UAE Food Bank’s Ramadan Campaign Distributes 8.2 Million Meals, Benefiting 7.3 Million Individuals

Dubai: The UAE Food Bank, under the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), has successfully collected and distributed 8.2 million meals during its Ramadan campaign, titled ‘The Bank of Goodness in the Month of Goodness’. This initiative aimed to provide eight million meals to beneficiaries both within the UAE and internationally throughout the holy month.

The campaign was executed through five key initiatives: Charity Fridge, My Home Without Waste, Meer Al Khair, Zabeel Iftar, and Recycle, Relife. These efforts were structured within a comprehensive framework designed for the sustainable management of surplus food.

A total of 7.3 million individuals benefited from the campaign, which included nearly 1.368 million families and over 500,000 workers. Approximately 6,645 volunteers contributed to the campaign’s success. In addition to these efforts, the food bank established 12 new partnerships and collaborated with more than 215 donor institutions and companies, while also conducting 80 awareness programs.

The campaign’s environmental and economic impact was notable, diverting around 4.62 million surplus cooked meals and food parcels from landfills. This effort resulted in a reduction of over 4.693 million kilograms of carbon emissions, which is equivalent to the environmental benefit of planting 195,583 trees.

Sustainable Humanitarian Ecosystem

Manal Bin Yaroof, Head of the Executive Team at the UAE Food Bank, emphasized that the results of the campaign reinforce the organization’s vision of serving as a sustainable humanitarian and charitable ecosystem. The UAE Food Bank aims to promote giving while minimizing food waste through efficient management and redistribution of surplus food, adhering to high-quality standards. This approach not only strengthens the UAE’s position in charitable work but also reflects the values of generosity and solidarity inherent in Emirati society. The campaigns align with global initiatives to combat hunger, create sustainable community impacts, and support national efforts to enhance food security.

As part of the Charity Fridge initiative, the food bank installed 25 refrigerators across residential areas and schools in collaboration with the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA). This initiative benefited 495,677 individuals by allowing the public to donate surplus food in a safe and organized manner, thereby fostering community solidarity and sustainable food preservation.

The Meer Al Khair initiative, supported by partners and volunteers, distributed food parcels containing essential supplies to 6,843,544 beneficiaries, addressing daily needs and bolstering food security while embodying values of compassion and solidarity.

The food bank also organized Zabeel Iftar, a communal Iftar event that served 5,000 workers. This initiative highlighted the spirit of the holy month by promoting a culture of giving and social responsibility.

Enhancing Community Awareness

In its sustainability and social responsibility efforts, the UAE Food Bank partnered with ne’ma, the UAE’s National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, on the Recycle, Relife initiative. This collaboration aims to improve the efficiency of surplus food management, divert waste from landfills, and support the circular economy while reducing carbon emissions from organic waste.

Through this initiative, the food bank salvaged approximately 1.4 million kilograms of surplus food and near-expiry products from the food service sector and retailers. These items were redistributed to maximize beneficiary reach while raising community awareness about achieving zero food waste.

The campaign also included the collection of surplus food from 87 hotels, marking a 142% increase compared to the previous year. Non-consumable food was transformed into 72,973 kilograms of organic agricultural compost to assist local farmers, coordinated through the Reloop app by Ecyclex. These actions diverted 364,863 kilograms of food waste from landfills and reduced 926,753 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions, equivalent to planting 38,615 trees.

As a partner in the initiative, ne’ma reaffirmed its commitment to creating an enabling environment and an integrated system that supports the national goal of reducing food loss and waste while advancing sustainability across the UAE.

The My Home Without Waste initiative was another awareness-driven program aimed at promoting food preservation and responsible use of surplus meals through educational messages delivered by influencers. This initiative encouraged the community to reduce food waste, support sustainability, and adopt responsible consumption habits, targeting citizens and residents of all ages, with a focus on homemakers, working women, and domestic workers.

Driving Sustainable Impact

The campaign underscored the UAE Food Bank’s commitment to expanding strategic partnerships, raising community awareness about food preservation, and empowering individuals to engage in volunteer work for sustainable development and long-term humanitarian impact.

It also facilitated the creation of an integrated ecosystem for managing food surplus through effective collaboration and community engagement, enhancing food distribution efficiency, reducing waste, and advancing environmental goals.

Source: www.emirates247.com

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Published on 2026-04-30 21:35:00 • By the Editorial Desk