The International Halal Academy (IHA), Latin America's first private institute dedicated to education and training for the Halal market, and Universidade Estácio, Brazil's largest university, with more than 50 years of history, have joined forces to offer an innovative and unprecedented course: the MBA in Halal – Standards and Market and Business Development – the first of its kind in Latin America.

The Halal market, primarily serving the nearly two billion Muslim consumers around the world, is growing rapidly. According to the State of the Global Islamic Economy Report 2024/2025, this economic ecosystem currently generates around US$7.36 trillion across sectors such as food, tourism, finance, fashion, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, media and entertainment. This figure is expected to reach US$10.88 trillion by 2028.

The rapid growth of this market has created new opportunities for companies, professionals and countries seeking to expand their international presence. In Brazil, the world’s leading exporter of Halal food, professionals with technical, regulatory, cultural and strategic knowledge of Halal can make a difference.

Companies operating in the Halal market need professionals equipped to work in areas such as certification, quality management, logistics, foreign trade, compliance, marketing, and business development for the sector, among others.

About the MBA - Running for 18 months and comprising 360 hours of coursework, the program is delivered live online, with students attending synchronous classes that enable real-time interaction with instructors. It covers global Halal standards and regulations, certification, quality management, compliance, auditing, logistics, foreign trade, strategic marketing, Muslim consumer behavior, Islamic finance, and other topics. 

The course will also include an optional international module developed in partnership with the International Transport and Logistics Institute (ITLI), based in Alexandria, Egypt.

The program is intended for managers, executives and professionals in production, quality, logistics, procurement, marketing, finance, international trade, regulation, certification, auditing and compliance, as well as consultants and graduates interested in deepening their knowledge of the Halal sector.

The certificate will be issued by Estácio and recognized by the Ministry of Education (MEC).

“This MBA is a specialization program designed to qualify professionals in Brazil’s and Latin America’s Halal sector. We want to prepare people to work in a continuously growing market that increasingly demands technical knowledge, strategic vision and specialized professionals,” he said.

Estácio’s Provost for Undergraduate Education, André Ferrari, explained that the program was developed to meet the sector’s specific needs.

“The MBA was designed to prepare professionals who want to work in the Halal market. The course is structured in three modules and covers topics such as regulatory affairs, marketing, finance, management, and other essential areas. It will be an 18-month immersive program designed to develop skills that can help these professionals grow in the sector,” they explained.

The rapid growth of the Halal market has created new opportunities for companies, professionals and countries looking to expand their international presence. To meet this demand, the International Halal Academy and Centro Universitário Estácio de São Paulo developed the MBA in Halal – Standards, Market Development and Business.

The 18-month program comprises 360 hours of study and will be delivered live online, allowing students to attend synchronous classes and interact in real time with instructors and experts. The curriculum covers topics such as global Halal standards and regulations, certification, quality management, compliance, auditing, logistics, international 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, enhancing participants’ academic experience and strengthening connections with leading institutions on the international stage.

For Luciana Lemos, Estácio’s vice provost for Finance and Administration, the partnership represents an investment in a market with enormous growth potential.

“What motivated us most was the scale of the Halal market and its continued growth. It is very important to us to invest in a pioneering specialization in such a relevant sector, creating extremely positive visibility for both institutions,” he concluded.