The Standards and Metrology Institute for Islamic Countries (SMIIC), in cooperation with the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality (EOS), organized a three-day training programme in Cairo, Egypt, on Halal Tourism Services, Restaurants and Catering Services Standards, from 3 to 5 August 2026.
The training was held under COMCEC Project No. 2025-SMIIC-433, entitled “Capacity Building of Tourism Stakeholders with OIC/SMIIC Halal Restaurant and Tourism Services Standards.” The project is funded under COMCEC Project Funding and aims to support OIC Member States in strengthening the technical capacities of stakeholders working in the tourism, hospitality, restaurant and catering sectors.
The programme witnessed wide participation from relevant government institutions, private sector representatives, tourism and hospitality stakeholders, conformity assessment bodies and other concerned entities, with around 180 trainees attending the sessions.
The training was delivered by Dr. Mohammed Ali Alsheikh, Specialist at SMIIC, and covered the main requirements and practical applications of OIC/SMIIC 9:2019 – Halal Tourism Services – General Requirements, and OIC/SMIIC 6:2019 – Particular Requirements for the Application of OIC/SMIIC 1 to Places Where Halal Food and Beverages Are Prepared, Stored and Served. The sessions included technical explanations, discussions and practical examples related to the implementation of halal requirements in tourism services, restaurants and catering activities.
The opening session was attended by Dr. Khaled Soufy, Chairman of the Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality; H.E. Mr. İhsan Övüt, Secretary General of SMIIC; and Dr. Zaghloul Khodr, representative of Halal Cairo Company, along with officials and representatives from the tourism, hospitality and standardization sectors.
In his remarks, Dr. Khaled Soufy emphasized the importance of this training programme in supporting Egypt’s quality infrastructure and enhancing cooperation with SMIIC. He highlighted that building technical capacities in halal tourism and hospitality services can contribute to improving service quality, increasing awareness of standards, strengthening the competitiveness of the Egyptian tourism sector, and opening new opportunities in the growing field of halal tourism.
For his part, H.E. Mr. İhsan Övüt expressed his appreciation to EOS for hosting and organizing the programme. He noted that the training comes within the framework of a COMCEC-funded capacity-building project designed to promote the implementation of OIC/SMIIC standards in the field of halal tourism, restaurants and catering services. He also underlined the role of these standards in enhancing consumer confidence, improving service quality, and supporting cooperation among OIC Member States.
The training in Egypt represents one of the activities implemented under the ongoing COMCEC project. The project will continue to include several other OIC Member States, with the aim of expanding awareness and practical application of OIC/SMIIC halal tourism and restaurant standards across different national contexts.
