Dubai worries about all
Shaadaab S. Bakht
Shaadaab S. Bakht, who worked for famous Indian dailies The Telegraph, The Pioneer, The Sentinel and wrote political commentaries for Tehelka.com, is Gulf Today’s Executive Editor.
- Last updated: May 14, 2026 | 23:25
When we see a picture, which we do regularly, showing hundreds of men, hundreds of women and hundreds of children, struggling to collect food and drinking water, we really can’t draw emotional comfort from moral observations like suffering is highly chastening and deeply instructive.
In fact, we are tempted to counter the ethical observation. Suffering is plain acerbic. The fallout of which has only one shade: dark. And darkness can be answered only with light.
In other words, hungry humans need food and don’t mind losing a chance to enlighten their souls if that means food to eat and water to drink.
Therefore, I was really impressed when Dubai decided to feed the hungry across the world. It, like always, launched a clear-cut plan to feed tens of thousands. The Emirate heartwarmingly ensured that no plate should be left empty because such plates make a noise that at one point becomes unbearable.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, announced the launch of the 1 Billion Meals Dates Factory, with an annual production capacity of 150 million date-based food units.
It, like always, launched a clear-cut plan to feed tens of thousands.
The announcement was made in the presence of Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai; Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance; and Sheikh Ahmed Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
The factory’s entire output will be dedicated to supporting underprivileged communities around the world, underscoring the UAE’s relief efforts and its status as a global hub for humanitarian action.
This new project represents one of the landmark investments introduced by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), reflecting its noble mission of providing a food safety net for underserved populations in countries struggling with food security issues, while supporting and maximising the UAE’s contribution to the global fight against hunger, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
The best thing about Dubai is that it doesn’t waste time discussing a problem. It gets down to business.