UAE Food Bank launches new Ramadan campaign to deliver 8 million meals
‘Bank of Goodness in the Month of Giving’ promotes charity and sustainability
DUBAI – Under the directives 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 Chairperson of the Board of Trustees and Supreme Chairperson of the UAE Food Bank, the organisation has launched the ‘Bank of Goodness in the Month of Giving’ campaign.
As part of its latest initiative, the UAE Food Bank, one of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), aims to provide eight million meals from surplus food and distribute them to beneficiaries within the UAE and abroad during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
Five integrated initiatives
The campaign will be implemented through five Ramadan initiatives, each targeting different segments of society. These include ‘Charity Fridge’, ‘My Home Without Waste’, ‘Meer Al Khair’, ‘Zabeel Iftar’, and ‘Recycle, Re-life’. Together, they form an integrated and sustainable framework for surplus food management, reinforcing the UAE Food Bank’s vision to operate as a humanitarian system that reduces food waste while ensuring the highest quality in food delivery to beneficiaries.
The campaign aligns with global efforts to combat hunger, supports national priorities to enhance food security, and contributes to the UAE National Food Security Strategy 2051. It also promotes a circular economy and helps reduce food waste and carbon emissions, creating a lasting environmental impact.
Manal bin Yaroof, Head of the Executive Team at the UAE Food Bank, said the campaign embodies the directives of HH Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum and advances the Bank’s humanitarian mission by extending support to the widest possible number of beneficiaries worldwide.
She said: “‘The Bank of Goodness in the Month of Giving’ campaign reflects our leadership’s vision of strengthening humanitarian and charitable work as a core value and key pillar of the UAE’s development journey. Generosity and solidarity are deeply rooted in Emirati society and extend bridges of goodness to communities around the world.”
She added that the campaign strengthens the UAE and Dubai’s position at the forefront of humanitarian work through a sustainable system that promotes food preservation, supports food security, and advances community solidarity, creating a lasting humanitarian impact for vulnerable populations globally.
Charity Fridge and household awareness
The ‘Charity Fridge’ is one of the campaign’s flagship initiatives, aimed at promoting community solidarity and reducing food waste. Refrigerators are placed in residential neighbourhoods in coordination with Dubai’s Knowledge and Human Development Authority, allowing individuals and organisations to donate surplus iftar and suhoor meals safely.
The ‘My Home Without Waste’ initiative focuses on promoting household-level awareness of food preservation. Through practical content delivered by leading chef influencers, homemakers and working women are empowered to adopt smart, sustainable methods for storing and reusing daily food. This reduces household waste while fostering responsible consumption habits.
Meer Al Khair and Zabeel Iftar
The ‘Meer Al Khair’ initiative provides integrated food parcels containing essential items to families in need during Ramadan. By meeting daily nutritional requirements, the initiative strengthens food stability and reflects values of compassion and social solidarity. Partners and volunteers engage in preparation and distribution in an organised and sustainable manner.
In addition, the ‘Zabeel Iftar’ initiative hosts collective iftar events for workers at Zabeel Park. By offering complete meals in a humanitarian environment, the initiative promotes compassion, community solidarity, and social responsibility throughout the Holy Month.
Recycle, Re-life for sustainability
In collaboration with the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative ‘Ne’ma’, the UAE Food Bank will launch the ‘Recycle, Re-life’ initiative during Ramadan. This project promotes sustainability and social responsibility by enhancing surplus food management through an integrated system. Edible food collected from hotels will be redistributed to beneficiaries, while non-edible food will be converted into organic compost in partnership with the ReLoop application by Ecyclex.
This initiative supports the circular economy, reduces carbon emissions from organic waste, and contributes to sustainable agricultural resources. It reflects a shared commitment to transforming environmental challenges into opportunities that benefit both society and the environment.
Community engagement
This year’s campaign places particular emphasis on expanding surplus food management through operational initiatives built on strategic partnerships with public and private sectors. Community and volunteer participation is encouraged at all stages of food collection, sorting, and distribution.
By achieving high efficiency in delivering food to beneficiaries, the UAE Food Bank promotes responsible consumption patterns, reduces food waste, and enhances environmental sustainability. The campaign also strengthens local and global strategic partnerships, raises community awareness around food preservation, and empowers youth and society to contribute to humanitarian and volunteer efforts.