Abu Dhabi is set to host the World Halal Travel Summit (WHTS15), the largest showcase of halal travel and tourism solutions, in the UAE capital in October this year, organisers have announced.

The conference and exhibition will run over two halls at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (ADNEC), from October 19-21, 2015.

The event will include an exhibition with over 200 participants plus a 1,000-delegate conference, comprising keynote sessions, panel discussions, a Ministerial debate and 150 presentations from 70 international speakers.

Organised under the theme ‘Driving The Halal Tourism Revolution,’ the event will bring together a range of international specialists, projects, suppliers and policy-makers.

“The Halal tourism market is booming with analysts saying it now represents 13 percent of the global market,” said WHTS15 Events Manager Hosam Moustafa.

“A recent Muslim travel report, released by the consultancy DinarStandard and rating agency Crescent Rating, projects that until at least 2020, Muslim international tourism will increase faster than conventional tourism – 4.79 percent versus 3.8 percent. At that point, overall annual spending for international Muslim tourism is expected to reach US $192 billion and these figures don’t even include estimated Hajj and Umrah expenditures.

“The time is right for an event of this size and scope to address the needs of this vast international sector and Abu Dhabi, with its award-winning ADNEC and event facilities in the heart of this market, is an ideal venue and host.”

Sultan Al Dhaheri, acting executive director of Tourism, TCA Abu Dhabi added: “Against this background, expenditure by halal tourists is expected to rise more than 6 percent per annum for the foreseeable future, which is almost double global industry growth.

“With Abu Dhabi now specifically targeting the Halal tourism sector with segment-specific accommodation and product, the staging of this event in the UAE capital will put the spotlight on our offering and ambitions.”

WITS15 is expected to draw high profile international attendance from government delegations, tourism associations, market-leading private sector operators and leading financiers funding Islamic tourism projects.

More than 60 countries will be represented at WHTS15.