Sheikh Mohammed announces 10 million Ramadan meals; UAE’s biggest-ever community programme

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has announced the launch of a ’10 million meals campaign’ that will be implemented during the month of Ramadan expected to begin later this week.

In a statement on Twitter, Sheikh Mohammed said: “Today we directed the launch of a campaign to provide “10 million meals” during the holy month for individuals and needy families. The campaign will be under the supervision of Sheikha Hind Bint Maktoum. It is noble of those found to sponsor this humanitarian campaign in these exceptional times.”

إطعام الطعام وخاصة ونحن على أبواب الشهر الفضيل هي أولوية إنسانية ومجتمعية تفرضها ظروف أكبر أزمة يمر بها العالم من حولنا .. أزمة أظهرت معدن دولتنا الأصيل وروح الخير المتجذرة في المجتمع.. لن يمرض أحد .. ولن يحتاج أحد .. ولن يجوع أحد على أرض الإمارات دون أن يهتم به الجميع.. pic.twitter.com/DPRST6Ulz5

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) April 19, 2020

Referencing the initiative in the backdrop of the Covid-19 pandemic, he added: “Feeding food, especially when we are at the gates of the holy month, is a human and societal priority imposed by the circumstances of the biggest crisis the world is going through.”

A website 10millionmeals.ae has been launched to promote this campaign and to explain how individuals can contribute to this initiative.

.@HHShkMohd launches the nation’s biggest community campaign of its kind to provide meals or food parcels to support vulnerable individuals & families during the holy month of Ramadan. The #10MillionMeals initiative will be led by HH Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum. pic.twitter.com/wiq2uDa3Sl

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) April 19, 2020

There are multiple ways for people to donate to this campaign.

They can make an online payment on the website to donate a specific quantity of meals. These are in slabs of 10 meals (Dhs80), 25 meals (Dhs200), 50 meals (Dhs400), 100 meals (Dhs800), 150 meals (Dhs1,200) or they can specify the quantity of meals and the amount they wish to donate.

Alternatively, Etisalat and du subscribers can make SMS donations by sending an SMS with “Meals” to 1034 (to donate one meal priced at Dhs8), 1035 (to donate five meals priced at Dhs40), 1036 (to donate ten meals priced at Dhs80), 1037 (to donate 20 meals priced at Dhs160) and 1038 (to donate 50 meals priced at Dhs500)

Donors can also make bank transfers to Dubai Islamic Bank account number AE430240001580857000001.

They can even make in-kind donations to donate food supplies and parcels or any other services by contacting the campaign’s toll free number 8004006.

A mission statement on its website explains that this campaign is the UAE’s biggest community campaign ever, and has been launched under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives in collaboration with Social Solidarity Fund Against Covid-19, to provide food assistance to less fortunate families and individuals.

The campaign enables corporates, entities, humanitarian and charitable organisations, businessmen, philanthropists and the public to make financial contributions towards providing meals or donate food items and parcels to be directly distributed to families and individuals across the UAE.

The UAE Food Bank, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, and UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE) will implement the campaign in collaboration with ministries, federal and local entities and humanitarian and charitable organizations in the UAE.

These three entities, which fall under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, will operate within a comprehensive and wide-ranging distribution network to ensure an efficient food delivery mechanism across the country.