'Ice cream a luxury for us': Dubai workers get over 35,000 free snacks, drinks daily to beat the heat

Every day, more than 35,000 popsicles, juices, and water bottles are being distributed for free across Dubai, thanks to the 'Al Freej Fridge' campaign. Run by volunteers, five ice cream trucks go around neighbourhoods in morning and evening shifts.

Each truck covers 10 areas of Dubai daily and carries about 7,000 ice cream sticks, juices, water, and snacks—a welcome relief for those working outdoors, from construction workers to cab drivers and delivery riders.

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“It’s a relief to have some ice cream and slurp down cold juices in this heat,” said Salam Mustafa, a construction worker at a private firm operating in Muhaisnah.

“The Al Freej Fridge truck is a big relief to us who are working in the intense heat during the day. And the best part is, it’s absolutely free. I get to eat ice cream, juice, water, and snacks, which would cost me more than Dh5. I can have it twice a day and save about Dh10, and monthly, I can save about Dh300,” he said.

The 'Al Freej Fridge' truck, strategically parked in crowded areas, evokes a sense of nostalgia with its jingle playing over speakers. As summer temperatures soar, this initiative — which runs until August 23 — aims to help residents beat the heat while promoting the value of generosity and charity work. One million workers are expected to benefit from this two-month campaign.

'Their smiles brighten our day'

Volunteers start their work at 8am, loading their trucks with the essentials in Muhaisnah before driving to a designated area.

“Around 9am, we park and distribute ice creams, juice, and water,” said Abdullah Omar, a 19-year-old volunteer with the Al Freej Fridge Campaign.

“For the last two weeks, we have delivered over 500,000 pieces. The smiles of the beneficiaries brighten our day,” said Abdullah.

The campaign, which began two weeks ago, will continue until August 23. “We will be giving out a total of 7 million pieces,” said Abdullah.

“The cold drinks and ice cream are like a blessing,” said Nicolas, a delivery rider. “Working under the sun all day drains your energy, but this initiative keeps us hydrated and refreshed. It also saves us a lot of money that we would otherwise spend on buying drinks and snacks. I am grateful for this support.”