Ramadan 2023: UAE exceeds '1 Billion Meals' target in less than a month; Sheikh Mohammed thanks donors

The UAE has exceeded its ambitious target of establishing the largest Ramadan sustainable food aid endowment fund. The ‘1 Billion Meals Endowment’ campaign raised more than Dh1.075 billion, announced the UAE Vice-President, who had launched the campaign just before the holy month began.

More than 180,000 people contributed to the drive, tweeted His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

“Our thanks and appreciation to all those who contributed to this charity,” he added.

Successful food aid drives

This year's '1 Billion Meals' campaign is aimed at establishing the largest Ramadan sustainable food aid endowment fund. It builds on the success of previous food aid drives, including the '10 Million Meals' in Ramadan 2020, which was the first and largest show of solidarity of its kind, supporting victims of the Covid-19 pandemic within the UAE.

The following year, in 2021, the ‘100 Million Meals’ campaign was launched. It secured around 220 million meals for vulnerable groups and individuals around the world, through massive donations from 385,000 individuals, companies, businessmen and philanthropists from 51 nationalities.

Last year’s ‘1 Billion Meals’ campaign, meanwhile, hit its target in less than one month after it was launch, thanks to the contributions of 320,868 donors, securing meals to those in need across 50 countries, including Nigeria, Sudan, Albania, Jordan, Egypt, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, India, Pakistan, Lebanon, Kyrgyzstan, Angola, Uganda, Kosovo, Tajikistan, and more.

The endowment fund campaign is implemented under the umbrella of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI).

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