An agreement has been signed to promote the national halal mark of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology (Esma) among tenants and business partners of Dubai Industrial City (DI).

DI and Esma called the move a strategic partnership and said the two sides would also strive to exchange knowledge and expertise regarding halal issues.

Signing the agreement were Abdullah Al Maeeni, acting director general of Esma, and Abdullah Belhoul, managing director of Dubai Industrial City.

“The agreement sets out a framework for the preparation and implementation of an awareness campaign for the national brand of halal that will enable better communication with business partners in Dubai Industrial City,” said Al Maeeni.

“The halal stamp makes the UAE a leader in the Arab world in the field of granting a sign for products that match the standards set by the commission,” he added.

Belhoul said: “We are very much looking forward to working closely with Esma to promote and educate companies about the halal stamp, a significant step in supporting Dubai achieve its goal of becoming the centre of the global Islamic economy. 

“Esma and Dubai Industrial City will work together to reach out to, and familiarise, all relevant manufacturing firms in the UAE with the halal mark and the process they will need to undertake to obtain such a designation.”

Under the terms of the partnership, Esma will gain access to all factories and business partners located in Dubai Industrial City that are interested in the halal label.

Dubai Industrial City is now home to more than 600 companies including Barakat Quality Plus, a leading manufacturer of fresh fruit and vegetable products that are 100 per cent natural and preservatives-free; Almarai; Patchi; BCI Group for Halal Cosmetics; Cedars Papers Industrial; Juma Al Majid Group; Unilever; Al Rostami; Al Futtaim and Transmid.