Is United Airlines Stock Halal?
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. · UAL · NASDAQ
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. (UAL) does not pass Shariah screening: interest-bearing debt / market cap is 64.5% against the < 30% limit (data as of 2026-03-31), and cash + interest-bearing securities / market cap is 37.8% against the < 30% limit (data as of 2026-03-31). Screened alternatives exist in the same sector — see the halal stock screeners and ETF guides below.
Financial data as of 2026-03-31 · Screening basis: AAOIFI · Last reviewed 2026-06-15
Our Analysis
United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is a publicly traded company in its sector. Review the latest 10-K segment disclosure for revenue mix.
Financial ratios drive the fail (data as of 2026-03-31): interest-bearing debt / market cap at 64.5% versus the < 30% limit; cash + interest-bearing securities / market cap at 37.8% versus the < 30% limit.
Zoya's public page did not return a clear status when we checked (checked 2026-06-15). Musaffa lists it NOT HALAL. U.S. Shariah ETFs SPUS and HLAL publish holdings on their own schedules — absence from a top-holdings list is not the same as a failed screen; verify current ETF holdings if index validation matters to you.
Practical takeaway: do not treat this as a borderline hold — the fail is structural on our methodology. Use Shariah-screened ETFs (SPUS, HLAL) or individually screened peers in the same sector instead.
Business Activity Screen
United Airlines Holdings, Inc., through its various subsidiaries, delivers air travel solutions on a global scale. Its vast network extends across North America, Europe, Asia, Africa, the Pacific, the Middle East, and Latin America, facilitating the movement of both passengers and freight. The company operates these services using a combination of its primary and regional aircraft fleets. Beyond its core transportation offerings, United also provides specialized support to external clients, enco
Interest income $610.0M on $59.07B total revenue (United Airlines Holdings, Inc. FY2025 (fiscal year ended 2025-12-31, Form 10-K)) = 1% — under AAOIFI's 5% limit.
Financial Ratio Screen
| Screen | Value | AAOIFI limit | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Interest-bearing debt / market cap | 64.5% | < 30% | Fail |
| Cash + interest-bearing securities / market cap | 37.8% | < 30% | Fail |
| Impermissible income / total revenueInterest income $610.0M on $59.07B total revenue (United Airlines Holdings, Inc. FY2025 (fiscal year ended 2025-12-31, Form 10-K)) = 1% — under AAOIFI's 5% limit. | 1.0% | < 5% | Pass |
Spot market cap at research date (consider trailing average for borderline names). Data as of 2026-03-31 · thresholds per AAOIFI Shariah standards.
This verdict uses the AAOIFI standard — the most widely used and, at a 30% debt limit, the most conservative mainstream Shariah standard. Interest-bearing debt and interest-bearing securities each stay under 30% of market cap, and impermissible income under 5% of revenue. Other standards (Dow Jones Islamic, S&P Shariah, MSCI Islamic, FTSE Yasaar) use ~33% limits or screen against total assets, so a borderline company can be rated differently by each. How we screen & why screeners disagree →
How United Airlines screens across Shariah standards
The standards disagree on this company. It passes some Shariah screens and fails others — which is exactly why you may see a different answer in different apps. Our headline verdict uses AAOIFI, the strictest and most widely cited mainstream standard.
| Standard | Debt | Cash & interest securities | Limit / basis | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AAOIFI (our standard) | 64.5% | 37.8% | < 30% of market cap | Fail |
| Dow Jones Islamic / S&P Shariah thresholdDow Jones and S&P apply this limit against a trailing 24–36-month average market cap; shown here on the same point-in-time market cap for comparison. | 64.5% | 37.8% | < 33% of market cap | Fail |
| MSCI Islamic / FTSE Yasaar basisTotal-assets denominator. MSCI/FTSE also apply entry/exit buffers and a receivables screen we do not reproduce. | 29.9% | 17.5% | < 33.33% of total assets | Pass |
HalalWallet computation reproducing each standard's threshold and denominator from public filings (balance sheet as of 2026-03-31) — not the providers' licensed index determinations, which can differ. Debt is interest-bearing borrowings (operating leases excluded). The impermissible-income screen (< 5% of revenue) is common to all of these standards and is shown in the ratio table above. Dow Jones and S&P apply their limit against a trailing 24–36-month average market cap; MSCI and FTSE add entry/exit buffers and a receivables screen. Full methodology →
Other stocks where Shariah screeners disagree
These companies pass under some mainstream standards and fail under others — the same pattern as this verdict. That is why two apps can show different answers.
AbbVieABBV
Passes market-cap screens · fails MSCI/FTSE (total assets)
Air Products and ChemicalsAPD
Passes market-cap screens · fails MSCI/FTSE (total assets)
AirbnbABNB
Passes market-cap screens · fails MSCI/FTSE (total assets)
APAAPA
Fails AAOIFI market-cap · passes MSCI/FTSE (total assets)
AppLovinAPP
Passes market-cap screens · fails MSCI/FTSE (total assets)
Arista NetworksANET
Passes market-cap screens · fails MSCI/FTSE (total assets)
Scholars' & Screeners' Positions
Published positions, cited as stated. Screeners can reach different conclusions on the same company because of ratio timing and methodology differences — we report the disagreement rather than flatten it.
Musaffa
Public page classifies the stock NOT HALAL (checked 2026-06-15).
Source →SP Funds S&P 500 Sharia ETF (SPUS)
Bulk research pass — verify current SPUS schedule of investments before citing as held or excluded (reference SOI dated 2026-02-28).
Source →Wahed FTSE USA Shariah ETF (HLAL)
Bulk research pass — verify current HLAL holdings before citing as held or excluded (reference list 2026-06-05).
Source →
What to do instead
You don't have to choose between investing and your values — screened alternatives exist for nearly every position.
Related guides
Consider Consulting an Islamic Scholar
Major whether United Airlines Holdings, Inc. is halal decisions often involve nuances that vary by scholarly opinion and personal circumstance. While HalalWallet provides educational comparisons and tools, we are not scholars or financial advisors. For personal guidance on Shariah compliance, consider speaking with a qualified Islamic scholar, your local imam, or a Shariah-certified financial advisor familiar with your situation.
Important: HalalWallet is an educational comparison platform. We do not provide financial, legal, or religious advice.
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- Review the contract structure (Murabaha, Ijara, Musharakah, etc.) and any disclosed Shariah board opinions.
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Sources and review process
This page is reviewed against HalalWallet editorial standards and source documentation.
Reviewed by: HalalWallet Editorial Team
Last reviewed: 2026-06-01
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