Halal Expo Booth Buying Guide: Costs, Types, and What to Look For

Your First Halal Trade Show Booth: What You Need to Know

Booking a booth at a halal expo is one of the highest-ROI decisions a halal brand can make — but only if you choose the right show, the right booth type, and prepare properly. The global halal trade show landscape spans dozens of events across 30+ countries, with booth costs ranging from under USD 2,000 for a regional show to over USD 15,000 for a premium position at Gulfood Dubai.

This guide cuts through the confusion. Whether you're a first-time exhibitor planning your debut at MIHAS or a seasoned operator comparing costs across multiple shows, this is the reference you need.

Understanding Booth Types at Halal Expos

Shell Scheme Booths

The shell scheme is the standard entry-level option at virtually every halal trade show. You get a pre-built structure: aluminium frame, fabric or foam panel walls, carpet, a fascia board with your company name, basic lighting, and a power socket. Everything else (furniture, additional graphics, product display) you bring or order separately.

Best for: First-time exhibitors, brands with a defined product range that fits a 9-12 sqm footprint, companies looking to control upfront costs.

Typical inclusions:

• Partition walls (fabric-covered aluminium panels)
• Carpet flooring
• Fascia board with company name
• 2-3 spotlights
• 1 power socket (13A/220V)
• 1 table and 2 chairs
• Waste basket

Corner Booths

A corner booth is a shell scheme positioned at the end of a row, giving you two open sides instead of one. This dramatically increases visibility and foot traffic — buyers can approach from two directions. Corner booths typically cost 5-15% more than standard shell scheme but consistently outperform on lead volume.

Best for: Brands that want maximum visibility without the cost of a custom build. Strong choice for consumer brands where packaging and product display is the draw.

Space Only (Raw Space)

Space only gives you a marked floor area with no structure — just electricity. You build your own stand from scratch using a licensed contractor. This unlocks full creative freedom but requires a significantly higher budget: you'll spend 2-3x the floor space cost on the stand build.

Best for: Established brands with custom-built stand designs, companies wanting double-deck structures, enterprise exhibitors using their stands for multiple shows.

Minimum sizes: Space only minimums vary — Gulfood Dubai starts at 24 sqm, FHA Singapore at 50 sqm, MIHAS at 18 sqm. Small brands typically cannot access space only at tier-1 shows.

Country Pavilion

Many shows have national pavilion zones where companies exhibit as part of a collective booth coordinated by their national trade body (e.g., MATRADE for Malaysia, OTEXA for the US, UK DIT for British companies). Pavilion rates are often significantly lower than direct exhibitor rates because costs are pooled. The trade-off: your branding sits within a national cluster, and you have less individual visibility.

Best for: SMEs entering a market for the first time, companies with limited budgets, brands where "Made in [Country]" is a selling point.

Booth Costs at Major Halal Expos (2025-2026)

Below is a reference guide to booth costs at the major halal and food trade shows. All prices are in USD and represent standard shell scheme 9 sqm unless otherwise noted.

Event	Country	9 sqm Shell Scheme (USD)	Per sqm (USD)	Notes
Gulfood 2026	UAE	~$11,680	~$1,298	World's largest food event; strong halal section
MIHAS 2026	Malaysia	~$3,690	~$410	Asia's largest halal expo; international rate
FHA Singapore	Singapore	~$8,550 (SGD 11,400)	~$950	Plus SGD 700 mandatory service fee
THAIFEX 2026	Thailand	~$2,243 (CAD pavilion 6sqm)	~$374	Via national trade body; direct rate on inquiry
Anuga 2025	Germany	~$4,590 (€4,230)	~$510	Europe's largest food fair; biennial (Oct 2025)
OIC Halal Expo Istanbul	Türkiye	Inquiry-based	—	Dedicated halal show; strong OIC coverage
Saudi Halal Expo	Saudi Arabia	Inquiry-based	—	Min 9 sqm shell; GCC premium market
Halal Expo Canada	Canada	~$2,500 est.	~$269	North American halal market entry

Prices correct as of early 2026. All prices are estimates — confirm directly with show organisers before budgeting. Exchange rates fluctuate.

The Full Cost of Exhibiting: Beyond the Booth Fee

The booth fee is only part of your total exhibition cost. First-time exhibitors consistently underestimate total spend. Here is a realistic cost breakdown for a 9 sqm shell scheme at a tier-1 halal expo:

Cost Item	Budget Range	Notes
Booth fee (9 sqm shell scheme)	$2,500 – $12,000	Depends on show tier and location
Booth graphics and branding	$800 – $3,000	Full wall graphic panels, banner stands, fascia upgrade
Additional furniture and AV	$300 – $1,500	Extra shelving, monitor, fridge, extra chairs
Product samples and packaging	$500 – $5,000	Freight, customs duty, storage at show
Staff costs (2-3 people, 4-5 days)	$3,000 – $12,000	Flights, hotels, per diem
Pre-show marketing	$500 – $3,000	Catalogue ads, show directory listing, social media
Freight and logistics	$500 – $3,000	International shipping and customs
Total (budget estimate)	$8,000 – $40,000	Varies widely by show tier and company size

How to Choose the Right Halal Expo

With dozens of shows on the global halal calendar, selection discipline is critical. Use these criteria:

1. Match the Show to Your Target Market

• Southeast Asia / ASEAN: MIHAS Malaysia, THAIFEX Thailand, FHA Singapore
• Middle East / GCC: Gulfood Dubai, Saudi International Halal Expo, ADIFE Abu Dhabi
• OIC / Turkey / Europe: OIC Halal Expo Istanbul, Anuga Cologne (Anuga Halal Market section)
• South Asia / Pakistan: Food Asia Karachi, FoodAg Pakistan
• Japan / East Asia: FoodEx Japan
• North America: Halal Expo Canada, US International Halal Expo

2. Check the Visitor Profile

A show with 100,000 visitors is not inherently better than a show with 20,000 visitors — it depends on who those visitors are. MIHAS attracts serious OIC-country importers and distributors. Gulfood attracts global food buyers. Make sure the visitor profile matches your target buyer, not just the headline numbers.

3. Consider the Cost-to-Reach Ratio

Gulfood costs roughly 3x more than MIHAS per sqm but covers a very different buyer base. If your product has strong Gulf market potential, the premium is justified. If your target is ASEAN distribution, MIHAS delivers better value. Run a simple CPL (cost per lead) analysis from prior shows before committing to new ones.

4. Attend Before You Exhibit

If possible, attend your target show as a visitor before booking a booth. Walk the halls, identify where your ideal customers congregate, which competitors are exhibiting, and what booth styles are working. The intelligence gathered from a single day as a visitor will make your first booth significantly more effective.

Booth Booking Checklist

Use this checklist when evaluating and booking a halal expo booth:

• ☐ Confirmed event dates and registration deadline
• ☐ Verified booth cost includes: shell scheme, carpet, fascia, basic lighting, power socket
• ☐ Identified what is NOT included (furniture, extra power, internet, carpet upgrade)
• ☐ Understood hall assignment process and requested preferred section
• ☐ Checked if hosted buyer or matchmaking programme is available
• ☐ Confirmed currency and payment terms (deposit + balance)
• ☐ Researched official freight forwarder and customs requirements
• ☐ Booked accommodation (shows sell out 3-6 months in advance)
• ☐ Budgeted for graphics, samples, staffing, and freight
• ☐ Set KPIs for the show (qualified leads, meetings booked, samples distributed)

Next Steps

Ready to plan your halal expo schedule? Browse the full halal events calendar to find upcoming shows by region, date, and sector. Each event profile includes booth costs, application links, and exhibitor details.

For the two most popular shows for international exhibitors:

• Read: How to Exhibit at MIHAS 2026
• View booth packages: Gulfood 2026 Dubai