Building on UAE’s legacy of giving

‘1 billion meals’ campaign achieves target well before the end of the Holy Month

Since its founding, the UAE has been a force for good. Helping those in need, wherever they are, is an intrinsic part of the nation’s values. Today, the country is one of the top donors, assisting other countries and helping underprivileged societies across the world.

The latest initiative to help the less fortunate was the successful One Billion Meals campaign, a unique and ambitious initiative launched by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, at the beginning of Ramadan.

The campaign, organised by Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), has built on the success of the last initiative, the 100 million meals, launched last year.

The 1 billion meals campaign is the largest humanitarian initiative of its kind in this part of the world. Aimed at providing essential meals to needy communities, especially women, children, refugees, the displaced and victims of natural disasters and crises in more than 50 countries.

On Wednesday, Shaikh Mohammad tweeted that the campaign had achieved its target well before the end of the holy month with generous donations, from 320,000 individuals and corporates, that achieved a record 600 million meals towards the one billion meals initiative. Through a personal donation, the Vice President provided the remaining 400 million meals.

It is his vision and humanitarian leadership though that drive these extraordinary initiatives. For decades, he led countless campaigns to assist the less fortunate societies, with almost all essential means — food, education facilities, health facilities and medical supplies, infrastructure, etc.

His humanitarian role is recognised worldwide as an essential part of the global efforts to ease poverty, especially in the developing world.

The culture of giving as a genuine UAE value; the enduring legacy of UAE’s Founding Father, the late Shaikh Zayed Bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the founding fathers. Shaikh Mohammad’s initiative is an embodiment of this legacy. As Shaikh Zayed said: “We believe there is no true benefit of the wealth that we have unless it reaches those in need, wherever they may be, and regardless of their nationality or beliefs.”