UAE Food Bank distributes nearly 8 million meals during Ramadan through 'United in Giving' initiative

- Under the directives and follow up of Hind bint Maktoum, UAE Food Bank distributes nearly eight million meals during Ramadan through its ‘United in Giving’ initiative

- Initiative supports more than 700,000 families and 11,000 workers
- Bank distributes 378,240 meals abroad as part of its global humanitarian efforts
- Initiative diverts over 917 tonnes of surplus food from landfill, reducing 2.3 million kgs of carbon emissions
- More than 1,000 volunteers support charitable and humanitarian efforts across the Bank’s subsidiary initiatives
- A total of 200 strategic partners from the public and private sectors contribute to the initiative
- UAE Food Bank organises 48 awareness programmes on sustainable surplus food management
- Bank signs 12 new cooperation agreements and MoUs to support the Bank’s long-term mission

Under the directives and follow up 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 Bank announced that it has distributed nearly eight million meals during Ramadan through its ‘United in Giving’ initiative, exceeding the original target of seven million meals.

The initiative supported more than 700,000 families and 11,000 workers, delivering food aid locally and internationally. As part of its global humanitarian efforts, the Bank distributed 378,240 meals abroad. Within the UAE, it collaborated with the National Initiative to Reduce Food Loss and Waste, ‘Ne’ma’, to provide over 8,000 meals to workers through the ‘Ne’ma Community Fridges’ initiative, in addition to 3,000 meals distributed under the ‘Zabeel Iftar’ campaign.

A total of 200 strategic partners from the public and private sectors—including hotels, restaurants, and food establishments—contributed to the success of the initiative. Over 1,000 volunteers supported the Bank’s logistical operations and meal distribution efforts. Additionally, 48 awareness programmes were organised across the emirate to highlight best practices in collecting, reducing, and redistributing surplus food.

Strategic Vision
Manal Bin Yaroof, Head of the Executive Team at the UAE Food Bank, said: “The outcomes of the ‘United in Giving’ initiative during Ramadan underscore the UAE Food Bank’s ongoing commitment to a humanitarian vision inspired by the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum. Surpassing the campaign’s targets reflects the deep-rooted values of generosity, social responsibility, and sustainability in Emirati society. The initiative also aligns with the Bank’s strategic goal of delivering high-quality food assistance, enhancing lives, and promoting environmental stewardship through a sustainable humanitarian framework.”

Positive Impact
As part of its environmental efforts, the UAE Food Bank successfully diverted over 917 tonnes of food from landfill—an achievement that reduced more than 2.3 million kgs of carbon dioxide emissions, the equivalent of preserving over 97,000 trees. In collaboration with ‘Ne’ma’, the Bank also recycled more than 335,000 kgs of food waste from participating hotels, converting it into 50,366 kgs of organic fertiliser.

Cooperation Agreements
To support its long-term objectives and broaden its impact, the UAE Food Bank signed 12 new agreements and memoranda of understanding with government entities, private sector partners, humanitarian organisations, and food industry establishments.

The ‘United in Giving’ initiative forms part of the UAE Food Bank’s wider mission to advance sustainable surplus food management and reduce food loss and waste. Its key campaigns — ‘Blessings Baskets’, ‘Zabeel Iftar’, ‘Surplus of Good’, and the ‘Ne’ma Community Fridges’ — were launched to deliver seven million meals, strengthen community engagement, and raise awareness about the importance of resource conservation during Ramadan and throughout the year.