Mohammed bin Rashid launches the largest endowment factory for dates in the world to support less fortunate communities
DUBAI, 24 APRIL / WAM / His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him,” in the presence of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense, Chairman of the Executive Council of the Emirate of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance, and His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy The second, by the Ruler of Dubai, announced the launch of the “Billion Meals Dates Factory”, the largest endowment factory for dates in the world, with an annual production capacity of up to 150 million food units of dates, as the factory’s entire production is allocated to helping less fortunate communities around the world, which contributes to strengthening the UAE’s relief efforts and consolidating its position as a global capital for humanitarian work.
The new project is one of the sustainable qualitative investments of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, which embodies its noble humanitarian mission of providing a food safety net for the less fortunate segments, especially in countries that are experiencing challenges in providing food security, in addition to strengthening and doubling the UAE’s effort in strengthening the global endeavor to eradicate hunger in a way that supports the achievement of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals for the year 2030, of which combating hunger is one of its most important goals.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said: “Today, thanks to God, we launched the Billion Meals Dates Factory, the largest endowment factory for dates in the world… a new humanitarian project from the Emirates to the world… a message of goodness from our country to those in need around the world… our duty is to preserve the life and dignity of people wherever they are… our commitment is firm to providing food and a decent living for the people of less fortunate communities… the Emirates only knows sustainable giving, listening to the suffering of others, and touching the needs of people.”
His Highness added: “This ambitious project will be an important addition to our humanitarian initiatives, and an expression of our society’s original values. We trust the ability of our national cadres to complete the new factory according to what we hope for in terms of production quality and operating efficiency. Our charitable projects will continue, God willing, and giving in the Emirates will remain a goal and an identity.”
The announcement of the project was attended by His Highness Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority and Supreme President and CEO of Emirates Airline and Group, His Highness Sheikh Mansour bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the UAE Olympic Committee, Her Highness Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, His Highness Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Secretary-General of the Foundation. “Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives.”
For his part, His Excellency Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi stressed that the launch of the “Billion Meals Dates Factory” embodies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in sustaining giving and taking charitable and humanitarian work to new heights, according to an institutional methodology that takes into account the implementation of specific projects in accordance with the highest international standards, to provide assistance to the less fortunate groups around the world, foremost among which is providing the food they need and protecting them from the dangers of hunger, which contributes to consolidating the position of the UAE. A major influence in international efforts to eradicate hunger and a unique model of unlimited giving.
His Excellency said: “The launch of the (Billion Meals Dates Factory) comes at a very important time, as millions of people in several societies face the risks of malnutrition, due to difficult economic conditions and complex crises, which confirms the need for concerted efforts in order to provide a food safety network and provide high-value food products, which is embodied by the new factory that the Initiatives Foundation is building, in the context of its keenness to employ its capabilities and expertise, to enhance its relief capabilities and deliver support to the most needy segments in the world.”
The Billion Meals Dates Factory, which is being established in the Margham area in Dubai, is one of the pioneering strategic projects in the UAE. It aims to support humanitarian efforts, enhance food security and combat hunger globally. The project is based on transforming dates, as a high-value food product, into innovative and sustainable products that contribute to providing healthy meals for those in need.
The project seeks to achieve effective integration between humanitarian work and economic development, through the establishment of a modern industrial system based on the latest food manufacturing technologies, thus enhancing the country’s position as a global center for food industries with a humanitarian dimension. The factory is expected to contribute to creating job opportunities, supporting supply chains, and expanding exports of Emirati food products to global markets.
The project includes the main building, in addition to the operation and storage building, to be completed by the end of 2027. Its products are characterized by great quality as they are mainly based on dates and the addition of vitamins and minerals to increase their nutritional value. The dates coming to the factory will be completely local, which contributes to the development of palm cultivation and increasing the green area in the UAE.
The cost of establishing the “Billion Meals Dates Factory” amounts to 200 million dirhams, donated by businessman Mirwais Azizi, and the “Al Baraka Dates Company” is responsible for the operational operations in the factory, based on its extensive experience in this field, and a translation of its long-term cooperation with the “Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives” Foundation.
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation was launched in 2015, to be an umbrella for the various initiatives and institutions sponsored by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, “may God protect him,” over more than twenty years.
Under the umbrella of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives Foundation, there are more than 30 initiatives and institutions that implement hundreds of projects, programs and campaigns, within five main work axes: humanitarian and relief aid, health care and combating disease, spreading education and knowledge, innovating the future and leadership, and empowering communities.
The Foundation aims to promote a culture of hope, and to effectively address the most pressing humanitarian, development and societal problems faced by many regions of the world, with a focus on less fortunate communities, and to invest in the human element as the most important vital resource by empowering talents, refining skills and experiences, and building educated, trained and qualified human cadres in all development fields so that they can contribute to leading the development process in their countries.
It also aims to improve the reality of education in marginalized and deprived communities, combat poverty, diseases and epidemics, and promote the values of tolerance and coexistence among peoples and communities.
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