1:35 am - June 27, 2026
The UAE Food Bank and DP World Foundation launch ‘Sustainable Goodness’, transforming abandoned port shipments into meals for those in need, aligning waste reduction with humanitarian efforts at Jebel Ali Port.
The UAE Food Bank, along with the DP World Foundation, has rolled out a new programme aimed at turning abandoned food shipments into meals for those in need. It’s a clever move that ties waste reduction directly to humanitarian efforts , particularly at one of the region’s busiest logistics gateways, Jebel Ali Port.
This initiative, which they’ve christened “Sustainable Goodness”, was unveiled in Dubai with collaborations from Dubai Municipality, Dubai Customs, and DP World. The overall idea is to recover food consignments that are left uncleared at the port, check if those leftovers are still safe to eat, and then redirect suitable items into the UAE Food Bank’s distribution network.
From what I understand, the scheme sets up an official process for handling shipments whose owners opt not to complete customs clearance. Instead of just discarding goods, they’ll be reviewed according to approved health and food safety standards, and if deemed safe, handed over to the food bank so they can deliver them to local communities in need. It’s kind of a neat solution, really.
The partners say this approach aims to reduce waste, ease the burden on storage and processing facilities, and make it simpler for companies to donate food they no longer want , instead of just letting it go to waste. Plus, it provides authorities with a structured way of transforming what could be a logistics issue into a positive, charitable outcome. Honestly, it’s a smart way to tackle multiple problems at once.
Latifa Al Qamzi, the director-general of the DP World Foundation, explained that this project demonstrates how combining logistics, customs, regulation, and humanitarian work can lead to real change. She described it as a practical method of cutting down waste, conserving resources, and directing food to those who need it most.
In their launch materials, she also pointed out that, “This initiative turns a logistical challenge into an opportunity that supports food security and responsible resource management.” She added that the Foundation’s broader strategy, called “Our World, Our Future”, emphasises sustainability, social impact, and community initiatives , including programmes related to food.
Dubai Municipality has committed to providing technical and regulatory support to make sure any shipments passed on to the food bank adhere to health and safety standards. Dr Naseem Mohammed Rafee, acting CEO of the Environment, Health and Safety Agency, said that the municipality would also offer guidance to ensure compliance and protect the integrity of the food supply chain.
That’s pretty important, especially since any scheme revolving around food recovery needs to be executed carefully. The success depends not just on how quick it’s done but also on having clear handling rules, proper inspections, and traceability. It’s about keeping food safe while still moving it swiftly enough to keep it useful.
Meanwhile, Dubai Customs said they’ll assist with the administrative side of things. Mansour Al Malik, the head of their Policy and Legislation Division, mentioned that they are committed to supporting the UAE’s charitable network and ensuring eligible shipments don’t get delayed in transit, reaching beneficiaries smoothly and efficiently.
On the private sector side, DP World highlighted how ports could go beyond just cargo handling by actively contributing to sustainability. Shehab Mohammed Al Jasmi, their chief commercial officer for Ports and Terminals at DP World GCC, pointed out that the programme utilises the company’s extensive network and infrastructure to redirect leftover shipments towards humanitarian goals. It’s a pretty good example of how industry can do more than just move boxes around.
The UAE Food Bank, which was launched back in 2017 as part of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives, has long been focused on reducing food surplus and getting edible food to those in need through approved charities. They also put a lot of effort into raising awareness about food waste and the importance of responsible consumption.
Manal Bin Yarouf, the head of the UAE Food Bank Foundation’s executive team, noted that this new partnership offers a solid model for preventing good food from going to waste. She added that it will boost food security, improve surplus management, and support the UAE’s wider sustainability targets.
They’re also planning awareness campaigns to promote responsible eating habits and lower food wastage, with plans to showcase the results on sustainability platforms both locally and internationally. It looks like the project could become a part of a broader effort to demonstrate practical solutions for climate and resource challenges.
This launch is very much in line with a growing trend across the UAE, where food security and logistics efficiency are starting to be seen hand-in-hand. Dubai, for instance, has been investing heavily in food infrastructure projects, like the Dubai Food District, which DP World says ties into the emirate’s economic and long-term food security plans.
For those keeping an eye on climate and sustainability issues here, it’s significant because food waste isn’t just a social concern; it impacts the environment too. Wasted food means wasted transport, storage, and all the emissions that come with food production. So, reducing losses at the port level could have multiple benefits, environmental, social, and economic.
In essence, “Sustainable Goodness” might be just a targeted initiative now, but it reflects a bigger idea that’s gaining momentum across the Gulf: that ports, customs systems, and humanitarian networks can work more closely together to cut waste and build more resilient supply chains. If all goes well, abandoned cargo at Jebel Ali could become a regular source of support for communities , instead of just an ongoing headache for businesses and authorities.
- http://www.bahrainnews.net/news/279108269/uae-food-bank-dp-world-foundation-launch-sustainable-goodness-initiative – Please view link – unable to able to access data
- https://www.godubai.com/citylife/press_release_page.asp?pr=192396 – The UAE Food Bank and the DP World Foundation have launched the ‘Sustainable Goodness’ initiative in collaboration with Dubai Municipality, Dubai Customs, and DP World. This initiative aims to reduce food waste by recovering abandoned food shipments at Jebel Ali Port and redistributing them to beneficiaries in accordance with approved health and food safety standards. The partners signed a cooperation agreement to activate the initiative, with key officials from each entity present. The initiative establishes a coordinated framework to facilitate the release of these shipments, assess their suitability for consumption, and transfer eligible products to the UAE Food Bank for redistribution through its established humanitarian network. It also simplifies release procedures and reduces associated costs and processing times for companies that voluntarily relinquish ownership of eligible food shipments and donate them to support the UAE Food Bank’s programmes and initiatives. The initiative demonstrates the power of coordinated action in advancing sustainability and strengthening humanitarian impact by bringing together key partners across the food, logistics, customs, and regulatory ecosystem to reduce food waste, preserve valuable resources, and redirect food supplies to communities that can benefit from them most. The initiative transforms a logistical challenge into a sustainable opportunity that supports food security and responsible resource management. Through collaboration with the UAE Food Bank and partners, it helps create a more efficient and impactful model for managing surplus food and supporting charitable efforts across the UAE. Dubai Municipality will provide the necessary technical and regulatory support to ensure that food shipments comply with approved health and food safety requirements before they are transferred to the UAE Food Bank. They will also provide guidance and advisory support to strengthen compliance and contribute to the sustainability, resilience, and integrity of the food system. The Sustainable Goodness initiative represents a practical step towards strengthening the role of the logistics sector in supporting sustainability and social responsibility. By leveraging operational capabilities and integrated networks, abandoned food shipments can be redirected towards humanitarian purposes with tangible social impact. This partnership demonstrates how collaboration between government entities and the private sector can reduce food waste, improve supply chain efficiency, and support the UAE’s food security and sustainable development objectives. The launch of the Sustainable Goodness initiative reflects Dubai Customs’ commitment to supporting the UAE’s charitable ecosystem and strengthening food security through practical and sustainable solutions. They remain committed to facilitating customs procedures for eligible food shipments and providing the necessary administrative support to ensure food supplies reach beneficiaries safely, efficiently, and without delay. The Sustainable Goodness initiative represents an innovative model of institutional collaboration that addresses one of the key challenges associated with food supply chains by preventing eligible abandoned food shipments from becoming waste and redirecting them towards humanitarian purposes. Through this initiative, participating entities will work together to assess, manage, and transfer suitable food shipments to the UAE Food Bank for redistribution to beneficiaries across the UAE. This contributes to strengthening food security, improving surplus food management, reducing waste, and supporting the UAE’s broader sustainability objectives. Under the agreement, the partners will also collaborate on awareness initiatives that promote responsible consumption and highlight the importance of reducing food waste. In addition, they will explore opportunities to showcase the initiative’s achievements through local and international sustainability and excellence platforms, reinforcing its contribution to sustainable development and food security.
- https://www.dm.gov.ae/foodbank/ – The UAE Food Bank is a non-profit charitable organisation launched on January 4th, 2017, under the umbrella of Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). It is committed to distributing surplus food through approved charities to people in need both locally and globally. The UAE Food Bank aims to manage food surplus and reduce food waste, distribute consumable food to the largest number of people in need inside and outside the country through its initiatives and contributions, be part of global initiatives in the fight against poverty and hunger, introduce the importance of reducing food surplus (consumer culture), and activate social responsibility and voluntary work at the UAE Food Bank. The tasks of the UAE Food Bank include signing partnerships and agreements, managing food and financial donations, and community awareness and education.
- https://foundation.dpworld.com/en/pillars – The DP World Foundation’s vision is to harness its resources, expertise, and network to create a world where every individual can lead a healthy and productive life guided by the values of the UAE. Their humanitarian efforts aim to inspire global change. The foundation’s strategy, ‘Our World, Our Future’, ensures that they operate as a responsible business, prioritising sustainability impact on people, the environment, and the communities in which they operate to achieve a better, more socially equitable, and sustainable future. The foundation focuses on empowering communities through purposeful support in health, education, and food, while also focusing on emergency relief and social responsibility. Their close collaboration with partners ensures that their efforts are fully coordinated, driving meaningful and measurable improvements.
- https://foundation.dpworld.com/en/programmes-and-initiatives/food – DP World Foundation prioritises food as a fundamental pillar, striving to eradicate hunger and ensure access to nutritious meals for communities worldwide. Their programmes focus on sustainable agriculture, food distribution, and education to foster food security and well-being.
- https://www.dpworld.ae/dubaifooddistrict/ – Dubai Food District is an ambitious project, strategically aligned with the Dubai Economic Agenda (D33). It exemplifies Dubai’s commitment to economic growth, food security, and its goal to double the Emirate’s economy by 2033, solidifying Dubai’s position as a leading global economic centre. Dubai Food District is the world’s largest integrated facility dedicated to the trade of foodstuffs, fruits, and vegetables. It’s designed to be a central hub for global food trade. Dubai Municipality and DP World are partnering to develop and manage the Logistics Hub. The expansion of the current Fruit & Vegetable market area will support Dubai’s economic agenda and create larger commercial and investment opportunities in the food sector, while ensuring National Food Security. DP World will manage, operate, and develop the market, linking it with markets globally.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The ‘Sustainable Goodness’ initiative was launched on 7 June 2026, as reported by multiple sources, including GCC Business News ([gccbusinessnews.com](https://www.gccbusinessnews.com/uae-food-bank-sustainable-goodness-dpworld/?utm_source=openai)) and ZAWYA ([tradingview.com](https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com%2C2026-06-07%3Anewsml_Zaw8vJQwG%3A0-zawya-uae-food-bank-and-dp-world-foundation-launch-sustainable-goodness-initiative/?utm_source=openai)). No earlier publications of this specific narrative were found, indicating high freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
8
Notes:
Direct quotes from key figures such as Latifa Al Qamzi, Dr. Naseem Mohammed Rafee, and Shehab Mohammed Al Jasmi are consistent across multiple sources, including GCC Business News ([gccbusinessnews.com](https://www.gccbusinessnews.com/uae-food-bank-sustainable-goodness-dpworld/?utm_source=openai)) and ZAWYA ([tradingview.com](https://www.tradingview.com/news/reuters.com%2C2026-06-07%3Anewsml_Zaw8vJQwG%3A0-zawya-uae-food-bank-and-dp-world-foundation-launch-sustainable-goodness-initiative/?utm_source=openai)). However, the absence of independent verification for these quotes raises some concerns about their authenticity.
Source reliability
Score:
7
Notes:
The primary sources, GCC Business News and ZAWYA, are reputable within their niches. However, they are not as widely recognised as major international news organisations, which slightly diminishes their reliability. Additionally, the reliance on press releases and official statements without independent verification is a concern.
Plausibility check
Score:
9
Notes:
The initiative aligns with the UAE’s ongoing efforts to reduce food waste and enhance food security. The involvement of established entities like the UAE Food Bank, DP World Foundation, Dubai Municipality, and Dubai Customs adds credibility. However, the lack of independent verification for some claims warrants caution.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): CONDITIONAL
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
While the ‘Sustainable Goodness’ initiative appears plausible and aligns with the UAE’s sustainability goals, the reliance on press releases and official statements without independent verification raises concerns about the content’s reliability. The absence of independent reporting or third-party verification diminishes the overall confidence in the narrative’s accuracy. Therefore, publishing this content is at your own editorial discretion and risk.
