HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, has launched the 1 Billion Meals Dates Factory, with an annual production capacity of 150 million date-based food units.
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.
Funded by an $54.45 million (AED 200 million) donation from businessman Mirwais Azizi, operations at the 1 Billion Meals Dates Factory will be managed by Al Barakah Dates, leveraging its industry expertise and reinforcing its partnership with MBRGI.
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 maximizing the UAE’s contribution to the global fight against hunger, in line with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 2030.
The 1 Billion Meals Dates Factory, under development in Margham, Dubai, is a key UAE strategic project aimed at supporting humanitarian efforts, enhancing food security, and fighting hunger globally. It focuses on processing dates, a highly nutritious staple, into innovative and sustainable food products for underserved communities.
The initiative integrates humanitarian work with economic development through a state-of-the-art manufacturing ecosystem powered by advanced food production technologies. It further strengthens the UAE’s position as a global food production hub with a strong humanitarian focus. The factory is expected to create jobs, strengthen supply chains, and expand UAE food exports into global markets.
HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler-Dubai
“Today we have launched the 1 Billion Meals Dates Factory, the world’s largest endowment-based dates factory. This is a new humanitarian endeavor presented by the UAE to the world and a message of hope for those in need. It is our duty to safeguard human dignity, driven by an unwavering commitment to ensuring food security and a better quality of life for underprivileged communities. The UAE’s legacy is defined by sustainable giving. We are attuned to the suffering of others and steadfast in our response to human needs. This ambitious project is a vital addition to our portfolio of humanitarian initiatives, and a true reflection of our community’s core values.”
Mohammad Al Gergawi, Secretary General of the Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI), asserted that the 1 Billion Meals Dates Factory reflects the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for sustainable giving and advancing humanitarian action.
Al Gergawi noted the 1 Billion Meals Dates Factory project is built on an institutional approach to delivering world-class initiatives, focusing on food aid and hunger relief for underprivileged populations worldwide, strengthening the UAE’s role in combating global hunger and showcasing a model of generosity.
Innovation meets sustainability
Image credits: Dubai Media Office | Cropped by GBN
The 1 Billion Meals Dates Factory project includes a main facility and a dedicated operations and storage unit, with completion scheduled by the end of 2027. Its output will focus on high-quality date-based products enriched with essential vitamins and minerals. Dates will be sourced exclusively from local farms, supporting the UAE’s palm cultivation sector and expanding green spaces.
Established in 2015, MBRGI oversees more than 30 initiatives and institutions across five key areas: humanitarian aid and relief, healthcare and disease control, education and knowledge, innovation and entrepreneurship, and community empowerment.
Image credits: Dubai Media Office | Cropped by GBN
The announcement was made in the presence of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defense, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, HH Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, First Deputy Ruler of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Finance, and HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Second Deputy Ruler of Dubai.
Also present were HH Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, President of the Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Chairman of Dubai Airports, and Chairman and Chief Executive of Emirates Airline and Group, HH Sheikh Mansoor bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the UAE Olympic Committee, HH Sheikha Latifa bint Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairperson of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority, and HH Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
