The International Center of Islamic Economy (ICIE) and the Dubai Airport Freezone Authority (DAFZA) have launched the Halal Digital Chain project and Blockchain Forum in a bid to modernise the UAE’s halal sector, DAFZA announced on Thursday.

According to DAFZA, the projects are in line with the “Dubai: the Capital of Islamic Economy” initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and are designed to complement Dubai’s Internet of Things strategy.

“Through its collaboration with the International Center of Islamic Economy, DAFZA affirms its commitment to supporting all efforts to promote Dubai’s leading position in all fields, especially as it has become a global model for economic diversification,” said Amna Lootah, Assistant Director General of DAFZA’s finance, commercial and customer relation division.

“This forum is part of endeavors to adopt the latest technologies that contribute to achieving the goals of Dubai Smart Plan 2021 which aims to make Dubai the smartest city in the world,” Lootah said. “It also supports the Islamic economy and the development of the UAE’s halal sector which ranked first in the Arab World and second globally in the Islamic Economy Index of 2016.”

The first blockchain forum for the halal industry was attended by dignitaries, investors and entrepreneurs from Australia, China, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and several other nations. It included meetings, workshops and sessions, particularly on “halal chain”, the first digital chain to include companies in the halal sector involved in production, processing and distribution.