Ne’ma, the UAE’s national food loss and waste initiative, is distributing Family Iftar Boxes to more than 10,000 low-income families this Ramadan. The boxes contain surplus fresh produce and non-perishable items sourced from major suppliers.
The drive runs under ne’ma’s expanded ‘Valuing Our Roots’ campaign, which covers Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Al Ain, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. Volunteers, including corporate teams and families, are packing and distributing the boxes at seven central hubs. These include Expo City Dubai and Al Moatasem School in Abu Dhabi.
Organisers are targeting a recovery of more than 300,000 tonnes of food across the supply chain, which would represent a 50 per cent increase in recovered food surplus compared to 2025.
Partners in the campaign include the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), the Khalifa Foundation, Majid Al Futtaim Group, and more than 20 food retailers and distributors.
Khuloud Hassan Al Nuwais, Chief Sustainability Officer of Emirates Foundation and ne’ma’s Committee Secretary General, said the campaign “reminds us that food security is the foundation of a thriving society. We are redirecting surplus food to protect resources, honour our heritage, and ensure that safe, nutritious produce and non-perishables reach deserving families across the Emirates.”
Humaid Al Rumaithi, CEO of Food Security at Silal, said the aim is to “strengthen surplus management systems, improve redistribution channels, and advance responsible food practices across the value chain.”
Ne’ma is working towards the targets set out in the UAE Food Security Strategy 2051, including the country’s commitment to halve food loss by 2030.
