On June 16, 2026, Estácio Conceição hosted the launch of the Halal MBA – Standards, Market Development and Business, an initiative of the International Halal Academy (IHA), in partnership with the Estácio University Center of São Paulo, with support from FAMBRAS Halal Certificadora.

The ceremony brought together important academic leaders, representatives from the Halal sector, and international authorities linked to the development of the Islamic market. In their speeches, the president of the International Halal Academy, Ali Zoghbi, and the rector of Estácio, Jonas Calvara, highlighted the relevance of the program for Brazilian education and for strengthening the Halal market globally.

For Ali Zoghbi, the MBA represents a strategic opportunity for training professionals specialized in a segment that is continuously growing in Brazil and worldwide.

“This course opens up a huge range of opportunities. Today, the Halal market is well-established in Brazil and is growing every day. Companies are looking for specialists in the field, and these students will stand out in the job market because they have this training,” he stated.

Also participating in the event were the CEO of IHA, Delduque Martins; the Vice-Rector of Undergraduate Studies at Estácio, André Ferrari; and the Administrative-Financial Vice-Rector of Estácio, Luciana Lemos, who emphasized the strategic role of the program in training professionals prepared to work in a constantly expanding global market. According to Jonas Calvara, the creation of the MBA arose from an understanding of the growing demand for qualified professionals to work in the Halal segment.

“The partnership with IHA made us understand the need for professionals specialized in Halal. Based on this demand, Estácio identified an opportunity to invest in a highly promising market,” he explained.

During the launch, participants also heard messages of support sent by important international authorities and representatives, including the Dean of Arab Ambassadors in Brazil and Ambassador of Morocco, H.E. Nabil Adghoghi; the Head of the Arab League Mission in Brazil, H.E. Ibrahim Alzeben; the Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Khaled Hanafy; and Sara El Gazzar, Dean of the Faculty of International Transport and Logistics of the Arab Academy for Science, Technology and Maritime Transport, Egypt.

In addition to institutional messages, the MBA curriculum structure, the program's commercial conditions, and the role of the International Transport and Logistics Institute (ITLI) were presented, reinforcing the importance of professional qualification for the sustainable development of the Halal industry.

When discussing the objective of the specialization, Delduque Martins highlighted the scope of the initiative.

“This MBA is a specialization aimed at qualifying professionals in the Halal segment in Brazil and Latin America. We want to prepare people to work in a market that is continuously growing and increasingly demands technical knowledge, strategic vision, and specialized professionals,” he stated.

The Vice-Rector for Undergraduate Studies at Estácio, André Ferrari, explained that the program was developed to meet the specific needs of the sector.

“The MBA was designed to prepare professionals who wish to work in the Halal market. The course is structured in three modules and covers topics such as regulatory aspects, marketing, finance, management, and other essential content. It will be an 18-month immersion program to develop skills capable of driving the growth of these professionals within the sector,” he explained.

The rapid growth of the Halal market has generated new opportunities for companies, professionals, and countries interested in expanding their international presence. It was precisely to meet this demand that the International Halal Academy and the Estácio University Center of São Paulo developed the MBA in Halal – Standards, Market Development, and Business.

Lasting 18 months and with a workload of 360 hours, the program will be offered in a live online format, allowing students to participate in synchronous classes and interact in real time with professors and specialists. The curriculum covers topics such as global halal standards and norms, certification, quality management, compliance, auditing, logistics, foreign trade, strategic marketing, Muslim consumer behavior, and Islamic finance, among other subjects related to the sector.

The course will also include an optional international module developed in partnership with the International Transport and Logistics Institute (ITLI), based in Alexandria, Egypt, expanding the academic experience of participants and strengthening connections with leading institutions on the international stage.

For Luciana Lemos, Vice-Rector for Administration and Finance at Estácio, the partnership represents an investment in a market with enormous growth potential.

“What motivated us most was the size of the Halal market and its continuous expansion. For us, it is very important to invest in pioneering specialization in such a relevant segment, creating extremely positive visibility for both institutions,” he concluded.