The inaugural World Halal Travel Awards 2015 was held in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE) on 20^th of October 2015. The World Halal Travel Awards celebrate the best of travel and tourism brands in the international Halal sector. The awards ceremony was announced at a gala dinner held in conjunction with the World Halal Travel Summit & Exhibition 2015 (WHTS15), which was held from the 19^th to 21^st of October 2015 in Abu Dhabi.

United Arab Emirates won a slew of awards for the night. Hala Abu Dhabi – which is a professional conference organiser and destination management company of Etihad Airways – won the ‘World’s Best Halal Tour Operator’ award, while Etihad Airways was the winning contender for the ‘World’s Best Airline for Halal Travelers’. Abu Dhabi International Airport, located in the United Arab Emirates, was selected as the ‘World’s Best Airport for Halal Travelers’.

United Arab Emirates also won two awards in the hotel categories. The five star Emirates Palace, which is located in the heart of Abu Dhabi, won the ‘World’s Most Luxurious Family Friendly Hotel’, while Al Jawhara Hotel Apartments – located just minutes from Dubai International Airport – won the ‘World’s Best Halal Apartment Hotel’.

Another big winner of the night was Indonesia which bagged a total of three awards, the most prestigious of which was the ‘World’s Best Halal Tourist Destination’, competing against the likes of Malaysia and Turkey. This was won by the popular Indonesian island of Lombok, which is a popular island in West Nusa Tenggara province known for its gorgeous beaches. Lombok was also the winner of the ‘World’s Best Halal Honeymoon Destination’, while Sofyan Hotel Betawi, which is located in the capital city of Jakarta, received the award for the ‘World’s Best Family Friendly Hotel’.

Turkey was the recipient of two awards for the night, with its capital city of Istanbul winning ‘World’s Best Halal Cultural Destination’ and The Adenya Hotel & Resort located on the Mediterranean coast of Antalya, Turkey the winner of the ‘World’s Best Family Friendly Beach Resort’ award.

Morocco won the ‘World’s Best Halal Culinary Destination’ award, hailing the authenticity and variety of its cuisine. Morocco had tight competition from Malaysia – another world renowned culinary destination – for this honour.

WHTS15, which was exclusively organized by the Abu Dhabi’s Tourism and Culture Ministry, was attended by 6000 participants including tourism and travel professionals, hoteliers, tour operators, developers and key industry players from all over the world. Over 200+ international exhibitors and sponsors from UAE, Turkey, Iran, Malaysia, Oman, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Egypt, UK, Jordan, Canada, Kenya and Lebanon and other countries attended the summit.

Find out more about halal tourism and halal friendly hotels here.