Coffee shop run by special needs people a hit at World Government Summit

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

The Bee Café stole the show at the World Government Summit 2023 when Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum stopped by at its kiosk at the conference.

The Café, established in 2019, is the first café in the UAE run completely by the people of determination. The coffee shop was started with the help of Zayed Higher Organization for People of Determination.

The café is part of the Bee the Change campaign, which targets to grow the employment of people of determination, both nationally and internationally.

Bee Café staff pose for a photograph.

The café displays the UAE leadership’s dedication to integrating people of determination into all spheres of life and to make them financially independent.

The café employs Emiratis who've undergone a six-month training programme, specialising in coffee making and food, hospitality, in addition to the fundamentals of hygiene, and first aid.

They are also adept at making small talk with guests and making them feel welcome.

The Bee Café offers a huge variety of options, inclusive of cappuccinos, lattes and flat whites made by People of Determination and a variety of healthy snacks, including vegan cookies made by Ali Al Za’abi, the entrepreneur behind the "I Can Bake” project.

The Café serves as a platform to raise awareness about the contributions of the people of determination in the society.