Makkah Halal Forum 2026: Artificial intelligence to eliminate paper certificates
In a strategic move reflecting the future direction of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia towards leading the global Islamic economy, the third edition of the “Makkah Halal Forum 2026” outlined the features of a completely new era for the trillion-dollar industry, officially announcing the end of the era of traditional “paper certificates” and the beginning of a comprehensive transformation towards an integrated digital system based on artificial intelligence and “blockchain” technologies.
This shift comes in the context of the Kingdom’s Vision 2030, which aims to consolidate Saudi Arabia’s position as a global logistics and trade hub for halal products, as the forum seeks to raise the standards of transparency and immediate governance of supply chains from the source until the product reaches the end consumer.
A historic shift towards digital assets
The workshop, titled “The Future of Halal,” featured advanced technical discussions on the mechanisms of this transformation. In this regard, digital transformation specialist Talha Sheikh emphasized that the period from 2026 to 2030 will witness a comprehensive technological revolution in the sector. He explained that halal certificates will no longer be mere documents, but will become “encrypted digital assets” that are impossible to forge or tamper with.
This new system will end the bureaucracy that importers and exporters have long suffered from, and will give the consumer unprecedented power in the form of the ability to instantly verify the origin of the product and its legal and health safety by scanning the QR code, thus enhancing confidence in products offered in the markets.
Artificial Intelligence: Intelligent Agent and Legal Compliance
In a presentation showcasing the latest technologies, AI specialist Daniel Ahmad introduced the concept of "AI proxy." This technology acts as an intelligent assistant that handles complex tasks such as analyzing thousands of documents and automating lengthy checklists.
Ahmed pointed out that these systems will accelerate the entry of products into markets and significantly reduce import periods, while emphasizing a crucial point: the final decision remains in the hands of human experts to ensure accurate Sharia compliance, as technology serves as a support tool to enhance efficiency and is not a substitute for Sharia oversight.
The strategic gap and the financial shield
For his part, Hassan Khallawi, representing technical integration, issued a stark warning to companies operating in the sector about the risk of falling into a "strategic gap." He explained that delaying the adoption of these digital solutions could lead to traditional companies being forced out of the market in favor of technology-driven competitors.
Khalawi described the technology as a “financial shield” that protects companies’ profit margins, as automation helps reduce the costs of human errors and operational waste, allowing companies to expand across borders and increase their market share without the need for a massive increase in the workforce.
Practical applications: From slaughterhouse to table
On the practical side, Professor Wadih Al-Halabi presented live demonstrations of employing smart systems in field monitoring. These demonstrations included the use of smart cameras and sensors to monitor slaughtering operations and automatically verify their legitimacy, as well as to accurately monitor temperatures during transport and storage to ensure food safety.
The applications also include monitoring health compliance in large kitchens, moving the halal industry from mere traditional compliance with laws to a stage of “smart governance” that ensures the highest standards of quality and safety for consumers around the world.
