Under the patronage of Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and Supreme Chairperson of the UAE Food Bank, the organisation has launched the ‘United in Giving’ initiative as part of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives. The campaign seeks to provide seven million meals during Ramadan while promoting sustainable food management and minimising wastage.
Three Key Initiatives
The initiative includes three core sub-programmes:
- Blessing Baskets: Distribution of 200,000 meals daily through food donations, surplus meal collection and food parcels.
- Zabeel Iftar: Daily Iftar meals provided for over 3,000 workers.
- Surplus of Good: An awareness campaign, in collaboration with Fatafeat TV, showcasing creative ways to repurpose surplus food through six multilingual episodes.
Manal bin Yaroof, Head of the Executive Team at the UAE Food Bank, emphasised the importance of community involvement. She explained that surplus food from restaurants, hotels, retailers and individuals would be collected and distributed efficiently, ensuring it reaches those in need.
As part of its goals, the UAE Food Bank is expanding its network through 12 new partnerships with government entities, private organisations, food suppliers, and humanitarian groups. These collaborations will support the UAE Food Bank’s 2023–2027 food sustainability strategy and contribute to reducing food waste at a national and international level.
By bringing together communities, businesses, and charities, the ‘United in Giving’ initiative aims to make a lasting impact during Ramadan, ensuring that those in need receive essential food assistance while promoting responsible food consumption.