Emirates Islamic Bank has joined the team of sponsors of the UAE Bank Food, the pioneering initiative launched by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. The Food Bank, which is part of Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, was established with the aim of utilizing the surplus food in a correct, healthy and organized manner.
“Through the UAE Food Bank, under the directives of Her Highness Sheikha Hind bint Maktoum bin Juma Al Maktoum, wife of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees of UAE Food Bank, we place great value for feeding the needy within a sustainable institutional framework,” said Dawoud Al Hajri, Director General of Dubai Municipality and Vice Chairman of the UAE Food Bank Board of Trustees.
“Feeding food is a valuable honor, and is one of the values of the people of the UAE, and from the legacy of Zayed. Today, we seek, through the UAE Food Bank, the participation of the largest number of community organizations and volunteers in a new charity and giving system on the footsteps of the late forefathers. We endeavor to establish these values in our future generations by giving everyone the opportunity to be part of a permanent philanthropic and humanitarian movement that the UAE is experiencing to bring it to new levels as Zayed wanted and as he instilled in his people,” Al Hajri added.
“The UAE Food Bank is an integrated humanitarian system to establish the value of feeding. It includes hotels, food factories, farms, hospitality establishments, supermarkets and a huge number of volunteers. It deals professionally with surplus fresh and canned food under the supervision of the concerned authorities and distributes it inside and outside the country in cooperation with a network of local and international humanitarian and charity organizations. The Bank is partnering with major hotel chains, supermarkets, food factories and farms and will open its doors to volunteers to contribute to the distribution of food inside and outside the country,” he said.
Salah Amin, CEO of Emirates Islamic Bank said: “We believe in the importance of providing basic human needs such as food to improve the social and economic well-being of individuals and society as a whole. As part of the efforts to fight hunger and reduce food waste, we are proud of contributing to this noble cause, supporting the needy families, and spreading health and happiness in their lives through UAE Food Bank. This contribution is in line with the firm commitment of Emirates Islamic Bank to sustainable charitable and humanitarian initiatives and is in conjunction with our continuous support for the less fortunate people, both in our society and outside.”
UAE Food Bank aims to establish a culture of charity and giving in society by engaging all segments of the society in its programs, campaigns and initiatives, and promoting volunteer work for the purpose of collecting surplus food from the concerned organizations and distributing to the needy and deserving bodies and thereby reducing the cost of food that is disposed of in the UAE annually, which is estimated at Dhs13 billion, in addition to promoting the economy of “recycling” and activating other commercial and industrial activities in a manner that enshrines the concept of sustainability.