Thursday, 22 June 2023

KSA welcomes 2 million+ Hajj pilgrims

The Saudi Ministry of Hajj and Umrah has released a video to welcome Hajj pilgrims. Over 2 million pilgrims from more than 160 countries are expected.

The KSA Minister of Hajj Tawfiq Al Rabiah starts the video with Talbiyah, a Muslim prayer cited by pilgrims as a declaration that they intend to perform Hajj only for the glory of God.

Source: KSA Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Screen capture of a video.
Source: KSA Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Screen grab from the video.


"In just a matter of days, millions of Muslims from every corner of the globe will raise their voices to recite the powerful Talbiyah chant," Al Rabiah said.

"As Hajj draws near, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia prepares to welcome pilgrims from all walks of life. With great pride and honour, we invite pilgrims to join us in the largest Islamic gathering in history."

Al Rabiah expressed gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, and His Royal Highness the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, for their constant follow-up on the services provided to the pilgrims.

Some of the numbers he shared include that Mina, which hosts the world's largest tent city, will accommodate 2,192,000 pilgrims. He said that 1.7 million airline bookings had been made, and that more than 32,000 healthcare practitioners, both male and female, will be on site to provide their services.

Al Rabiah added: "With a well-connected road and train network, shuttle bus services, and integrated infrastructure, pilgrims are guaranteed a seamless travel experience, regardless of their language or unique needs."

The eco-friendly Al Mashaaer Al Mugaddassah Metro line consists of 17 trains stopping at nine stations. It has an estimated operating capacity of 72,000 passengers per hour.

The Minister concluded the video by stating that today's achievements ride on the efforts of past years.

Details

Watch the video at https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/2105969/Ministry_of_Hajj.mp4

Sharjah Media City, Smartt. Studio team up to strengthen e-commerce in MENA

Source: Smartt. Studio. From left: VIPs pose to commemmorate the MoU..
Source: Smartt. Studio. The memorandum of understanding (MoU) formalising the partnership was signed by HE Shihab Alhammadi, Managing Director of Shams, and Kartik Jobanputra, Founder & CEO of Smartt. Studio in the presence of HE Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Media City 'Shams'. Jobanputra (left), HE Alhammadi (right), with Dr Al Midfa between them.

Sharjah Media City (Shams) and Smartt. Studio have partnered to strengthen the e-commerce space in the MENA region.

Both parties will help global conglomerates and retailers streamline their online expansion strategies by offering a seamless one-stop-shop to meet their e-commerce needs, with timelines to go live in three weeks. Shams and Smartt. Studio further plan joint targeted marketing initiatives to generate interest among global retailers, conglomerates, and e-commerce platforms in the MENA region.

Businesses within the Shams community will now be able to elevate their online presence, amplify revenue streams and expand their customer base exponentially, the two companies said. 

Smartt. Studio's photographers will use cutting-edge technology to showcase clients' products, for example. The images will seamlessly integrate into online retailers' platforms through Smartt. Studio's AI-driven, tailor-made content management system. 

"This partnership perfectly aligns with our vision to establish the MENA region as a global leader in online commerce," said HE Dr Khalid Omar Al Midfa, Chairman of Sharjah Media City 'Shams'.

"By uniting with Smartt. Studio, we can effectively empower businesses to flourish in an exceedingly competitive market with our goal being to drive sustained economic growth and foster innovation throughout the region," said HE Shihab Alhammadi, MD, Sharjah Media City 'Shams'.

"The success of global conglomerates and retailers in the online marketplace lies in presenting their products using unique ideas. We are excited to collaborate with the Sharjah Media City and look forward to supporting conglomerates and retailers seeking online dominance through our streamlined one-stop-shop approach," said Kartik Jobanputra, Founder & CEO of Smartt. Studio.

Wingie.com: travel sees a boost before Eid

Travel marketplace Wingie.com has reported international bookings soaring by 100% ahead of Eid Al-Adha. Travellers came from KSA, the UAE and Egypt, and opted to travel to Egypt, KSA, India, and Turkey. 

International round-trip bookings skyrocketed by 92% meanwhile domestic round-trips were up 8%, the company said. One-way tickets also saw a jump, with 85% of the one-way bookings being international ones. 

In aggregate, 52% of bookings were one-way flights and 48% were round-trips, while 88% of bookings were international. When it comes to costs, the average expenditure per person for a one-way ticket was US$300. Round-trip tickets were more affordable, with an average price of US$470 per passenger.

Finally, the median age of passengers was 33.5 and 68% of trips came from solo travellers. A further 20% of passengers travelled with infants or children. Six in 10 (61%) travellers were men.

Wednesday, 21 June 2023

KSA focuses on food security for Hajj pilgrims

Source: KSA Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. People feeding pigeons in the foreground. Pilgrims in the background..
Source: KSA Ministry of Hajj and Umrah. Pilgrims at the holy sites.

Proactive planning has historically allowed KSA to avoid food supply shortages, including during the second Gulf War in 1990, the food price crisis in 2008, and the deterioration of food supply chains in 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

This year, products from 1,294 food factories in KSA will secure more than 120 million meals for at least 2 million pilgrims in six days under the supervision of the KSA Ministry of Hajj and Umrah.

KSA's strategy to achieve food security involves 11 programmes, including the Saudi Agricultural Investment Abroad Program, with the Saudi Agricultural and Livestock Investment Company (SALIC) completing a SR4.65 B acquisition of 35.43% of Singapore's Olam Agri company in December 2022, in addition to the acquisition of two meat processing factories in Australia. 

Investment in food manufacturing amounts to about 7% of the total investments made in the Saudi industrial sector, and more than SR94 B has been invested to operate 11.35% of the factories in KSA, according to official data.

KSA has a megaproject to increase its vegetation cover, which has effectively contributed to achieving self-sufficiency in agricultural products such as dates with a sufficiency rate of 125%, and vegetables whose sufficiency rates have reached 87%. This is in addition to possessing the Middle East's largest wheat and flour storage capacity, with a daily milling capacity of 3.3 million tons.

Water security is also a priority. KSA currently engages in seawater desalination and manages 563 dams. Another 1,000 new dams to enhance the utilisation of rainwater are planned.

Monday, 12 June 2023

Huawei expands collaboration with Mahmood Al-Abadi

Huawei Mobile Services (HMS) is committed to providing users with innovative features and personalised options that enhance their daily interactions with their devices. As part of its push to create exclusive, premium quality content for HUAWEI users, HUAWEI Themes joins forces with local celebrities like Emirati artist Mahmood Al Abadi.

Source: HUAWEI. Al Abadi spoke in person during the HUAWEI P60 Pro and flagship product launch in Dubai on June 7, sharing his experience with HUAWEI Themes, and how it has elevated his digital experience.
Source: HUAWEI. Al Abadi spoke during the HUAWEI P60 Pro and flagship product launch in Dubai on June 7, sharing his experience with HUAWEI Themes, and how it has elevated his digital experience.

Al Abadi has designed Ramadhan themes that are available for download on all HUAWEI smartphones, tablets and smartwatches. Nearly 500,000 downloads have been recorded so far, and counting. His recent themes, Soaring Falcon and Sailing Ship, were customised for all HUAWEI devices including the latest HUAWEI Mate X3 and HUAWEI P60 Pro Series. Both are designed to add a unique touch to traditional Arabic calligraphy by fusing it with contemporary art and technology.

William Hu, MD, Huawei Consumer Business Group, Middle East and Africa Eco Development and Operation, said: "We are delighted to expand our partnership with Mr Mahmood Al-Abadi, a master of Arabic calligraphy. By bringing together his exceptional creative prowess and our cutting-edge mobile technology, we were able to establish an unconventional and innovative approach for promoting the rich cultural heritage of the Middle East. Huawei Mobile Services will continue to deploy internal resources and incentive programmes to encourage designers to unleash their creativity and develop higher-quality themes for our users."

Huawei's latest smartphones, the flagship HUAWEI P60 Pro and the super-thin foldable HUAWEI Mate X3, are ideal for consumers who wish to immerse themselves in Arabic art. The HUAWEI P60 Pro re-establishes the benchmark for smartphone photography while the Huawei Mate X3 is the world's thinnest and lightest foldable smartphone, with an ultra-light and strong aluminum and carbon fibre build that allows for substantial weight savings.

Sunday, 21 May 2023

Gilded announces shari'ah compliance for gold product

Gilded, a fintech company that focuses on making physical gold functional, announced today that its gold product has achieved shari'ah compliance certification from Amanie Advisors Shariah Board, an advisory firm specialising in shari'ah investments and Islamic finance solutions. This certification further strengthens Gilded's position as a trusted provider of safe, secure, and shari'ah-compliant gold investment opportunities and enables it to serve an even wider audience of investors in the MENA region and beyond.

The company's gold investment offering is confirmed as aligned with shari'ah principles and adheres to the standards set by the Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institutions (AAOIFI) on gold. For Gilded, receiving this certification is crucial in expanding its product's reach and demonstrating its commitment to transparency, accountability, and integrity in its end-to-end process of payment, settlement, custody, and delivery of physical gold.

Firas Mallah, CEO of MENA, Gilded said: "This endorsement serves as a testament to our unwavering commitment to providing our customers with a product that adheres to the highest ethical and religious standards. The MENA region is a key strategic market for us, and this certification will enable us to offer our shari'ah-compliant gold investment opportunities to a broader range of investors seeking a safe, secure, and convenient platform. This certification further strengthens our position as a trusted provider of shari'ah-compliant investment solutions and opens new growth opportunities for our company."

Clients seeking Swiss-refined physical gold bars can now purchase them through Gilded's bank partners in the Middle East, or directly through Gilded's proprietary platform.

Wednesday, 10 May 2023

Halal Food Market at THAIFEX - Anuga Asia 2023 to offer access to global innovations and trends

The THAIFEX - Anuga Halal Market, one of six special programmes at THAIFEX - Anuga, will reflect the boom that the global halal food sector is currently experiencing.

Exhibitors at the event include:

Ghanim International Corporation (GIC), Brunei

GIC has been promoting and marketing bruneihalalfoods products worldwide since 2009. The company was established` with the aim of meeting the growing demand for halal, quality, safety, and sustainability in all aspects of consumption. Their product portfolio includes a wide range of food and beverage items, such as confectionery, snacks, ready-to-eat meals, and frozen poultry.

Serba Wangi, Malaysia

Serba Wangi began operations in 1993 and has since established itself as one of the leading rice millers and wholesalers in Malaysia. Serba Wangi performs a broad range of rice-related activities, such as milling, processing, and packaging for distribution of various rice and rice products under their flagship brand JATI. Household names under the JATI brand include Kapal Layar, Carnation, Songhe Noble Pine Crane, S. Wangi, Fres-Harvest, and Jati Signature. EcoBrown’s is the company's healthy rice series.

Spunky Food Company, a startup, will showcase ethnic food and regional chili toppings at the event. The company is introducing a new plant-based brand, Chivi, at THAIFEX - Anuga Asia. Visitors will be able to see its plant-based tempeh toppings in various flavours, plant-based furikake seasonings, and vegan Thai noodle sets in different flavours.*

According to the Imarc Group, the halal food market was valued at US$2.2 B in 2022, and is projected to be worth US$4.2 B by 2028, a CAGR of 10.8% from 2023 to 2028.

In terms of geographies, the Asia Pacific region is the leading purchaser of halal food, driven by a rising Muslim population and increasing demand for halal food and beverage products, Technavio said. The research firm projected that 51% of the total halal market share growth will originate from the Asia Pacific (APAC) region by 2027. Technavio further reported that Philippines, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Malaysia, and Singapore are among the leading markets for halal food in the APAC region.

Indonesia is known as the world's largest halal consumer market, with consumer spending reaching US$184 B in 2020.

The halal meat, poultry and seafood (MPS) segment is projected to grow significantly in terms of market share from 2022 to 2027. The upturn began in 2017 and has continued in 2021, said Technavio.

Thailand is presently the world's 12th biggest exporter of halal products and the 5th largest producer of halal foods, with halal export taking the lead among ASEAN countries. Halal food makes up 20% of Thailand's global food exports, and over 60% of halal exports are sent to Indonesia, Malaysia, and Brunei.

Details

THAIFEX – Anuga Asia 2023 is set to host leaders and innovators in the food and beverage industry this May at IMPACT Muang Thong Thani, Bangkok, Thailand. The trade fair features 11 signature trade shows and six special shows with a focus on innovative blueprints, bold ideas, and cutting-edge solutions. Running from 23-27 May, the food trade fair will unite 3,000 exhibitors from 43 countries and over 60,000 trade visitors from over 120 countries.

*While Spunky Food's products are vegan or plant-based, it's not clear if they are halal as there is no indication of whether alcohol is an ingredient. Spunky Food is not part of the halal pavilion.

Tuesday, 18 April 2023

IQ Option introduces Islamic account for Android users

Source: IQ Option. Crescent moon and a screen showing charts.
Source: IQ Option. Poster for the new Islamic account.

IQ Option, the online trading platform, has introduced Islamic accounts to its Android users. IQ Option's new feature aims to cater to the needs of Muslim traders, who were previously excluded from the trading market due to religious restrictions.

The IQ Option Islamic account has a one-time fixed fee and features halal stocks for trading. Traders can extend their positions to the next trading day for free. Traditionally, this would have required an overnight commission or swap fee, which is considered usury and prohibited by shari'ah law.

Islamic account users also have access to 21 halal stocks. These are shares of companies that do not sell alcohol and tobacco, as well as companies known in the Islamic world and traded on Islamic exchanges.

IQ Option's Islamic account has a one-time commission of US$1. According to IQ Option, competitors require traders to make a large deposit to open an account.

All IQ Option Islamic account holders are assigned a personal account manager, a feature previously reserved only for VIP account holders.

Traders can get an Islamic account on their own without contacting support. Registration must be done with a desktop PC, after which traders can use the account from any Android device.

Details

For those new to IQ Option:

1. Register a standard account on the IQ Option website. You will only need your email.

2. Log in with your email and password and click on your profile icon.

3. Tap the Islamic account activation link.

4. Deposit US$10 or an equivalent in your account currency.

5. The Islamic account will go live soon after, ready for trading on the IQ Option platform.

If you already have an IQ Option account:

1. Log in with your email and password and click on your profile icon.

2. Tap the Islamic account activation link.

3. Make sure you have at least US$1 on your account balance.

As with standard IQ Option accounts, Islamic accounts are also available in regular and VIP tiers. VIP accounts are available to traders who deposit US$3,000+.

The Islamic accounts are available for traders from 20 countries. In the APME region, Bahrain, Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Iraq, Jordan, KSA, Kuwait, Lebanon, Malaysia, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, the UAE and Yemen are supported.

Sheraton properties offer ramadhan and Eid promotions in Surabaya

Sheraton Surabaya Hotel & Towers presents 1001 Jamuan Ramadhan, an iftar offering at Kafe Bromo, and 1001 Kebersamaan Ramadhan, iftar moments in meeting rooms.

These offerings feature a selection of Middle Eastern to five-star hotel recipes of authentic Indonesian cuisine.

Sheraton Surabaya Hotel & Towers also has premium Nazywa hampers, which contain home-made cookies, authentic Indonesian layer cake (spiku), and delectable set cuisines. A portion of the money from every Nazywa hamper purchased is donated to Yayasan Panti Asuhan.

Meanwhile, Four Points by Sheraton Surabaya has created the Four You room package along with a Syawalan Raya hamper collection for the upcoming Eid holiday season.

"Our strategic location in the heart of Surabaya makes Four Points by Sheraton Surabaya a perfect choice for families and travelers to celebrate the essence of Ramadhan and Eid. With direct access to a renowned shopping centre in Surabaya, Tunjungan Plaza, and easy access to the city's major attractions and business districts, we are ensuring a marvelous holiday experience for guests in the bustling city of Surabaya," said Birgitta Mone, Director of Marketing Communication – Complex Sheraton Surabaya Hotel & Towers and Four Points by Sheraton Surabaya.

Ribena donates porridge in Malaysia

Working closely with local mosques in the Puchong, Shah Alam and Kuala Lumpur areas, Ribena has provided bubur lambuk – a porridge made with spices and coconut milk, a Ramadhan staple - to 500 mosque-goers for iftar. The bubur lambuk sets were also paired with Ribena drinks.

Sunday, 26 March 2023

Otr Elkalam competition kicks off

The 2nd international Quran and adhan competition Otr Elkalam has begun. The TV competition, one of the initiatives of the Saudi General Entertainment Authority, kicked off after the 1st episode introduced the competition mechanism and the contestants on 24 March.

The show saw Quran recitations before experts in the rules of recitation, phonetics and maqamat (music structures).

The 25th was associated with hearing the adhan in the style of Sheikh Ali Ahmed Mulla, the senior muezzin of the Grand Mosque in Makkah, raised by contestant Mohammed Raqib Al-Hassan.

In the recitation track, KSA contestant Abdulaziz Hassan Al-Faqih, who recites in the Hijazi tradition, participated in the first round of Quran recitation. Al-Faqih qualified for the next stage and became the first qualifier in this track at the expense of his American rival of Palestinian origin, Yasser Omar Shaheen.

The competition, which is broadcast on MBC1 and the Shahid digital platform daily during Ramadhan, aims to highlight the distinguished voices in the recitation of the Holy Quran and raising the adhan, and improving the knowledge of contestants and viewers through the professional observations of the jury, which is composed of specialists in sounds and maqamat.

The episodes of Otr Elkalam can be watched on the show's YouTube channel via the link https://www.youtube.com/@OtrElkalam

The competition has allocated prizes totaling US$3.3 M to the winners, which is the largest prize in the history of international competitions of this kind. The first-place winner in the Quran recitation track receives US$800,000, while the first-place winner in the Adhan track receives US$534,000.

Criteo: Taking on advertising during Ramadhan in 2023

Source: Criteo. Graph showing shopping volumes for Ramadhan shopping in 2022 for Indonesia, Malaysia and Singapore.
Source: Criteo. Malaysia had two peaks in shopping over Ramadhan whereas Singapore was largely unaffected.

Criteo, the commerce media company, has shared advice on how to capitalise on commerce
opportunities during Ramadhan this year. 

The company notes that consumers are excited to resume their daily activities post-pandemic, and would like to go back to their old ways of celebrating festivals with their families and friends. However, inflation and the rising cost of living are impacting consumer behaviour.

Ramadhan occurred 2 April – 1 May in 2022. Based on Criteo's retail data from last year’s Ramadhan*, initial online sales in Southeast Asia saw a 19% increase in early April 2022 compared to the last two weeks of March 2022. Sales figures continued rising during Ramadhan until approximately one week before Eid (early May) across markets in the region.

 Indonesia experienced the sharpest increase in sales, at 74%, on April 20, 2022. Indonesia saw increasing sales which began around March 23, indicating that Indonesians might have been shopping to prepare for Ramadhan. Indonesia saw a spike of 68% a week before Eid.

 Malaysia witnessed two peaks, on 4 April (a double day sale, 4.4) and 22 April respectively. Malaysia had a 35% increase six days before Eid in retail sales.

 Singapore consumers continued with their usual shopping habits, suggesting that their retail habits remained largely unchanged even during Ramadhan. However, both Indonesia and Malaysia are Muslim countries, whereas Muslims are a minority in Singapore.

Apparel & Accessories was the top performing product category and saw a 30% increase in sales during Ramadhan. Other product categories that performed well were Health & Beauty, Home & Garden and Electronics, which all saw an 18% increase in retail sales right before Eid. Additionally, travel sales saw a general increase and peaked (+44%) four days before Eid celebrations. This might be expected as people want to travel home to gather with their family and friends for the celebration, Criteo noted. 

Ramadhan also saw a change in the patterns of online shopping, especially in Indonesia and
Malaysia:

 Online sales at night saw a general positive trend that started from 19:00 (Indonesia), 20:00
(Malaysia) and continued till the morning.

 Online shopping before dawn 04:00 – 05:00 (Indonesia), and 05:00 – 06:00 (Malaysia) saw the
highest change during Ramadhan as compared to the normal days’ performance (March 1 – 30). This ties in with people being up before dawn for suhoor, the pre-dawn meal.

 Decreased sales events during iftar (breaking of fast) 18:00 – 19:00 (Indonesia), more than
on regular days (no requirement to eat at sunset).

 12:00 – 13:00 in both countries stands out as the time with the highest number of sales during
the day. Consumers were shopping more as they were fasting during the lunch hour, instead of having lunch, Criteo noted.

“With inflation being at the forefront of the mind of consumers coupled with the change in consumer
behaviour during Ramadhan, it is vital for marketers to rethink their advertising strategies in order to
maximise their outreach across various platforms,” said Taranjeet Singh, Criteo's MD for South APAC. 

“Last year’s data revealed a change in the patterns of online shopping during Ramadhan, with an increase in online sales at night and before dawn. Marketers should take note of these trends and
ensure that their advertising strategies are tailored to the specific times when consumers are most active online.”

Criteo has three tips that will enable retailers to capitalise on opportunities for Ramadhan 2023:

 Rise of commerce media – commerce media is being positioned as the 4th wave of digital
advertising and has the power to reach and engage consumers where they’re actively browsing
and buying. According to McKinsey, commerce media is a new form of advertising "that closes the loop between media impressions and commerce transactions to improve targeting, provide new audience insights, and deliver more relevant and valuable experiences for consumers."

Criteo’s Rise of Savvy Shopper Study* shows that 71% of global shoppers are spending more time online to search for the best offers and values before making a purchase. As shoppable moments can happen in nearly any environment, emerging environments such as retail media will continue gaining traction in 2023. Savvy retailers will need to continue expanding their media offerings to own their end-to-end customer journey, and marketers will keep investing in retail media because it works.

 Understanding the optimal timings – shoppers are still finding ways to buy what they love,
regardless of inflation. Consumers are spending more on non-negotiables like mortgages or food
and have developed a more forward-thinking mindset that accelerated some purchases, such as buying
essential items in bulk to get more value for their money. 

At the same time, a majority are still purchasing the goods and experiences they want most. Nearly three quarters (74%) of consumers globally said they’re spending the same or more on personal care/health and beauty products, followed by apparel and accessories (65%), consumer electronics (63%). Marketers should take note of the change in the pattern of online shopping during Ramadhan, especially the vital hours where sales generally increase, to tap into the spending habits of consumers. 

 Incorporating quality and loyalty programmes - despite saving money being top of mind,
consumers believe that deals should not come at the expense of quality. Almost all (91%) global consumers chose product quality as the biggest factor influencing purchase decisions, ahead of free shipping (90%) and discounts and coupons (84%). 

They also value the alignment with brand values such as ecofriendliness and loyalty programmes. Marketers can tap on this by ensuring that their
products are top notch and creating loyalty programmes that motivate consumers to continue
purchasing from them, Criteo said.

*Methodology for Ramadhan data and The Rise of Savvy Shoppers

 All insights represent the organic events from partners and are agnostic of any Criteo attribution.

 Times reported are local times, (i.e., 7 hours added to UTC timestamp to the events retrieved from Indonesian retailers)

 Retail data is indexed per each partner and then aggregated by taking the mean. 

 Each insight is backed by at least five partners in the given market (country/region-vertical). 

 Southeast Asia is defined as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, the Philippines, Vietnam and Thailand for producing the product category and travel trends in order to reach a minimum sample size.

 Criteo surveyed 13,829 consumers in Australia, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Korea,
Spain, the UK and the US for The Rise of Savvy Shoppers. The field work took place between November 20 and December 13, 2022.

Wednesday, 22 March 2023

Nuodle to take halal beef noodles and more to Dubai

Nuodle, Singapore's first and only halal beef chain of quick-serve restaurants, has announced plans to open its first overseas outlet in Dubai this year. The outlet will be directly owned and managed by the Nuodle team from Singapore. Beef used in Dubai outlets will be sourced in-country.

"We believe that our brand represents Singapore, and itis time to share our passion for food and our heritage with the world. We are thrilled to open our first branch in Dubai, and we are confident that our customers will appreciate the authentic taste of our halal beef noodles," Nuodle's founder and MD Jerry Liao said.

The company recently added mala beef lamian (mala beef noodles, S$8.85) and classic fried bee tai mak (S$7.50) to its menu.

Source: Nuodle. Mala flavoured beef noodles.
Source: Nuodle. Mala flavoured beef noodles.

The brand was set up to showcase Chinese cuisine, with a focus on the relatively rare Lanzhou beef noodles. Since the opening of the first Nuodle outlet at Singpost in 2017, Nuodle has served more than 1 million bowls per year of affordable Lanzhou beef noodles in Singapore.

Liao subsequently added sweet-and-sour dumplings from Xi’an, Hunan vermicelli fish soup, and spicy gizzard dry sauce noodles from Sichuan. A mala dish was added to appeal to those who like spicy food.

The mala flavoured beef noodles feature Nuodle's tender mala beef, made from a secret recipe, as well as Nuodle's homemade beef broth. Other ingredients include Shanghai greens, coriander, and garlic sprouts. According to Nuodle, the beef and broth are stewed for four to five hours before serving.

Nuodle's other new dish, classic fried bee tai mak, fuses Chinese cuisine with Singapore tastes. Nuodle uses a secret recipe for the sauce, which is fried with chewy bee tai mak, chicken thigh meat, cabbage, capsicum, onion, and Shanghai greens.

"The history of noodle-making is an integral part of our brand, and we are proud to continue this tradition in a modern halal setting. The unique aroma and flavour of beef and noodles in our carefully brewed clear broth, made with clean white turnips, brilliant red chili oil, green cilantro, and a blend of traditional Chinese spices, is a taste that everyone should experience,” Liao suggested.

Nuodle also introduced the concept of hand-pulled noodles to complement its beef noodles. Five types of hand-pulled noodles are available at Nuodle flagship outlets at SingPost Centre, Our Tampines Hub, and Compass One. The broth is prepared with halal beef, beef bones, beef liver, and seasonings.

Nuodle further plans to open its first overseas outlet in Dubai this year. The outlet will be directly owned and managed by the Nuodle team from Singapore. Beef used in Dubai outlets will be sourced in-country.

"We believe that our brand represents Singapore, and itis time to share our passion for food and our heritage with the world. We are thrilled to open our first branch in Dubai, and we are confident that our customers will appreciate the authentic taste of our halal beef noodles," Liao said.

Explore

Nuodle has 20 outlets in Singapore, including three cloud kitchens that can provide island-wide delivery. More pictures are on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?vanity=singaporerecommends&set=a.640341198102196 

Nuodle members receive privileges such as discounts on dishes.

Hashtags: #nuodle, #halalsg, #halalfood, #nuodlesg, #nuodleasia, #halalfoodsg, #sghalal