UAE's Ramadan food drive passes Dh1 billion mark

The One Billion Meals Endowment aims to deliver long-term support to people in need across the globe

Volunteers distribute boxes of produce

The UAE's Ramadan food drive has raised more than Dh1 billion to help tackle global hunger.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced on Tuesday that Dh1.075bn has been donated by more than 180,000 individuals, businesses and institutions during the holy month.

The One Billion Meals Endowment — launched by Sheikh Mohammed on the eve of Ramadan — aims to provide a long-term, sustainable framework to help those in need.

The UAE has called on members of the public to pledge their support for the humanitarian mission.

Sheikh Mohammed himself has pledged Dh250m to the initiative, helping to push the total beyond the milestone Dh1bn mark.

“Ramadan is a special time in the UAE thanks to the acts of kindness it encourages, to the people of this nation and to the noble values instilled in us by the late Sheikh Zayed," said Sheikh Mohammed, in comments carried by state news agency Wam.

"The UAE stands strong because of its charity efforts, and because of the prayers of millions of people who benefit from them.

“Endowments is a great tradition that we aim to continue, to ensure the sustainability of giving and generosity. The endowment will always be open to contributions as we encourage more people to be part of this food aid initiative. And we give our thanks to everyone who contributed to the largest ongoing charity in the UAE.”

Significant funds were also raised through charitable number plate auctions held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

One generous bidder paid a world record Dh55m to secure the exclusive number 7 number plate during the Dubai auction, which raised nearly Dh100m for the initiative.

How does the UAE's food drive work?

Instead of the donations being spent directly on food parcels, the money will be placed into endowment funds from which financial returns will be spent on helping to feed the needy.

• 

  Dubai number plate 7 sold for 55 million dirhams. All photos: Pawan Singh / The National

• 

  The charity auction was held in aid of the One Billion Meals Endowment campaign

• 

  The winner of the Dubai 7 number plate at the charity auction

• 

  The event was held at the Four Seasons Resort Dubai

• 

  Exclusive mobile numbers also went under the hammer

• 

  The bidding was tense

• 

  Special Dubai number plates were sold

• 

  Exclusive mobile numbers were also auctioned

• 

  Dubai number plate Q 22222 sold for 975,000 dirhams

• 

  An exclusive mobile number sold for 140,000 dirhams

• 

  The charity event attracted many bidders

• 

  Another mobile number sold for 125,000 dirhams

• 

  An exclusive mobile number sold for 2.3 million dirhams

The aim is to ensure the principal sum grows steadily, allowing vital aid to be delivered for years to come.

"As the holy month is coming to an end our 'One Billion Meals Endowment' campaign has managed to make more than one billion and seventy-five million dirhams, in which more than 180 thousand people participated," Sheikh Mohammed wrote on Twitter.

"We thank and appreciate all those who contributed to this ongoing charity for the people of the Emirates… with its beauty of goodness and values."

Previous campaigns include the 10 Million Meals in Ramadan 2020, followed in 2021 by the 100 Million Meals campaign, which was the largest regional food support campaign, spanning 20 countries in the Arab region, Africa and Asia.

Last year’s One Billion Meals campaign was the largest of its kind regionally, providing meals in 50 countries.