Entrepreneurial capabilities in halal industry: A systematic literature review of research trends and emerging opportunities

Abstract

Entrepreneurial capabilities are increasingly recognised as a fundamental driver of competitiveness, innovation, and sustainability within the halal industry, particularly in response to the rising global demand for Shariah-compliant products and services. These capabilities encompassing strategic decision-making, innovation, and resource orchestration enable halal businesses to navigate complex regulatory, religious, and market environments while enhancing business performance and long-term value creation. Thus, this study aims to systematically reviews the evolving body of literature on entrepreneurial capabilities and their implications for halal business performance. Employing the PRISMA protocol, a systematic literature review was conducted on 224 peer-reviewed publications indexed in the Web of Science and Scopus databases between 2016 and 2025. The analysis reveals a steady growth of scholarly interest in this domain, with the Web of Science database contributing a substantial proportion of the publications, and China and India emerging as the most prolific contributors. Most studies are concentrated in the business and economics disciplines and are frequently published in high-impact journals, notably the International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behaviour & Research and Sustainability (Switzerland). Furthermore, the study identifies key research gaps and proposes future research avenues, particularly in ecosystem factors such as business models, infrastructure and regulatory frameworks that support the effective application of entrepreneurial capabilities. Overall, this review contributes to the literature by providing a comprehensive synthesis of research trends and reinforcing the central role of entrepreneurial capabilities in advancing the resilience and global competitiveness of the halal industry.