Abstract
Global geopolitical tensions, inflationary pressures, and logistics bottlenecks have exerted unprecedented stress on international food networks, posing acute operational challenges for Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs). In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), where food security and Halal integrity are national strategic priorities, SMEs must balance supply chain resilience with strict adherence to Halalan Tayyiban principles. This study investigates the drivers of Halal food supply chain resilience (HFSCRes) among UAE-based food and beverage SMEs operating amidst ongoing global disruptions. Employing a sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, quantitative data were gathered from 214 SME managers and analyzed via Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM), followed by 18 in-depth semi-structured interviews with Halal industry practitioners and Islamic trade finance specialists. The empirical findings reveal that Halal integrity control, digital supply chain visibility, relational collaborative capability, and access to Sharia-compliant working capital financing exert statistically significant positive effects on supply chain resilience. Qualitative insights further elucidate how Sharia-compliant liquidity instruments (such as Murabaha and Salam) and blockchain-enabled traceability mitigate the risk of Halal cross-contamination during transit re-routing. This research extends Dynamic Capabilities Theory into faith-based economic systems and provides actionable strategic frameworks for food enterprise managers and Islamic finance institutions.
