First-Ever Permissible Betting App for Muslims Launched by UAE’s Startup

Muslims can now predict sporting outcomes without going against their religious beliefs thanks to Hajem Sports, the startup company from the United Arab Emirates.

Photo: Hajem Sports app (screenshot: youtube.com/@HajemApp)

In keeping with Islamic values, a new app called Hajem Sports allows football fans in the United Arab Emirates and beyond to predict game outcomes without spending any money, which means they were the first to provide permissible (halal in Arabic) betting to people from the Muslim world.

Hajem Sports is a platform that allows users to compete for points, reputation, and the right to be called insightful, rather than cash, because gambling is severely forbidden in Islam. Zaid Abu Soud, a former mixed martial arts (MMA) organizer, created the app because he wanted Muslims to feel the excitement of a correctly predicted outcome without having to pay for it.

How Does Hajem Sports Operate?

The monetization model of Hajem Sports is built on customization: the app makes money by selling digital trinkets, such as skins and avatars, without monetary risks for users. At the moment, the app only offers football predictions, and the appearance of other sports hasn’t yet been announced.

Islamic law completely forbids gambling. According to the Quran, it’s comparable to drinking and idolatry in that it causes people to stray from morality. Islamic teachings view gambling (maysir) as detrimental since it encourages money loss, reliance, and greed, all of which can result in social and personal issues.

Abu Soud discovered that Westerners typically wagered with modest sums of money while investigating bookmaker apps for Android and iOS. He assumed that they weren’t really gambling for financial gains but were just utilizing the applications for enjoyment. He wanted Muslims everywhere to feel the same sense of accomplishment when they make a correct prediction.