Meals will be distributed at five mosques under the Dubai Meals of Goodness Endowment, organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy. Antonie Robertson / The National
Meals will be distributed at five mosques under the Dubai Meals of Goodness Endowment, organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy. Antonie Robertson / The National
Meals will be distributed at five mosques under the Dubai Meals of Goodness Endowment, organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy. Antonie Robertson / The National
Meals will be distributed at five mosques under the Dubai Meals of Goodness Endowment, organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy. Antonie Robertson / The National

Free meals drive to begin at Dubai mosques


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Hundreds of free meals will be served up at Dubai mosques each week under a charitable initiative expected to last for up to one year.

The Meals of Goodness Endowment – organised by the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy – will be held at five mosques across the emirate following Friday prayers.

The campaign will be launched on Friday, ahead of the upcoming Eid Al Adha celebrations in the UAE.

The meals are to be distributed to low-income workers at different mosques each week.

The centre, part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, said the aim was to provide crucial food supplies to those in most need of support to help “spread the spirit of goodwill and solidarity in the community.”

“The distribution of meals serves as a moment of connection between community members, spreading hope and happiness in the hearts of the beneficiaries,” the centre said.

“This initiative is not just about distributing meals, it is a living expression of deep humanitarian values and the spirit of solidarity that makes Dubai a connected and compassionate city.”

The meals would be given in appreciation of their work for the community.

Zainab Al Tamimi, director of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, said the number of meals distributed was likely to rise to more than 500 in the weeks ahead as additional contributions and pledges were expected towards food support for the workers.

The foundation has helped 111 million people in 105 countries and spent Dh1.8 billion ($490 million) last year, as per the group's annual report released in March.

As the largest regional group for humanitarian relief, development and community work, the projects of MBRGI cover aid, education, health schemes that reach underprivileged communities across the world.

The organisation has also played a key role in providing essential humanitarian relief to Palestinians impacted by the Israel-Gaza war.

It was announced in January that MBRGI had contributed Dh43 million in direct food aid for Gaza.

The financial assistance was set to benefit more than one million civilians in the Gaza Strip

The contribution was made in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme, state news agency Wam reported at the time.

It brought the total financial support contributed by MBRGI to the WFP to Dh320 million since 2021.

Pharaoh's curse

British aristocrat Lord Carnarvon, who funded the expedition to find the Tutankhamun tomb, died in a Cairo hotel four months after the crypt was opened.
He had been in poor health for many years after a car crash, and a mosquito bite made worse by a shaving cut led to blood poisoning and pneumonia.
Reports at the time said Lord Carnarvon suffered from “pain as the inflammation affected the nasal passages and eyes”.
Decades later, scientists contended he had died of aspergillosis after inhaling spores of the fungus aspergillus in the tomb, which can lie dormant for months. The fact several others who entered were also found dead withiin a short time led to the myth of the curse.

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It was discovered in 2004, when Russian-born Manchester scientists Andrei Geim and Kostya Novoselov were experimenting with sticky tape and graphite, the material used as lead in pencils.

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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.

Part three: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part two: how climate change drove the race for an alternative 

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

Karwaan

Producer: Ronnie Screwvala

Director: Akarsh Khurana

Starring: Irrfan Khan, Dulquer Salmaan, Mithila Palkar

Rating: 4/5

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Updated: June 14, 2024, 2:00 AM`