Ramadan 2021: UAE Food Bank aims to set world record by distributing 50,000 meals in five hours

Donations can be made through Nefsy food app

The Dar Al Ber charity prepares iftar meals at Modern Bakery in Al Quoz, Dubai. Antonie Robertson / The National

The UAE Food Bank is aiming to set a Guinness World Record by distributing 50,000 donated meals and food parcels in five hours during Ramadan.

Dubai Municipality and the Department of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai (IACAD) have joined up with Nefsy, a food app, that helps to feed underprivileged people across the world.

The campaign is being organised on the instructions of Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum, wife of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai. Sheikha Hind is chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the UAE Food Bank.

People can donate iftar meals and dry food boxes of different sizes through Nefsy.

The meals donated through the app will be distributed to beneficiaries in co-ordination with licensed charities in the Emirates and through the UAE Food Bank.

There will be checks to ensure the food is safe for consumption.

"The campaign provides an opportunity for both citizens and residents to actively partner in an initiative that upholds the UAE’s spirit of philanthropy, while also supporting the National Food Security Strategy’s goal of reducing food wastage and redistributing surplus food," Sheikha Hind said.

As part of the campaign, the UAE Food Bank will also distribute ready meals and parcels.

Dubai Municipality will oversee the collection and storage of food across its fridges in different locations of the UAE.

The meals will be distributed by IACAD officials, volunteers and a team from the UAE Food Bank.

In separate initiatives, the public can also donate food baskets containing dry foods through the Noon app.

Food baskets can also be donated through the Talabat app and on Amazon.

Careem ride-hailing app will collect food that is safe for consumption from homes and deliver it to the nearest UAE Food Bank fridge for free.

In another initiative, Old El Paso, a Mexican food brand, allows individuals to create their own recipes and upload them on a specific app. The brand will then donate a food parcel for each recipe submitted.

UAE's 100 Million Meals campaign 2021 – in pictures