ne’ma Expands Ramadan Food Rescue Drive Across UAE, Reaches 10,000 Families

The UAE’s National Food Loss and Waste Initiative, ne’ma, significantly scaled up its “Valuing Our Roots” campaign during Ramadan 2026, marking its most extensive operational and geographic expansion since launch.

In a major push toward nationwide food redistribution, the initiative operated simultaneously across Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah, and Ras Al Khaimah. The 2026 campaign successfully rescued over 300,000 tonnes of food across the value chain, targeting a 50% increase in surplus recovery compared to the previous year.

Aligned with the UAE’s Year of Family, the initiative once again focused on its Family Iftar Boxes programme. These boxes redistributed surplus fresh produce and non-perishable food items sourced from major partners such as Majid Al Futtaim Group, Silal, and Agthia Group to more than 10,000 low-income families across the Emirates.

This year also saw a shift in community engagement, as packing centres were transformed into vibrant volunteer hubs. Families, corporate teams, and members of Emirates Foundation worked side by side, promoting multi-generational volunteering and reinforcing values of unity and compassion during the holy month of Ramadan.

Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer at Emirates Foundation and Secretary General of ne’ma’s committee, highlighted that food security remains central to building resilient societies. She noted that the campaign strengthened partnerships across the supply chain while ensuring surplus food reached deserving families.

The initiative was driven by a broad coalition of partners, including the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority, Khalifa Foundation, and over 20 food retailers and distributors. Silal played a key role by contributing high-quality, imperfect produce and enhancing surplus management systems.

Meanwhile, volunteer mobilisation was supported by Takatof, which, along with ne’ma, organised more than 50 activities across seven central hubs, including Expo City Dubai and Al Moatasem School in Abu Dhabi. Thousands of volunteers participated in packing and distributing food boxes.

Officials noted that the campaign not only addressed immediate food needs but also fostered long-term awareness around responsible consumption. By engaging families and young volunteers, the initiative aims to sustain behavioural change beyond Ramadan.

Through the Valuing Our Roots campaign, ne’ma continues to advance the UAE’s sustainability goals under the UAE Food Security Strategy 2051, supporting the national commitment to halve food loss and waste by 2030 in line with global SDG 12.3 targets.