This is backed by an “unyielding demographic engine”, says Fazal Bahardeen, founder and CEO of CrescentRating and HalalTrip. Based in Singapore, Fazal’s team aims to build a TripAdvisor-like travel platform for Muslim travellers.
Halal-certified hospitality offerings are a burgeoning market in Southeast Asia, as global international Muslim arrivals hit 196 million in 2025, according to the Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2026, marking an 11.3% rise y-o-y.
This number is projected to reach 208 million this year and 262 million by 2030, with GMTI estimating annual expenditure of US$310 billion ($401 billion).
