His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced that the “1 Billion Meals” project, launched during Ramadan 2022, has fully realized its goal. Over the past three years, the campaign has successfully distributed one billion meals in 65 countries—a landmark achievement in global food aid.
Endowment Guarantees Long-Term Effects
Designed as a permanent endowment fund, the initiative secured record-breaking support—raising more than AED 1.075 billion through community donations, major contributors, and Sheikh Mohammed’s personal contribution of AED 250 million in 2023 . A dedicated investment board now manages real estate and financial assets to ensure ongoing meal distributions—with an additional 260 million meals pledged for next year .
Partnerships Power Humanitarian Reach
The campaign’s success relied on collaboration with UN agencies such as WFP, UNHCR, FAO, UNITLIFE, plus regional NGOs and food banks. These partnerships facilitated both direct food aid and sustainable development projects, such as farming and women’s empowerment—building long-term resilience in underserved communities.
A UAE Model for Generosity and Sustainability
Reflecting the UAE’s broader humanitarian mission, the initiative illustrates how endowment-based charity—aligned with the UAE’s cultural tradition of giving—can generate lasting impact. Sheikh Mohammed thanked God and expressed gratitude for the nation’s generosity, emphasizing the UAE’s aspiration to be a “symbol and destination of goodness”
