Mohammed bin Rashid: Through 100 Million Meals, UAE Has Sent 216 Million Messages of Goodness, Peace, and Solidarity to 30 Countries

This announcement comes after the conclusion of the “100 Million Meals” campaign – the region’s largest initiative to provide food support in 30 countries across the Arab world, Africa, Asia, Europe, and South America during the holy month of Ramadan – which has achieved unprecedented success by exceeding its initial target and reaching a total of 216 million meals.

Campaign Exceeds Targets to 216 Million Meals

• Largest Food Aid Campaign: The “100 Million Meals” campaign surpasses expectations by achieving 216 million meals.
• Mohammed bin Rashid: The remarkable community engagement proves that the UAE was, is, and will remain a global hub for charity and humanitarian solidarity.
• Mohammed bin Rashid: The record-breaking figures for the “100 Million Meals” campaign confirm that organized, systematic, and sustainable philanthropy has become ingrained in UAE culture.
• Mohammed bin Rashid: The ambitious goals of the “100 Million Meals” campaign were designed to match the scale of the difficult living conditions facing our brothers and sisters around the world due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Mohammed bin Rashid: The campaign’s biggest success is proving that the scope for charitable and humanitarian work in UAE society is boundless.
• The campaign manages to reach 216 million meals through digital donation platforms, contributions from the private sector, and charity auctions.
• Digital Channels (website, Dubai Pay, SMS) contributed 20 million meals.
• Private Sector Contributions accounted for 70 million meals.
• 385,000 donors from 51 countries took part.
• The “Most Noble Numbers” charity auction recorded the sale of the second most expensive number in the world at a public charity auction, providing 38 million meals to the campaign.
• 12 food banks and 9 charitable organizations helped distribute food parcels and purchase coupons across 30 countries.
• A partnership with the United Nations World Food Programme oversaw the distribution of 20% of food parcels in Palestine and in refugee and displacement camps in Jordan and Bangladesh.
• The largest campaign of its kind covers 30 countries in 4 continents, including Sudan, Lebanon, Jordan, Pakistan, Angola, Uganda, and Egypt.
• Distribution of food parcels and purchase vouchers to targeted groups in the 30 countries covered by the campaign will continue for the next three months.
• Media coverage of the campaign exceeded 136 million views, and campaign videos were viewed 350 million times. Over 4,000 media pieces covered developments and highlighted the campaign’s humanitarian goals.
• Mohammed Al Gergawi: “The level of community and institutional engagement with the humanitarian and relief initiatives launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum is a direct reflection of his forward-looking vision for institutionalizing charitable and humanitarian work.”
• Mohammed Al Gergawi: “The harmony among campaign partners and their team spirit was behind the campaign’s record success, surpassing all objectives.”

UAE Sends 216 Million Messages of Hope

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said that the broad community involvement and remarkable donations from citizens, residents, and benefactors, both individuals and institutions, in this large-scale humanitarian and relief campaign confirm that the UAE was, is, and will remain a global hub of charity and goodness.

He added that the record numbers achieved by the “100 Million Meals” campaign, thanks to the solidarity of UAE society—both citizens and residents—affirm that organized, systematic, and sustainable charitable work has become deeply rooted in the UAE.

His Highness further explained that the campaign was highly ambitious in response to the difficult living conditions faced by our fellow humans in many parts of the world during the pandemic. The campaign’s most notable success is that it proved the limitless capacity for charity, humanitarian, and relief work in the UAE community.

Among the Most Generous Peoples

Before the start of Ramadan, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the “100 Million Meals” campaign, stressing that providing food in the holy month is one of the best acts of goodwill the generous people of the UAE can give to their brothers and sisters in humanity. The pandemic has imposed very challenging living conditions on many nations, and this campaign is part of the UAE’s tradition of being among the most generous and compassionate societies, reaching out to those who are suffering.

His Highness invited philanthropists, humanitarian organizations, companies, institutions, and goodhearted people to join the campaign and help send 100 million humanitarian messages under the UAE’s name during the month of giving, reaffirming the UAE’s position as a pioneer in charity work.

A Comprehensive Partnership to Support the Needy

Falling under the umbrella of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), the “100 Million Meals” campaign enables benefactors, philanthropists, and companies both inside and outside the UAE to donate food support to the needy and low-income groups in 30 countries. This is done in collaboration with the UN World Food Programme, the Regional Network of Food Banks, the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment, and various charitable and relief organizations in the 30 countries spanning four continents. Together, they ensure that food parcels reach individuals and families directly in their areas of residence or presence.

Widespread Community and Institutional Engagement

His Excellency Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Secretary-General of MBRGI, noted that the record-breaking results of the “100 Million Meals” campaign reflect the significant community and institutional engagement with the humanitarian and relief initiatives launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, consistent with his forward-looking vision for institutionalizing charitable and humanitarian work.

Al Gergawi praised the combined efforts of charitable institutions and partners in the campaign, along with contributions from companies, businesses, and individuals. He pointed out that this spirit of unity and teamwork was the driving force behind the campaign’s success in meeting—and exceeding—its goals. All participants, whether donors or logisticians, collectively formed a safety net to deliver food support to those in need across four continents.

He also commended the enthusiasm of donors—individuals and organizations—and the participants in the campaign’s charity auctions, who vied to provide assistance to the less fortunate. This community-wide engagement for the campaign exemplifies the sense of brotherhood and solidarity at the heart of the UAE’s ethos, extending support to people around the world in tackling one of the greatest humanitarian challenges: hunger. It further cements the UAE’s culture of charity and giving as a daily practice among its people.

Race to Do Good

From its very first hours, the campaign witnessed a broad response from institutions and individuals within and outside the UAE, ultimately providing 216 million meals for those in greatest need. The campaign’s official website, SMS donations, and Dubai Pay platform raised contributions equivalent to 20 million meals, while private sector donations totaled 70 million meals. In total, 385,000 donors—businesspeople, companies, institutions, and individuals from 51 countries—participated in the campaign.

Regional and International Cooperation

The campaign works with 12 food banks and 9 charitable and humanitarian institutions to distribute food support over the coming three months in the low-income and high-need communities across 30 countries. It also benefited from the “Community With Us” initiative launched by MBRGI to encourage companies, institutions, individuals, sports teams, artists, and expatriate communities to actively participate in supporting the campaign.

Fulfilling Zakat in Cash to Buy Meals

The fatwa by Dr. Ahmed bin Abdul Aziz Al Haddad, Chief Mufti and Director of the Fatwa Department at the Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department in Dubai, permitting zakat (almsgiving) to be paid in cash through the purchase of food parcels to help those in need as part of the “100 Million Meals” campaign, spurred a significant charitable and relief movement. This ruling confirmed that providing food in this way aligns with Islamic teachings. Additionally, His Excellency Shaykh Abdullah bin Bayyah, Chairman of the UAE’s Fatwa Council, called on benefactors and philanthropic individuals and organizations to support the campaign, highlighting the virtue of feeding the hungry—particularly during Ramadan.

“Most Noble Numbers” Charity Auctions

Alongside digital donation channels, MBRGI joined forces with Moby Global to organize an art charity auction on April 24, 2021. Benefactors eagerly competed to acquire rare works by renowned artists and celebrities, along with personal items once owned by global leaders such as Nelson Mandela, Picasso, Salvador Dalí, Henri Matisse, and Joan Miró.

Meanwhile, on May 1, 2021, MBRGI, in collaboration with Emirates Auction and with the support of Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and Etisalat, held the “Most Noble Numbers” charity auction for special vehicle plate numbers. This auction registered the sale of the second most expensive number in the world at a public charity auction, generating enough funds to provide 38 million meals.

During the same event, several distinguished vehicle plate numbers—most notably the single-digit AA9—and phone numbers sold, delivering upwards of 50 million meals to the “100 Million Meals” campaign.

Millions Fed Through Food Parcels

Even as the campaign gained robust support from individuals and institutions, distribution of food parcels to its targeted beneficiaries—low-income families, orphans, widows, refugees, and others in desperate need—had already begun in collaboration with global and regional partners. Furthermore, the campaign coordinates with the UN World Food Programme to distribute 20% of the food parcels to beneficiaries in Palestine and to refugee camps in Jordan and Bangladesh. Distribution of these food parcels and purchase vouchers will continue over the next three months in the 30 countries served by the campaign.

30 Countries in Four Continents

Thanks to the support of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Humanitarian and Charity Establishment and the Global Food Banking Network, the “100 Million Meals” campaign expanded its reach to 30 countries on four continents: Sudan, Somalia, Yemen, Tunisia, Jordan, Palestine, Lebanon, Egypt, Iraq, Sierra Leone, Angola, Ghana, Uganda, Kenya, Senegal, Ethiopia, Tanzania, Burundi, Benin, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Pakistan, India, Nepal, Kosovo, and Brazil.

Comprehensive Media Coverage

Media coverage for the “100 Million Meals” campaign exceeded 136.1 million views, while campaign videos garnered 350 million views. Over 4,000 media pieces—local, regional, and international—documented the campaign’s developments, objectives, and the significant involvement of various community segments and business sectors. They also spotlighted the distribution of food parcels to disadvantaged communities in the 30 beneficiary countries.

This article has been translated and is not the original content.