From building homes to giving food: How UAE firms help communities during Ramadan

Several UAE companies are stepping up their efforts to support communities during Ramadan. From building houses to providing free meals, organisations are pitching in to uphold the spirit of the holy month and give back to those in need.

Property developer Arada has continued its Home for a Home campaign for the third year. For every home sold at Arada’s communities during Ramadan, a home will be built for internally displaced families in Syria affected by conflict and natural disasters.

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In partnership with Sharjah charity The Big Heart Foundation (TBHF) and international NGO Human Concern International (HCI), the initiative will build a fully residential community near the city of Aleppo with crucial facilities, including a school, mosque, clinic, playground and shops.

Each home will be pre-stocked with various items, including blankets and carpets, kitchen utensils, gas oven, washing machine, wardrobe and fridge. At the same time, the school and clinic will also be provided with relevant equipment, including school bags, recreational kits, furniture, stationery, and staff clothing.

Doing their bit

Education app KITMEK Academy has opened its platform to provide free access to over 1 million children during the month of Ramadan. Students will be able to browse through lessons starting from Kindergarten to Grade 5 in several languages including English, Arabic, Spanish, German, and Russian. From foundational skills in mathematics and literacy to science exploration and creative arts, the app covers a wide spectrum of subjects

Another brand, Being Human Clothing, has teamed up with a charitable organisation to launch a clothing donation drive. Residents can donate their gently used clothes at the brand’s store in City Centre Deira. For every kilogram of clothes donated, the individual will get a Dh25 voucher that can be redeemed at any store. The collected clothes will then be sent to NGOs in India to support their work.

Local company Century Financial launched a 30 days x 30 deeds campaign. In association with entities like Red Crescent, Dubai Health and Smart Life Foundation, amongst others, the organisation has arranged a range of initiatives revolving around financial planning education, food donation, and healthcare.

From donating blood to packing iftar boxes, Century Financial employees participated in a range of activities for the month. The team will also contribute shelter and food for stray dogs throughout the year and participate in beach clean-up activities.

Some local eateries also give food to delivery riders while they work. Dodo Pizza in Dubai Marina gives riders free iftar meal boxes every day from 6 to 9pm and has distributed almost 200 boxes during the first week of Ramadan.

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