UAE Food Bank's ‘United in Giving’ Initiative Aims to Provide 7M Meals This Ramadan

Under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, the UAE Food Bank has launched a special campaign called 'United in Giving' to provide food to those in need during Ramadan. Her Highness is the wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. She also serves as the Supreme Chairperson of the UAE Food Bank. The goal of this campaign is to distribute seven million meals throughout the holy month of Ramadan.

This initiative is part of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives and focuses on reducing food waste, promoting sustainable food practices, and encouraging people to take part in charity work.

The ‘United in Giving’ campaign includes three main projects:

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Blessing Baskets – This project will distribute over 200,000 meals every day. The food will come from donations, parcels, and surplus meals collected from different sources, such as restaurants, hotels, supermarkets, and individuals.

Zabeel Iftar – This project will provide Iftar meals to more than 3,000 workers daily, ensuring they have a proper meal after fasting all day.

Surplus of Good – This is an awareness program that educates people on how to use extra food in creative and sustainable ways instead of wasting it.

His Excellency Eng. Marwan Ahmed bin Ghalita, Vice Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Food Bank, said that ‘United in Giving’ represents the UAE’s strong values of kindness and generosity. He encouraged individuals, companies, and philanthropists to take part in this campaign to help those in need. He also mentioned that this effort supports the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to make the UAE a global leader in humanitarian and charitable work.

He added that under the leadership of Her Highness Sheikha Hind, the UAE Food Bank is dedicated to collecting, managing, and distributing extra food to as many people as possible. The campaign follows a structured humanitarian approach that ensures long-term support for those in need while also helping reduce food wastage. By managing food more efficiently, this campaign will also help protect the environment.

Community Participation

Manal bin Yaroof, who leads the executive team at the UAE Food Bank, explained that the ‘Blessing Baskets’ project will collect and distribute over 200,000 meals every day during Ramadan. The meals will be gathered from food donations, parcels from retail stores, food suppliers, and surplus meals from hotels, restaurants, and individuals. These will be distributed through charities and in partnership with various public and private organizations to make sure the food reaches those who need it the most across the UAE.

She also spoke about the ‘Zabeel Iftar’ project, which aims to provide daily Iftar meals for more than 3,000 workers, showing appreciation for their hard work and contribution to society.

Another important part of the campaign is the ‘Surplus of Good’ program, which is being carried out in partnership with Fatafeat TV. This initiative will raise awareness about how to repurpose surplus food in smart and sustainable ways. As part of this, six special episodes will be produced in five languages – Arabic, English, Amharic, Indonesian, and Urdu. These episodes will feature chefs, volunteers, and people from different cultures who will demonstrate how extra food can be turned into delicious and healthy meals. This program aims to educate a wide audience and inspire them to waste less food.

Strengthening Partnerships

The UAE Food Bank is also working to build stronger partnerships with government bodies, private companies, humanitarian organizations, and the food industry. As part of this effort, they are signing 12 agreements and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with different organizations, including hotels and food providers.

The campaign aligns with the UAE Food Bank’s 2023–2027 strategic plan, which focuses on launching humanitarian programs, reducing food wastage, and working together with national initiatives such as the Al Na’ma Initiative. It also supports local farmers and builds connections with international and regional food banks.

Through these efforts, the ‘United in Giving’ campaign aims to promote sustainability, social responsibility, and generosity. It seeks to bring communities together, strengthen social bonds, and ensure that people in need receive essential food support during the holy month of Ramadan.