No one goes hungry in Dubai: How Sheikh Mohammed's ‘Bread for All’ initiative ensures everyone gets a fresh meal

Dubai: Across five key locations in Dubai, smart vending machines are helping ensure that anyone who needs food can receive it – quietly, easily and with dignity.

The ‘Bread for All’ initiative, which was launched in Dubai in 2022, ensures low-income workers, delivery riders and others in need can collect hot, freshly baked bread or meals free of charge.

While the initiative initially focused on providing bread to UAE residents, it expanded last year to include freshly prepared meals, including biryani and cheese pizza.

The programme is run by the Mohammed bin Rashid Global Centre for Endowment Consultancy (MBRGCEC), which is affiliated with Dubai’s Endowments and Minors’ Trust Foundation (Awqaf Dubai).

MBRGCEC is a dedicated Waqf by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, tasked with encouraging and enabling endowments that are established to fulfill the social needs of people and serve humanity.

Speaking to Emirates 24|7, Zainab Al Tamimi, Director of MBRGCEC, said the initiative was designed to provide food in a dignified and sustainable way through the concept of endowment, or waqf.

“The initiative primarily supports low-income individuals and workers by ensuring easy access to fresh food, while giving the community a meaningful way to contribute through sustainable giving,” she said.

Since its launch, the initiative has provided thousands of loaves of bread and freshly prepared meals to workers and low-income individuals throughout the year.

“The response has been extremely encouraging. We have received strong support from donors, partners and volunteers, and the community has embraced the initiative because it provides assistance in a dignified, accessible and sustainable way,” Zainab said.

“More importantly, it has simplified charitable giving and ensured that support reaches beneficiaries with dignity,” she added.

A taxi driver who visited the Bread for All machine at the Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque spoke to Emirates 24|7 about how the initiative is extremely popular among workers.

"It is very helpful for us. I am usually driving around, so when I am in the area, I stop over to get the chicken biryani," he said.

The machines that are currently placed in five different locations across Dubai provide bread and meals free of charge to anyone looking for food. It simply requires a Dubai resident to insert his or her Emirates ID card and select the meal they prefer.

According to Zainab, the machines are monitored and replenished regularly throughout the day, with Arabic bread or khubz remaining the most frequently requested item, followed by ready-to-eat meals.

“We work with trusted suppliers and specialised food partners who prepare and deliver fresh products that comply with Dubai Municipality's food quality and safety standards. The food is prepared by our partners, transported under strict food safety procedures, and stocked in the smart vending machines,” she said.

The machines are equipped with temperature control systems and are inspected and restocked regularly to ensure that bread and meals remain fresh, safe, and ready to serve.

The five machines are located at the following mosques across Dubai:

1. Al Mutaqin Mosque

14th Street, Al Qusais Industrial Area 3

2. Bin Salmeen Mosque

11th Street, Al Twar 5

3. Al Shaheed Hassan Abdulla Billal Ismail Mosque (Also known as Nad Al Qusais Mosque)

36th Street, Al Twar 1

4. Al Farooq Omar Bin Al Khattab Mosque

6D Street, Al Safa 1

5. Ibrahim Lootah Mosque

34B Street, Al Muhaisnah 3

If you would also like to support the community initiative, you can donate through the official Bread for All website - https://mbrgcec.ae/en/bread-for-all.

Scroll down to the contribution section and select one of the following payment methods:

1. Smart donation

Select ‘Smart Donation’, choose Bread for All as the project and enter the amount you wish to contribute. Payment can be made electronically using the available card or digital-wallet options.

2. Bank transfer

Select ‘Bank Transfer’ to view the initiative’s banking details. You can then transfer your donation through your bank’s mobile application or at a branch.

The official website currently lists the following details:

3. Donate by SMS

Etisalat by e& and du customers can donate by sending an SMS to the number corresponding to their chosen amount:

For prepaid customers, the donation is deducted from the available balance. For postpaid customers, it is added to the monthly bill.

With the success of the initiative, MBRGCEC now plans to expand it further.

“Looking ahead, we plan to expand to more locations across Dubai, introduce additional meal options, strengthen partnerships and reach even more beneficiaries,” Zainab said.