13,000 Iftar Meals Distributed to Empower Emirati Families This Ramadan.
DUBAI: Demonstrating its ongoing commitment to social solidarity, the Community Development Authority (CDA) in Dubai, in partnership with the Dubai Charity Association, recently concluded the ‘Khair Dubai Be Ahlaha’ (Goodness of Dubai by its People) initiative during the Holy Month of Ramadan.
The program, held in the Muhaisnah area, distributed Iftar meals to community members while actively engaging Emirati home-based entrepreneurs in preparing and providing the meals. This not only supported the community but also contributed to the economic empowerment of these entrepreneurs by supplementing their incomes.
Inspired by the vision of “from the people of Dubai… to Dubai,” the initiative reflects the CDA’s approach of combining direct community support with sustainable economic empowerment.
Community Partnership
The initiative highlights the role of the community as a partner in charitable efforts, fostering cooperation between individuals and institutions, strengthening community cohesion, and embodying the UAE’s core values of brotherhood and solidarity.
This initiative creates new opportunities for Emirati families to actively contribute to serving their community.
Ali Alqassim, Director of the Financial Benefits and Empowerment Department at the CDA, highlighted that the “Khair Dubai Be Ahlaha” program is part of Dubai’s broader range of empowerment initiatives.
These efforts aim to move families from the circle of support to the circle of production and economic sustainability, ensuring that the spirit of giving in the UAE benefits both fasting individuals and enterprising Emirati families.
Home-Based Entrepreneurship
Ali Alqassim explained that the initiative seeks to strengthen economic empowerment and provide seasonal income opportunities that can evolve into sustainable projects.
The program also promotes a culture of home-based entrepreneurship, positioning families as active contributors to the local economy.
“We are developing a comprehensive pathway for productive families within our empowerment plans, with this initiative serving as the starting point for a sustainable empowerment journey,” Alqassim said. “This includes project evaluation, capacity building, brand development, and market access, with the ultimate goal of transforming seasonal home production into stable projects with a clear identity and genuine growth potential.”
For his part, Obaid Alshuweihi, Head of the Financial Empowerment Section, noted that six families operating culinary enterprises benefited from the initiative this year, receiving a total support package of Dh260,000.
13,000 Iftar Meals
He explained that around 13,000 Iftar meals were prepared and distributed throughout Ramadan, with each family contributing an average of 70 meals daily as part of the initiative.
Alshuweihi highlighted that the CDA provides a comprehensive support package, including training on food safety and quality, logistical and organisational assistance, connections to supply chains, and monitoring and performance evaluation. The goal is to help families transform this seasonal activity into a scalable and sustainable enterprise.
Regarding the dual impact of the initiative, he emphasized that it not only provides economic support to families but also helps build practical skills in management and marketing, enhancing their capacity for long-term empowerment.
Socially, the initiative provides Iftar meals for fasting residents, reinforcing the values of giving and solidarity, elevating the families’ roles as active contributors to society, and instilling a culture of work in their children.
This approach aligns with Dubai’s focus on family stability through empowerment and financial independence.
The initiative also saw strong engagement from home-based entrepreneurs, who expressed pride and honour in contributing to humanitarian and community efforts.
The participating families noted that their involvement represents both a meaningful blessing and a genuine opportunity to earn rewards while fostering the spirit of solidarity.
The families participating in the initiative prepared a diverse menu, featuring traditional Emirati main dishes, Ramadan specialties, as well as hot and cold desserts, all in accordance with the standards outlined by their home business licences.
They noted that the initiative positively impacted their income during Ramadan, helping ease financial pressures and enhance household stability.
The CDA provided both moral and material support, along with guidance on organisational procedures, distribution mechanisms, and food safety regulations.
Despite challenges such as time constraints and ensuring the timely distribution of meals before the Maghrib call to prayer while maintaining quality and safety, the families successfully managed these hurdles through careful planning and well-organised task allocation.
The families participating in the initiative prepared a diverse menu, featuring traditional Emirati main dishes, Ramadan specialties, as well as hot and cold desserts, all in accordance with the standards outlined by their home business licences.
They noted that the initiative positively impacted their income during Ramadan, helping ease financial pressures and enhance household stability.
The CDA provided both moral and material support, along with guidance on organisational procedures, distribution mechanisms, and food safety regulations.
Despite challenges such as time constraints and ensuring the timely distribution of meals before the Maghrib call to prayer while maintaining quality and safety, the families successfully managed these hurdles through careful planning and well-organised task allocation.
