The global Muslim travel market has entered a new phase of growth. According to the Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index (GMTI) 2025 report, international Muslim arrivals reached 176 million in 2024, a 25% increase from 2023 and 10% above pre-pandemic levels.
By 2030, this number is projected to reach 245 million arrivals, with traveler expenditure estimated at USD 235 billion. Within this expanding market, one segment is drawing increasing attention: Muslim women travelers, particularly those traveling solo.
Among all destinations evaluated, Singapore stands out as the top-ranked non-OIC destination in the GMTI 2025 overall index and holds the No. 1 position in the Muslim Women-Friendly Destination sub-index.
That ranking isn’t just a number. But, it reflects specific and measurable choices Singapore has made, and it points to real opportunity for businesses serving this segment.
The Rise of Muslim Women Solo Travel Is Reshaping the Halal Tourism Market
Muslim women now represent a significant and growing force in global travel. According to GMTI 2025, 49.3% of the global Muslim population is female, and an estimated 447 million Muslim women aged 21–50 now influence travel planning decisions globally..
The Muslim Women-Friendly Destination sub-index, launched by CrescentRating, was created precisely because more Muslim women are now traveling in female-only groups and making solo journeys, a trend that was once far less common.
This growth is driven by a combination of structural and social shifts: rising educational attainment, increased workforce participation, greater financial independence, and expanding access to digital travel resources.
GMTI report highlights that digital platforms and social media have played a critical role in amplifying the visibility and confidence of women travelers, driving greater demand for destinations that actively support women’s autonomy and safety.
Read More: Top 5 Halal Travel Destinations in Asia You Should Explore
Why Singapore Excels for Muslim Women Solo Travelers According to GMTI
In GMTI 2025, Singapore scored 82 in the Muslim Women-Friendly Destination sub-index, the highest among all non-OIC destinations.
The report describes the city-state as “known for its exceptional safety, welcoming multicultural society, and well-developed infrastructure,” making it “particularly convenient and secure for Muslim women travelers, whether they are traveling solo or in groups.”
This strong performance is directly connected to how Singapore performs across the ACES framework, GMTI’s core assessment model covering Access, Communications, Environment, and Services. Each pillar corresponds closely to the needs that Muslim women travelers have identified as most important.
Environment: Creating a Safe and Inclusive Destination for Muslim Women
The Environment pillar in GMTI carries 30% of the total score and covers general safety, faith restrictions, sustainability, and visitor experience.
Singapore consistently performs well here due to a combination of factors that directly address the priorities of Muslim women travelers: a low crime rate, strong political stability, safe and reliable public transportation, and consistently clean public spaces.
Equally important is Singapore’s identity as a multicultural society where religious diversity is not merely tolerated but embedded in the country’s social fabric.
This is evident in heritage districts such as Chinatown, where the Sri Mariamman Temple, Buddha Tooth Relic Temple, and Jamae Mosque are located within walking distance of one another, reflecting the country’s long-standing tradition of religious coexistence.
For Muslim women, who need to feel comfortable wearing the hijab, observing prayer times, and maintaining halal dietary practices in public, Singapore’s culturally inclusive environment removes a layer of anxiety that is often present in less familiar destinations. This directly reduces the primary barrier to solo travel for this segment.
Services: Supporting Muslim Travelers Throughout Their Journey
Services carry the highest weighting in the ACES framework at 40%, and it is here that Singapore has built a particularly strong position.
GMTI 2025 identifies Singapore among the top non-OIC destinations for halal dining and prayer facilities, noting that the city offers a rich halal culinary scene with MUIS-certified options spanning Malay, Middle Eastern, Indian, and Western cuisines.
Muslim-friendly hotel accommodation is accessible across different price points, and Singapore Tourism Board has produced dedicated resources for Muslim visitors, including the Your Muslim Visitor Guide to Singapore.
For Muslim women traveling solo, this density of services significantly reduces trip planning uncertainty and increases confidence in managing daily needs independently.
Access: Making Solo Travel Easy from Arrival to Departure
The Access pillar covers visa requirements, connectivity, and transport infrastructure, and Singapore performs strongly across all three. Changi Airport has invested in making the arrival experience smooth and efficient, with the SMART airport vision designed to enhance personalization and convenience.
Once in the city, the MRT network provides safe, affordable, and comprehensively mapped connectivity across virtually all key districts, tourist sites, and neighborhoods.
Singapore’s compact geography and walkable city design mean that first-time solo travelers can navigate independently with minimal difficulty.
Communications: Helping Travelers Plan with Confidence
The Communications pillar assesses how well a destination markets itself to Muslim travelers and how effectively it equips them with information before and during their trip.
Singapore has invested in producing dedicated, accessible resources for Muslim visitors, from official halal dining directories and Muslim-friendly travel apps to the Lifestyle Guide to Singapore for Muslim Travellers.
These resources allow Muslim women to plan their trips with high confidence, knowing in advance where they can eat, pray, and find accommodation that meets their needs.
Transparent and proactive communication reduces the uncertainty that is often cited as a barrier to solo travel, particularly for first-time international travelers.
Read More: Essential Checklist Designed for Halal-Friendly Travelers
Why This Trend Matters for Businesses Beyond Tourism
Muslim women travelers should not be viewed narrowly as a travel niche. They represent a high-value consumer segment with growing purchasing power and disproportionate influence over spending decisions across multiple categories.
GMTI 2025 projects that Muslim travel expenditure will reach USD 235 billion by 2030, and women are central to how that spending is allocated.
The opportunity extends far beyond hospitality. F&B businesses that obtain halal certification position themselves to capture Muslim women travelers as regular customers.
Beauty and cosmetics brands that communicate halal compliance attract a segment that is increasingly conscious of ingredient transparency. Modest fashion retailers, wellness brands, and digital service providers all find an audience among Muslim women who travel with both faith-based and lifestyle considerations in mind.
The key insight from GMTI data is that this segment’s influence does not stop at personal spending. Muslim women are also influential in shaping the travel and purchasing decisions of their families and peer groups.
Businesses that earn loyalty from this demographic create a multiplier effect that extends well beyond the individual traveler.
Read More: Winning Marketing Strategies for the Halal Travel and Tourism Market
What Businesses Can Learn from Singapore’s Success
Singapore’s position at the top of GMTI’s Muslim Women-Friendly Destination rankings reflects a long-term commitment to understanding what Muslim travelers genuinely need and delivering it consistently.
The lesson isn’t to copy Singapore’s infrastructure, but it’s to copy the standard behind it: halal as a lived environment, not a checklist.
At the core is a clear understanding of what halal means beyond the label. Muslim travelers assess an environment holistically, from food sourcing and alcohol handling to prayer facilities and staff conduct.
Businesses that lack this foundational understanding tend to make surface-level adjustments that satisfy neither travelers nor certification requirements. Those who get it right early are better positioned to earn genuine trust and long-term loyalty in this market.
That foundation starts with understanding core halal principles, including their application in the travel sector. Halal Practitioner offers a course designed to help businesses build exactly that.
Ready to build the right foundation for the halal travel market? Check out the course here: Halal Fundamentals for Businesses.
References:
- Mastercard. Accessed in 2026. Mastercard-CrescentRating Global Muslim Travel Index reveals trends shaping the future of Halal travel
- CrescentRating. Accessed in 2026. GMTI 2025: The Official Ranking of the Top 40 Safest Destinations for Muslim Women Travelers
- CrescentRating. Accessed in 2026. Release of Your Muslim Visitor Guide to Singapore (Second Edition) and the Lifestyle Guide to Singapore for Muslim Travellers
- SalaamGateway. Accessed in 2026. How Muslim women-friendly travel is gaining ground
