Muslim-friendly travel is entering a new phase- one defined by smart technology, ethical questions, and hyper-personalized experiences. At the Halal In Travel Global Summit 2025 in Singapore, a forward-looking panel tackled a timely and complex question: what does artificial intelligence (AI) mean for the future of faith-based travel?
In the session “The Role of AI in Personalizing Immersive Experiences”, moderated by Reem Al Shafaki (DinarStandard), industry leaders Di̇nçer Özkaya (CEO, Salam Booking), AbdulMaalik Tailor (Founder, Halal Tourism Britain), and Sadia Ramzan (Founder, Muslim Women Travel Group) explored how AI is already reshaping travel services, and what the community must do to shape AI in return.
The panel opened with a look at the growing use of AI in Muslim travel technology. Salam Booking’s Di̇nçer Özkaya highlighted how the company is already using AI-driven tools to improve user experiences from customer service chatbots to automated itinerary planning.
“We must really understand what [AI] is and how we can take advantage of AI to change our lives,” said Özkaya.
A major milestone is on the horizon for the company. By Q4 of 2025, Salam Booking plans to launch an AI-powered Umrah platform that integrates faith-based needs, local context, and personalized travel planning- a step toward making Umrah journeys smarter and more accessible.
Adding to this, Sadia Ramzan shared how AI can benefit Muslim women travelers and small businesses. She emphasized that personalized halal travel itineraries, including nearby mosques and halal restaurants, are now within reach thanks to AI. However, she warned against fully replacing the human element.
“People do value that personal touch, and it's how you use [AI] in terms of [how] you want it to complement your business, not necessarily take over,” she said.
Ramzan also encouraged small businesses in the Muslim travel space to leverage AI for better SEO optimization, online visibility, and community engagement.
While AI offers significant advantages, the panelists were clear: it must be used thoughtfully.
AbdulMaalik Tailor, founder of Halal Tourism Britain, raised concerns about AI’s limits when it comes to cultural nuance and authentic storytelling. While AI excels at managing schedules and logistics, it struggles to replicate the richness of human-guided halal travel experiences.
He also introduced augmented reality (AR) tools as a potential bridge between technology and cultural engagement. Tailor mentioned innovations like Meta’s Ray-Ban smart glasses, which offer real-time translation and hands-free interaction, adding value without replacing the human touch.
“To have that additional feature of having Ray-Bans that could actually translate for you, and it's hands-free- that's an additional piece of value that people like,” he observed.
Cultural sensitivity in AI was another central theme. Ramzan urged the inclusion of diverse, faith-based datasets in AI development to prevent bias or misinformation. She stressed the need for Muslim communities to take part in AI design, testing, and review processes to ensure accuracy and alignment with Islamic values.
Ethical concerns were also addressed. Incorrect prayer times, mislabelled halal options, or impersonal AI interactions can undermine trust. Ramzan called on users to provide feedback to AI systems, while Özkaya noted that Muslims have a responsibility to input correct knowledge into the tools being developed.
Looking ahead, the panelists envisioned transformative AI-powered innovations that could fundamentally reshape travel. Ramzan expressed a wish for AI to facilitate booking flights next to other women, while Tailor hoped for AI to accommodate specific seating preferences based on medical needs.
Özkaya highlighted the potential for AI to collect and analyze data to provide hyper-personalized travel experiences, including recommendations for halal food, prayer times, and other Muslim-friendly amenities.
AI is poised to revolutionize Muslim-friendly travel, offering unprecedented opportunities for personalization, efficiency, and empowerment. By embracing AI responsibly and addressing the ethical and cultural challenges, we can create a future where travel is more accessible, inclusive, and enriching for all Muslim travelers.
Watch the full panel on YouTube here.
To see more of the Halal In Travel Global Summit 2025 sessions, please visit this page
