A new OTA dedicated to halal travel content has been launched, with a travel agent portal soon to be added to the site.
The UK-headquartered Rihaala is the latest brand from the team behind halal travel specialists Serendipity Tailormade and Luxury Halal Travel.
The website offers more than 1,500 properties in over 40 destinations worldwide, all selected based on their halal-friendly amenities and services, as well as the chance to explore user-generated content sourced from Instagram, Facebook and Twitter.
“Rihaala meets the demands and expectations of modern Muslim consumers who not only want to create their own travel packages online, but to be inspired by like-minded travellers through rich visual content on social feeds that paints a true picture of a destination,” said Nabeel Shariff, founder of Rihaala.com, Serendipity Tailormade and Luxury Halal Travel.
“In today’s digital age, consumers’ travel purchasing decisions are often influenced by videos and photos on social channels in real-time, rather than glossy destination images of the past. Visitors to Rihaala.com are guided by the visual experiences of other Muslim travellers posted on its ‘Wall of Inspiration’, providing them with true-to-life content to experience for themselves.”
Rihaala also provides information on destinations and hotels to help Muslim travellers select products and services that meet their faith-based requirements. Content includes halal dining options, privacy enhancements, alcohol-free environments, prayer facilities, family-friendly experiences, as well as a lifestyle-led blogs spanning multiple genres of interest to Muslim consumers.
“As travel technology has moved on, so have pilgrims, and we’re listening to consumers and how they want to book and experience travel in the future,” Nabeel said.
Rihaala has been launched in English, with an Arabic-language version to follow soon. The company currently in the process of a Series A round of investment with Dubai-based crowdfunding platform Eureeca.
