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UAE’s Ramadan food drive: One million meals reduce waste and feed thousands

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8 months ago

March 27, 2025

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The holy month of Ramadan is all about giving, and the UAE Food Bank and the National Initiative to Reduce Food Loss and Waste, Ne’ma, have teamed up for a unique Ramadan initiative — rescuing food before it hits the bin and turning it into one million meals for those in need.

Turning Leftovers into Lifesavers

This initiative is making a huge impact during Ramadan 2025, ensuring that untouched surplus food from hotels doesn’t go to waste. Instead, it will be safely collected, packaged, and distributed to vulnerable communities across the UAE.

Community Fridges: Free Food for Those Who Need It

The UAE Food Bank and Ne’ma have also rolled out “Ne’ma Community Fridges” across Dubai, where untouched surplus food from hotels will be free and available for anyone who needs it.

These fridges will be monitored to ensure food safety, meaning good food gets to the right people safely. A simple yet powerful way to tackle food insecurity while reducing unnecessary waste.

Leaders Speak: The Future of Food Waste is Changing!

“With the UAE Food Bank, we are building a model that merges food security, sustainability, and social responsibility. The results speak for themselves,” said Khuloud Hassan Al Nowais, from Emirates Foundation

“This is more than seasonal giving—it’s a long-term mission to stop food waste and feed communities,” Manal Bin Yaroof, Head of the UAE Food Bank’s Executive Team, added.

Dubai’s hospitality sector is leading the charge, with 56 hotels already on board. Yousuf Lootah, CEO of Corporate Strategy at Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism, said: “Dubai is setting the standard for sustainable tourism and responsible consumption.”

Meanwhile, Majid Al Futtaim Properties is supporting the effort by installing three community fridges in the Mall of the Emirates. Mall Director Hussain Moosa explained: “This is about making good food accessible to those who need it while reducing unnecessary waste.”

Related Topics:foodbank foodsecurity foodwaste nema onemillionmeal Ramadan uae

Michael Gomes

With over 35 years of experience in journalism, copywriting, and PR, Michael Gomes is a seasoned media professional deeply rooted in the UAE’s print and digital landscape.

News

Dubai-India travel: Security procedures triggered for Emirates flight following bomb threat email, flight lands safely

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2 days ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Authorities at Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport activated full emergency protocols on Friday after receiving a bomb threat email linked to Emirates flight EK526 travelling from Dubai (DXB) to Hyderabad (HYD).

According to GMR officials, the threat email landed in the airport’s customer support inbox around 7.30am on December 5. Despite the alert, the flight continued under strict monitoring and landed safely at 8.30am.

Once on the ground, the aircraft was immediately moved to an isolated bay. Passengers were safely deboarded, and security te

ams carried out standard bomb threat checks. Investigations are currently underway.

Emirates confirmed the incident in a statement to local media, saying authorities had alerted them to a “potential security threat” to EK526.
“All standard security procedures were implemented by the relevant local authorities with full co-operation from Emirates’ ground teams,” the airline said, adding that “the safety and well-being of passengers and crew remain the highest priority.”

Authorities say all threats are being investigated, and extra security measures remain in place at the airport.

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Driving through Abu Dhabi this week? Here are the road closures you need to know about

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2 days ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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Abu Dhabi motorists can expect some delays over the next few days, with the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) announcing a series of partial road closures across key routes in the capital. Drivers are being urged to plan, allow extra travel time, and follow diversions to avoid congestion.

Sheikh Zayed Bin Sultan Street

A major set of phased lane closures will take place near Sheikh Zayed Bridge from Tuesday, December 9 to Monday, December 22, 2025.

Three left lanes will be closed from 12am on December 9 until 10pm on December 15.
Two right lanes will then shut from 10pm on December 15 until 6am on December 22.

Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street

Another temporary closure is scheduled on Sheikha Fatima Bint Mubarak Street from 5pm on December 5 until 5am on December 8.

Authorities explained that these restrictions are part of ongoing road enhancement projects designed to improve traffic flow and safety across the city. Motorists are encouraged to use alternative routes wherever possible during the maintenance period.

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Sharjah Police give deadline to remove National Day stickers, or face fines

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2 days ago

December 5, 2025

Michael Gomes

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If your car is still sporting National Day decals, it’s time to take them off. Sharjah Police have announced that all vehicle owners must remove their UAE National Day celebration stickers by Saturday, December 6, and those who miss the deadline will face violations.

The reminder follows a crackdown during the 54th Eid Al Etihad celebrations, where authorities impounded 106 vehicles and nine motorbikes for dangerous and irresponsible behaviour on the roads.

According to Sharjah Police, the violations included:

Creating loud noise and disturbing residents
Driving recklessly and endangering others
Operating vehicles without a valid licence

Police officials urged motorists to celebrate responsibly and avoid turning festivities into safety risks.

However, there has been a shift in decorating trends this year. Many residents opted for cleaner, simpler, more elegant designs to showcase their UAE pride ahead of the long weekend, and demand for custom decals surged.

Authorities are now urging residents to ensure all celebratory stickers and decorations are removed by the set deadline to keep roads safe and avoid penalties.