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
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
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
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
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.
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.
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
A worker gives a food box to a lady
Food boxes being unloaded from a truck
Food boxes being unloaded from a truck
Workers packing food boxes to be delivered to the needy during Ramadan
Workers packing food boxes to be delivered to the needy during Ramadan

Government

Ramadan 2021: UAE reaches target of 100 million meals in 10 days

Donations poured in from individuals and companies since the campaign began on April 11

The National

April 23, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

The UAE officially reached its target of raising Dh100 million for the 100 Million Meals campaign in only 10 days.

Dr Abdulkader Sankari, chairman of Sankari Investment Group, and his sons donated the final Dh5 million.

The money will enable 100 million meals to be distributed to people in 30 countries, authorities said on Thursday.

A website set up for the campaign allowed the public to donate as little as Dh10 to fund 10 meals, rising to Dh500 or more.

The total was reached thanks to the generosity of 185,000 donors, which included  individuals and companies, inside and outside the UAE.

Online and SMS donations totalled Dh11m, while direct bank transfers to the campaign’s account amounted to Dh40m.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai unveiled the campaign on April 11.

"We will work with humanitarian associations, companies, businessmen and philanthropists in the UAE to send 100 million messages of goodness and love to the needy and the poor in the month of goodness," he said on Twitter.

"Distributing food is the best thing to do to bring us close to the month of fasting."

UAE humanitarian values

In collaboration with the UN’s World Food Programme, 20% of all food parcels from the 100 million meals campaign will be secured in refugee camps in Palestine, Jordan and Bangladesh.
In collaboration with the UN’s World Food Programme, 20% of all food parcels from the 100 million meals campaign will be secured in refugee camps in Palestine, Jordan and Bangladesh.

Meals will be distributed by the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, which joined up with several international and local partners in each beneficiary country to deliver the parcels, including the UN World Food Programme.

The campaign’s success reflects the inherent humanitarian values that run deep through UAE society, said Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and secretary general of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.

"The selfless desire of the people of UAE to contribute to the campaign mirrors the vision of Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid  ... to transform sustainable and systematic charity and humanitarian work into a community culture in the UAE," he said.

“Besides achieving its target, the 100 Million Meals campaign has created a nationwide social momentum that reflected the culture of philanthropy deeply rooted in the lifestyle of people in the UAE, boosting the country’s pioneering status in the field of humanitarian work."

Every Dh1 donated helps to provide one meal in countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America.

Poor families, refugees, orphans and widows in Jordan, Egypt and Pakistan have already started receiving ingredients that will help them prepare meals throughout the holy month.

In collaboration with the UN’s World Food Programme, 20 per cent of all food parcels will be secured in refugee camps in Palestine, Jordan and Bangladesh.

100 Million Meals Art Auction

More funds are expected to be raised at a live, in-person charity auction at the Mandarin Oriental Jumeira in Dubai on April 24.

Rare artworks by Pablo Picasso, Henri Matisse, Nelson Mandela and Salvador Dali will be sold, along with a piece of a Kaaba cover, embroidered in gold and silver, donated by Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid.

Actor Will Smith will also reveal a collaborative painting with Dubai-based British artist Sacha Jafri.

Simultaneously, there will be a silent auction of items including signed jerseys from sporting heroes, and extraordinary experiences, held from April 20 to 30.

The auctions are organised by Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.

How to donate

Every Dh1 donated to the 100 Million Meals campaign helps to provide one meal in countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Courtesy, Abu Dhabi Media Office
Every Dh1 donated to the 100 Million Meals campaign helps to provide one meal in countries across the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Europe and South America. Courtesy, Abu Dhabi Media Office

UAE residents and citizens can still donate to the 100 Million Meals campaign in four simple ways.

1. On the campaign's website

2. By making a transfer to the designated bank account through Dubai Islamic Bank (AE08 0240 0015 2097 7815 201)

3. Sending “Meal” to one of the following numbers:

1034 for a Dh10 contribution

1035 for a Dh50 contribution

1036 for a Dh100 contribution

1037 for a Dh300 contribution

1038 for a Dh500 contribution

4. By contacting the campaign call centre on the toll-free number 800 4999.

Specs

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UAE fixtures:
Men
Saturday, September 16 – 1.45pm, v New Zealand
Sunday, September 17 – 10.30am, v Australia; 3.45pm, v South Africa
Monday, September 18 – 2pm, v England; 7.15pm, v India
Tuesday, September 19 – 12.15pm, v Singapore; 5.30pm, v Sri Lanka
Thursday, September 21 – 2pm v Malaysia
Friday, September 22 – 3.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 3pm, grand final

Women
Saturday, September 16 – 5.15pm, v Australia
Sunday, September 17 – 2pm, v South Africa; 7.15pm, v New Zealand
Monday, September 18 – 5.30pm, v England
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Thursday, September 21 – 12.15pm, v Australia
Friday, September 22 – 1.30pm, semi-final
Saturday, September 23 – 1pm, grand final

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Engine 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo, AWD
Power 249hp at 5,500rpm
Torque 365Nm at 1,300-4,500rpm
Gearbox Nine-speed auto
Fuel economy, combined 7.9L/100km

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Conflict, drought, famine

Estimates of the number of deaths caused by the famine range from 400,000 to 1 million, according to a document prepared for the UK House of Lords in 2024.
It has been claimed that the policies of the Ethiopian government, which took control after deposing Emperor Haile Selassie in a military-led revolution in 1974, contributed to the scale of the famine.
Dr Miriam Bradley, senior lecturer in humanitarian studies at the University of Manchester, has argued that, by the early 1980s, “several government policies combined to cause, rather than prevent, a famine which lasted from 1983 to 1985. Mengistu’s government imposed Stalinist-model agricultural policies involving forced collectivisation and villagisation [relocation of communities into planned villages].
The West became aware of the catastrophe through a series of BBC News reports by journalist Michael Buerk in October 1984 describing a “biblical famine” and containing graphic images of thousands of people, including children, facing starvation.

Band Aid

Bob Geldof, singer with the Irish rock group The Boomtown Rats, formed Band Aid in response to the horrific images shown in the news broadcasts.
With Midge Ure of the band Ultravox, he wrote the hit charity single Do They Know it’s Christmas in December 1984, featuring a string of high-profile musicians.
Following the single’s success, the idea to stage a rock concert evolved.
Live Aid was a series of simultaneous concerts that took place at Wembley Stadium in London, John F Kennedy Stadium in Philadelphia, the US, and at various other venues across the world.
The combined event was broadcast to an estimated worldwide audience of 1.5 billion.

Red flags
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  • Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
  • Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
  • Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.

Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching

The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre flat-six
Power: 510hp at 9,000rpm
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Fuel economy, combined: 13.8L/100km
On sale: Available to order now
Price: From Dh801,800
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

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The specs

Engine: 2-litre 4-cylinder and 3.6-litre 6-cylinder

Power: 220 and 280 horsepower

Torque: 350 and 360Nm

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Price: from Dh136,521 VAT and Dh166,464 VAT 

On sale: now

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Date started: January 2017
Founder: Khaled Zaatarah 
Based: Dubai and Los Angeles
Sector: Technology 
Size: 21 employees
Funding: $7 million 
Investors: Shorooq Partners, KBW Ventures, Vision Ventures, Hala Ventures, 500Startups, Plug and Play, Magnus Olsson, Samih Toukan, Jonathan Labin

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