Volunteers help feed 10,000 labourers iftar meals in Dubai

More than 2,500 chickens and 4,000 kg of rice are used to feed construction workers

Workers say a prayer before breaking their fast at an event organised by Berkeley Assets, in co-ordination with Dubai Police, to feed 10,000 labourers in Al Muhaisnah, Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National

Boxes of iftar meals are offloaded from a truck to feed the 10,000 workers. Ruel Pableo for The National

Volunteers pass down boxes of iftar meals ahead of sunset. Ruel Pableo for The National

Volunteers set out boxes of iftar meals ahead of sunset. Ruel Pableo for The National

Volunteers hand out boxes of iftar meals to waiting workers. Ruel Pableo for The National

Workers take their seats ahead of breaking their fast at sunset. Ruel Pableo for The National

Workers waiting for the sun to set before breaking their fast. Ruel Pableo for The National

Workers pray before breaking their fast with chicken biryani in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National

A volunteer mixes a pot of biryani before ladling out trays of food to be served to the workers. Ruel Pableo for The National

A volunteer arranges plates of biryani to be served to the workers. More than 2,500 chickens and 4,000kg of rice were used to feed 10,000 labourers. Ruel Pableo for The National

Workers break their fast with meals donated by Berkeley Assets and handed out by volunteers. Ruel Pableo for The National

Workers break their fast with meals donated by Berkeley Assets and handed out by volunteers. Ruel Pableo for The National

Workers take their seats ahead of breaking their fast at sunset. Ruel Pableo for The National

DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Workers breaking their fast. Dubai Police join hands with Berkeley Assets to serve up Iftar dinner to mark Laylatul Qadr for 10,000 labourers with seating for 5,000 and another 5,000 laborers will go home with meal boxes in Al Muhaisnah, Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National

Workers break their fast on chicken biryani at a mass iftar in Dubai. Ruel Pableo for The National

Dubai Police close off a street to make way for 10,000 workers to break their fast in a mass iftar. Ruel Pableo for The National

A street in Dubai was closed to traffic on Friday to make way for 10,000 labourers who were served free iftar meals.

Private-equity firm, Berkley Assets served up the food to mark the holy night of Laylat Al Qadr - believed to be the night the Quran was revealed to Prophet Mohammed.

Officers from Al Qusais Police station closed down the street in the Sonapur labour accommodation on Friday, before volunteers handed out boxes of food.

More than 2,500 chickens and 4,000 kg of rice were used to feed the construction workers. Some 5,000 were fed on site, while the remaining 5,000 were given boxes of food to take home.

“I’m so proud of my team and everyone else who turned out to deliver the food on this special day,” said Omar Jackson, partner at Berkeley Assets.

“We’re indebted to Dubai Police who gave us fantastic support to make it happen.”

Among those in attendance was UN Goodwill Ambassador Roy Fernandes.

“This was a wonderful initiative by Omar and his team,” he said.

“They have got Dubai Police and so many others involved and everybody worked together to make sure that such a large number of people got fed.”