A boom in Halal tourism and a conscious effort to eat healthier has helped to lift Halal product revenues. The appeal of Halal products is broadening to some groups of non-Muslim consumers. Will the Halal market keep on expanding in the Gulf region? Saurabh Sharma, Country Director, India for Spire Research and Consulting, shared his insights in the Food & Beverage News magazine. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), with its six-member country states, makes up a significant and rising share of the global Halal product market, which is estimated to reach USD1.9 trillion by 2021. The Halal market initially focused on food and beverages products but now rapid expansion is visible in cosmetics, pharmaceutical and personal care sectors. The drivers of growth in the Halal food market include the trend towards a protein-rich diet in countries seeing a rising middle-class, advances in food technology, Halal tourism and the emergence of new online marketplaces. Saurabh