
Is United Airlines (UAL) stock Halal?
Under AAOIFI Shariah Standard No. 21, a Halal stock keeps non-permissible income below 5% of revenue and interest-bearing debt and investments each below 30% of market capitalisation. United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) does not meet the threshold for the interest-bearing investments and interest-bearing debt screens as of September 2026, so it is not Shariah compliant.
United Airlines is a major airline company that operates an extensive flight network across the globe. It serves both the passenger and cargo segments, providing essential transportation services connecting major cities and remote locations. With a robust fleet, United Airlines offers flights to a wide array of destinations, spanning across continents including North America, Asia, Europe, and Latin America. Its operations are pivotal in facilitating international commerce and tourism, significantly impacting the travel and aviation industries. For Muslim investors, though, the most pressing question is simpler: is United Airlines a Halal investment?
Is United Airlines Shariah compliant?
For industrial companies like United Airlines, the product is rarely the problem; aircraft, vehicles and machinery are permissible. The exposure is leverage: fleets and factories are financed, and the 30% cap that AAOIFI Shariah Standard No. 21 places on interest bearing debt is the screen that decides most verdicts in this sector.
Does United Airlines pass the business activity test?
The activity screen is only part of the picture this month: United Airlines currently fails the interest-bearing investments and interest-bearing debt screens, so the overall verdict is not compliant regardless of the business itself. The activity itself raises no Shariah objection; the scrutiny belongs to the financing.
Is United Airlines' income Halal?
Yes, within AAOIFI's tolerance. United Airlines' income from non-permissible sources stays below 5% of revenue in the September 2026 screening.
Does United Airlines meet AAOIFI's debt and investment ratio requirements?
No. Both ratios currently breach the 30% caps: interest bearing investments and interest bearing debt each exceed the limit AAOIFI permits for a Halal investment. The ratios move with the share price as well as the balance sheet, and our Shariah Supervisory Board has UAL re-screened every month.
Tabadulat is an ADGM regulated brokerage whose license covers Shari'a Compliant Regulated Activities, as the FSRA permission names them. New to the terminology? Gharar and Maysir, Sukuk, Zakat and purification are all explained in plain English.
New to the four screens? Read AAOIFI Standards Explained: What Makes a Stock Halal?



