97,000 trees preserved through UAE Food Bank Ramadan meals initiative

The UAE Food Bank has announced that its Ramadan 2025 campaign, United in Giving, preserved the equivalent of 97,000 trees by diverting surplus food from landfills.

By diverting more than 917 tonnes of surplus food, the campaign prevented over 2.3 million kilograms of carbon dioxide emissions, achieving a significant environmental benefit alongside its core humanitarian goal of delivering food to those in need. The emissions reduction is equivalent to preserving the carbon absorption capacity of 97,000 trees.

Carried out under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, Supreme Chairperson of the UAE Food Bank, the campaign distributed nearly eight million meals throughout the holy month — surpassing its original target of seven million.

“This year’s results demonstrate that food relief and sustainability can go hand-in-hand,” said Manal Bin Yaroof, Head of the Executive Team at the UAE Food Bank. “Every meal saved from waste is a step toward a cleaner environment and a more compassionate society.”

The initiative supported over 700,000 families and 11,000 workers in the UAE and beyond, including the international distribution of 378,240 meals. Locally, it collaborated with the Ne’ma national initiative to deliver meals through community fridges and workplace campaigns, while also converting 335,000 kilograms of food waste into over 50,000 kilograms of organic fertiliser.

The campaign’s success was made possible by 200 public and private sector partners and more than 1,000 volunteers, reinforcing the UAE’s commitment to community-driven sustainability. The Bank also signed 12 new agreements to expand future cooperation and held 48 awareness sessions on sustainable food practices.