The Heartbeat Across Destinations
Recognising Muslims making a lasting difference in communities across the world.
The HalalTrip People Awards honours grassroots Muslims whose work is driven by care and service, not visibility. These are people whose impact is felt deeply in the communities around them — whether they were born there, chose to be there, or were forced to be.
HalalTrip created this initiative to bring these voices into a global conversation about what makes destinations truly welcoming — and to inspire others to serve just as they do.
In every corner of the Muslim world, there are people actively contributing to their communities in tangible ways.
Atikah Syarah Ismail
Singapore
Atikah is a social worker with PPIS Oasis in Singapore, supporting foster children and families towards safe and sustainable reunification. In 2023, after nearly a decade in the social services sector, she took a sabbatical to volunteer in Palestine and Lebanon. Inspired by the resilience of the communities she worked with, she continues to support families through ongoing grassroots fundraising, providing monthly assistance for essential needs.
Mohammed Musa (Maung Hla Myint)
Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh
Musa is a Rohingya human rights activist, youth leader, and the Founder & Executive Director of the Rohingya Aid and Empowerment Network (RAEN). Born in 2001 in Maungdaw Township, Rakhine State, Myanmar, he was forced to flee during the 2017 Rohingya crisis and has since lived in refugee camps in Cox's Bazar, Bangladesh. He is widely recognized for his advocacy for Rohingya rights, focusing on justice, dignity, and global awareness.
Mohammed Al-Abood
Aseer, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed is an agricultural pioneer who transformed his native highlands into the A'anab Tourist Farm, Aseer's premier ecological hub. Dedicated to preserving regional biodiversity, he safeguards ancient, 200-year-old heritage trees and leads an afforestation initiative protecting over 4,000 plants. Through community-led workshops teaching youth conscious water management and traditional soil cultivation, Mohammed's grassroots stewardship ensures the ancient agricultural terraces north of Abha remain welcoming and ecologically thriving for generations.
The 2026 honourees will be featured at the Halal in Travel Global Summit (HITGS) — an annual gathering of industry leaders, policymakers, and changemakers in the Muslim travel space. Their stories, rooted in local communities, become part of a global conversation about what truly makes a destination welcoming.
Learn about HITGS 2026The HalalTrip People Awards are open year-round. Nominations are made by community organisations on behalf of individuals whose work speaks for itself. If you know someone whose on-the-ground contribution deserves recognition, we want to hear from you.
Nominations are reviewed annually. Individuals may not self-nominate.
