incoming visitor spending will contribute 13.4 percent to total exports by 2034, according to a statement by the Emirates News Agency (WAM), which cited the Centre's latest analysis. GCC visitor spending jumps 28.9% since 2019 to reach $135.5 billion GCC countries have recorded progress across multiple tourism indicators, with international visitor spending reaching $135.5 billion in 2023. This figure represents a 28.9 percent increase compared to spending recorded in 2019. The region has secured the top position in the Middle East and North Africa's 2024 Safety and Security Index. All GCC member states scored above the regional average of 5.86 points on the index, which operates on a scale from 1 to 7 points. GCC countries have also achieved recognition for passport strength, with all six nations ranking among the top performers in the Arab region for passport power. The Centre's data highlights the tourism sector's growing contribution to the GCC economy, with visitor spending showing recovery and growth following the 2019 baseline period.