Mufti Gainutdin met with the Head of the Halal Center of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia 14.05.2025 11:23On May 13, a delegation from the Halal Center of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, led by Director Abdul Aziz Al-Rashoodi, visited the Moscow Cathedral Mosque. At his initiative, the delegation met with the Chairman of the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation, Chief Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin.
The Saudi Arabian Halal Center monitors the quality of halal products on the Kingdom's domestic market and their imports, being part of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority (SFDA). The International Halal Standardization and Certification Center under the Spiritual Administration of Muslims of the Russian Federation has been accredited by the SFDA since 2020. Prior to the meeting held at the Moscow Cathedral Mosque, organized by Aidar Gazizov, Director General of the Halal Center, the two sides had previously met in February at the Makkah Halal Forum 2025.
Mufti Sheikh Ravil Gainutdin spoke to Abdul Aziz Al-Rashoodi about the current Memorandum of Cooperation between the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Russian Federation and the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Call, and Guidance of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. "We look forward to developing bilateral relations with the Saudi side and, of course, deepening cooperation in the field of halal: standardization, certification, and imports. I am pleased to see you here—the leaders who are responsible for monitoring compliance with halal standards in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia ," the spiritual leader of Russian Muslims emphasized.
The head of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Russian Federation told the guests about the development of the halal industry in post-Soviet Russia, when quality standards were developed by religious organizations, and the Halal International Center for Social and Cultural Affairs under the Spiritual Directorate stood at the forefront of this process. "Today, the government of the Russian Federation pays great attention to the development of the halal industry and is aware of our center's efforts in this direction ," Mufti Gainutdin said.
The head of the Russian Muslim Spiritual Directorate also noted that Saudi Arabia is becoming a center of change in the international halal industry and expressed interest in developing relations between the two countries' halal centers.
Abdul Aziz Al-Rashoodi emphasized the high potential of the halal sector in the Russian Federation.
The parties agreed to cooperate on educational projects in the industry.
The meeting was attended by Deputy Chairmen of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Russian Federation Ildar Galeev and Ravil Seyfetdinov, Head of the Department for Work with OIC Countries of the International Department of the Spiritual Directorate of Muslims of the Russian Federation Dr. Salem Zalam, Executive Director of GulfTIC Certification (UAE, partner of the International Center for Social and Cultural Affairs "Halal") Dr. Yahya Ali Yahya, Executive Vice President for Regulatory Affairs and Research of the Saudi Halal Center Mohammed Al-Zafiri, and International Relations Analyst of the Saudi Food and Drug Authority Nawaf Al-Balawi.
