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

The UAE has funded more than 100 million free meals in 20 countries across the region during Ramadan. Pictured are youngsters in Egypt. All photos by Wam

Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, organiser of the campaign, has tied up with international and local partners in each of the beneficiary countries to deliver the food parcels

Cash vouchers are being given to low-income communities in Palestine and in refugee camps in Jordan and Bangladesh

Staples such as rice, oil, beans, beans and flour are included in the food parcels, which is sufficient to prepare between 240 and 300 meals throughout Ramadan

Children smile for the camera after receiving a food packet.

Low-income families, refugees, orphans and widows in Jordan, Egypt and Pakistan have started receiving food boxes.

A worker gives a food box to a lady

Food boxes being unloaded from a truck

Workers packing food boxes to be delivered to the needy during Ramadan