On a quiet Ramadan evening just before sunset, groups of workers are seated on rows of plastic sheets laid out across Dubai’s Zabeel Park as volunteers distribute steaming hot biryani.
“Our blessings go to the people who made this, a thousand dua [blessings] for them,” said Ahmed Hussain, a Bangladeshi car wash worker who takes on part-time delivery jobs at night.
The iftar meals are part of the UAE Food Bank's "One thousand meals” cooking programme, for which chefs cook rice, chicken strips and vegetables in enormous vats in the park and in Hatta every day during the holy month, as part of its goal to provide five million meals to those in need.
It is just one example of a wide-ranging initiative that brings together volunteers, chefs, hotels, farms, supermarkets, companies and charities.
In the summer when I’m very tired and hungry, this food is a blessing
Alam,
delivery rider from Pakistan
The organisations are part of a vast network set up and managed by the Food Bank that distributed 18 million meals last year and 70 million meals in the UAE and overseas since it was launched in 2017.
Volunteers collect surplus food such as vegetables, rice and meat that would otherwise be thrown away and work with charities to turn them into cooked meals.
These meals and food kits containing cooking oil, rice, lentils, dates and canned food are distributed around the year in workers’ accommodations.
Money saved will support families back home
When The National visited during iftar, men and women stood in a long line that snaked across the park’s green grass to receive boxes packed with biryani, laban, water and dates.
“Sometimes my salary is not enough, sometimes food is not enough. I must send money home for my wife and children when I get jobs,” said Ishan Khan, a gardener from Pakistan.
“In some places like Sonapur, they give food every day. When I don’t make money, this helps me.”
He was referring to similar queues that form in workers’ housing units in the Dubai districts of Muhaisnah, Sonapur and Al Quoz where food packets are distributed.
In the nearby workers’ building complex in Muhaisnah, some men and women waiting to receive hot rice, chicken and vegetables said the meals were their lifeline.
Several of the men have part-time jobs and some said they were in between jobs.
Others said they didn’t depend on the meals but that they helped them save money that would go to their families back home.
The workers usually earn between Dh1,000 and Dh2,500 and send home more than half of their earnings to provide for their family, pay for their children’s education and to settle loans.
“In the summer when I’m very tired and hungry, this food is a blessing,” said Alam, a delivery rider from Pakistan.
“We come here so our family lives well. We earn for our family. This country and these people will get our dua (blessings).”
The campaign to feed the needy steps up during Ramadan with the aim of saving excess food from being thrown away.
The UAE Food Bank saved more than 908,145kg of food from landfill during Ramadan last year.
This year during Ramadan, Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum, the wife of the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, launched the campaign to provide five million meals to those in need.
Last year, more than five million meals were provided during Ramadan, far exceeding the bank's target of three million.
All year round
The bank works with charity groups to collect and preserve leftover food from more than 350 hotels and companies.
The programme is a key part of efforts to reduce food waste by 30 per cent by 2027.
“We deal with charities because they know which people need help, we send the food directly to the labour camps,” Manal Bin Yaroof, head of the executive team of the UAE Food Bank, told The National.
“We know that, unfortunately, waste increases during Ramadan and that’s why we focus our initiatives at this time.
“But it’s not only during Ramadan, food is given to labourers on a daily basis.”
About 40 per cent of food is wasted in the UAE, costing Dh6 billion each year, according to a survey released last year during Cop28 by the National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, Ne’ma, and the Behavioural Science Group.
The UAE Food Bank is also working with farms and recycling groups to turn waste scraps into compost that is distributed to farmers.
It runs awareness programmes in government departments, companies and schools to spread the word not to waste food.
The work has made an impact on the lives of senior officials, who share the message with friends and family.
“On a personal level it changed my lifestyle,” Ms Bin Yaroof said.
“It changed my behaviour towards food. We need to reduce food waste as families when we buy food.
“I tell people and make sure that my family buys an amount that is suitable for us.”
The non-profit charitable organisation is the first food bank in the county and was launched by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.
The Dubai Municipality oversees safety, with regular monitoring of the food during transport, storage and distribution.
The bank also works with the Emirates Red Crescent and has delivered food to earthquake survivors in Syria and Turkey.
There are six food banks in the UAE where supplies are collected and distributed, in Dubai’s Al Quoz, Muhaisnah and Jebel and in Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman and Umm Al Quwain.
“We don’t take cooked meals from homes but deal with big restaurants and hotels who have a large quantity that can be reused,” Ms Bin Yaroof said.
“We partner with charities so meals and donated food on a daily basis goes to labour camps and also to the fridges.”
Stocking fridges
The food bank has set up hundreds of fridges across the country which companies and residents can stock with food for the needy.
Outside the Lulu Village supermarket in Muhaisnah, a fridge is stocked daily by the store with bread, fruit, dates, water and yoghurt.
Customers often add items to the shelves on their way out.
Mohammad, a restaurant worker from Egypt, particularly needed the food when he was between jobs.
“Life is expensive here but I get jobs and when I work I have enough to eat,” he said.
“I usually take fruit and laban from the fridge – that is too costly for me to buy. I have a wife and young children at home and my money must go to them.”
Maintenance workers set aside ladders and pails of paint to stop by the fridge to pick up water and juice.
Ahmed, a worker from India, said he did not rely on the fridge for daily food but that it supported him after a long shift.
“We are labourers and sometimes we have no money when we are hungry, this helps to feed us,” he said.
“My life has gone in feeding my family, for my children’s studies and when someone falls ill. This gives me food and juice I can’t afford.”
Companies have come to the table keen to be part of the project.
More than seven tonnes of potatoes, tomatoes, onions and capsicum from the David and Goliath farms in Ajman was donated towards the meals this year.
“I plan to do this every year – give vegetables and greens to those in need,” said Lal Bhatia, the farm’s founder, who volunteered to cook meals during Ramadan.
“When people look at Dubai and Abu Dhabi, they see the tall buildings and the best infrastructure.
“But who makes this? It’s these workers and this programme helps us focus on them.
“These are the guys who drive the engine and when we feed that engine, the UAE can only become better.”
Zayed Sustainability Prize
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Fifa%20World%20Cup%20Qatar%202022%20
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFirst%20match%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ENovember%2020%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%2016%20round%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%203%20to%206%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EQuarter-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%209%20and%2010%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3ESemi-finals%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2013%20and%2014%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFinal%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDecember%2018%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The five pillars of Islam
The biog
Alwyn Stephen says much of his success is a result of taking an educated chance on business decisions.
His advice to anyone starting out in business is to have no fear as life is about taking on challenges.
“If you have the ambition and dream of something, follow that dream, be positive, determined and set goals.
"Nothing and no-one can stop you from succeeding with the right work application, and a little bit of luck along the way.”
Mr Stephen sells his luxury fragrances at selected perfumeries around the UAE, including the House of Niche Boutique in Al Seef.
He relaxes by spending time with his family at home, and enjoying his wife’s India cooking.
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
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The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on
Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins
Read part one: how cars came to the UAE
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Farage on Muslim Brotherhood
Nigel Farage told Reform's annual conference that the party will proscribe the Muslim Brotherhood if he becomes Prime Minister.
"We will stop dangerous organisations with links to terrorism operating in our country," he said. "Quite why we've been so gutless about this – both Labour and Conservative – I don't know.
“All across the Middle East, countries have banned and proscribed the Muslim Brotherhood as a dangerous organisation. We will do the very same.”
It is 10 years since a ground-breaking report into the Muslim Brotherhood by Sir John Jenkins.
Among the former diplomat's findings was an assessment that “the use of extreme violence in the pursuit of the perfect Islamic society” has “never been institutionally disowned” by the movement.
The prime minister at the time, David Cameron, who commissioned the report, said membership or association with the Muslim Brotherhood was a "possible indicator of extremism" but it would not be banned.
What is a calorie?
A food calorie, or kilocalorie, is a measure of nutritional energy generated from what is consumed.
One calorie, is the amount of heat needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water by 1°C.
A kilocalorie represents a 1,000 true calories of energy.
Energy density figures are often quoted as calories per serving, with one gram of fat in food containing nine calories, and a gram of protein or carbohydrate providing about four.
Alcohol contains about seven calories a gram.
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Brief scoreline:
Al Wahda 2
Al Menhali 27', Tagliabue 79'
Al Nassr 3
Hamdallah 41', Giuliano 45 1', 62'
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 4 (Gundogan 8' (P), Bernardo Silva 19', Jesus 72', 75')
Fulham 0
Red cards: Tim Ream (Fulham)
Man of the Match: Gabriel Jesus (Manchester City)
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
COMPANY%20PROFILE
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESupy%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E2021%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDani%20El-Zein%2C%20Yazeed%20bin%20Busayyis%2C%20Ibrahim%20Bou%20Ncoula%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EDubai%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EFood%20and%20beverage%2C%20tech%2C%20hospitality%20software%2C%20Saas%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%20size%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBootstrapped%20for%20six%20months%3B%20pre-seed%20round%20of%20%241.5%20million%3B%20seed%20round%20of%20%248%20million%0D%3Cbr%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EBeco%20Capital%2C%20Cotu%20Ventures%2C%20Valia%20Ventures%20and%20Global%20Ventures%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
Avatar%20(2009)
%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EDirector%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3EJames%20Cameron%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStars%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3ESam%20Worthington%2C%20Zoe%20Saldana%2C%20Sigourney%20Weaver%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ERating%3A%20%3C%2Fstrong%3E3%2F5%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
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%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3ECompany%20name%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Klipit%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EStarted%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%202022%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFounders%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Venkat%20Reddy%2C%20Mohammed%20Al%20Bulooki%2C%20Bilal%20Merchant%2C%20Asif%20Ahmed%2C%20Ovais%20Merchant%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EBased%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Dubai%2C%20UAE%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EIndustry%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Digital%20receipts%2C%20finance%2C%20blockchain%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EFunding%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20%244%20million%3C%2Fp%3E%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cstrong%3EInvestors%3A%3C%2Fstrong%3E%20Privately%2Fself-funded%3C%2Fp%3E%0A
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE FIXTURES
All kick-off times 10.45pm UAE ( 4 GMT) unless stated
Tuesday
Sevilla v Maribor
Spartak Moscow v Liverpool
Manchester City v Shakhtar Donetsk
Napoli v Feyenoord
Besiktas v RB Leipzig
Monaco v Porto
Apoel Nicosia v Tottenham Hotspur
Borussia Dortmund v Real Madrid
Wednesday
Basel v Benfica
CSKA Moscow Manchester United
Paris Saint-Germain v Bayern Munich
Anderlecht v Celtic
Qarabag v Roma (8pm)
Atletico Madrid v Chelsea
Juventus v Olympiakos
Sporting Lisbon v Barcelona
Closing the loophole on sugary drinks
As The National reported last year, non-fizzy sugared drinks were not covered when the original tax was introduced in 2017. Sports drinks sold in supermarkets were found to contain, on average, 20 grams of sugar per 500ml bottle.
The non-fizzy drink AriZona Iced Tea contains 65 grams of sugar – about 16 teaspoons – per 680ml can. The average can costs about Dh6, which would rise to Dh9.
Drinks such as Starbucks Bottled Mocha Frappuccino contain 31g of sugar in 270ml, while Nescafe Mocha in a can contains 15.6g of sugar in a 240ml can.
Flavoured water, long-life fruit juice concentrates, pre-packaged sweetened coffee drinks fall under the ‘sweetened drink’ category
Not taxed:
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
BABYLON
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Director: Christian Schwochow
Starring: George MacKay, Jannis Niewohner, Jeremy Irons
Rating: 3/5
Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
War
Director: Siddharth Anand
Cast: Hrithik Roshan, Tiger Shroff, Ashutosh Rana, Vaani Kapoor
Rating: Two out of five stars
The years Ramadan fell in May
