In late 2011 I'mHalal had to close its search service due to lack of funding. This page has been set up to keep the memories and great achievements of I'mHalal alive.

Dear I’mHalal Users,

In September 2009 – we introduced the world to I’mHalal, a search engine initially built to serve Middle East Internet users. We were driven by a noble cause: To attract more Middle Easterners to the World Wide Web by providing all households a relevant and safe search portal to gather information and explore the web. We decided it was time for all households in the MENASA region to be able to make use of mankind’s biggest invention to educate themselves independently: The Internet.

We truly believed that I’mHalal could become the entry point of Internet access in the MENASA region and would increase the Internet penetration in the region as more people would gain confidence in engaging search and explore activities in a more trustworthy environment.

A few months after our launch we had already attracted our 10 Millionth unique visitor, over 70 Million search queries had been conducted on ImHalal.com, we had won the Kasehdia Best Innovation award and we were right on track to make a difference in the world.

Regardless all the tremendous successes we’ve achieved our story unfortunately doesn’t have a happy ending.

Our overnight success eventually resulted in our inability to exist. As our operating cost kept rising we failed to secure additional funding to power our growth.

The past few months we’ve been trying to find a good investor from the MENASA region, but we failed. This forced us to stop the development of I’mHalal a few months ago and unfortunately we’ve got to announce that I’mHalal will be shut down within the next few weeks.

There is something structurally wrong with the status quo in the Middle East, North Africa and South East Asia, our political leaders but most of all – the investors that have the capital in these regions are only interested in funneling all the Oil money into standard investment opportunities like real estate. Technological advancement is almost non – existing in the Middle East because nobody supports the innovators building all kinds of technologies for various industries.

As the region becomes more and more dependent of Western technology, the region keeps provocating and fighting innovation they don’t control. Instead of blocking Twitter, Facebook and Google – why doesn’t the region invest less in real estate and more in technology? You know that Oil in your soil will definitely deplete at some point… The Middle East used to be an important center of knowledge, science and innovation. What happened to the golden days?

Wake-up global leaders! The next Facebook or Google can only come from the Middle East if you support your bright youth. Unemployment among the youth is ridiculously high – tackle this problem by supporting all young entrepreneurs by helping them instead of fighting them.

The Internet is in its infancy – it isn’t too late yet! However the gap is getting wider and wider and if you don’t act accordingly you might never overcome this problem.

Enough complaining on my behalf: let’s move on…

I’mHalal has truly been an amazing adventure for all of us and it’s really sad that this project hits the deadpool. We had great plans to shape the Internet landscape into a more hyper-localized and cultural biased media but that unfortunately isn’t up to us anymore at this point. We might come back in the future better organized, prepared and funded.

We would like to thank all our advisors, partners and associates for supporting us. You’ve all been great and will not be forgotten.

Last but not least we know our service wasn’t perfect so thank you – our dear users that have supported us trough thick and thin. We’ve received tens of thousands of fantastic emails from supporters from all around the world and of all beliefs. Your support has been utterly inspiring!

I would like to close with a quote: “The only failure in life is the failure to not try”.

Yours truly,

Reza Sardeha on Behalf of the I’mHalal Team