UAE Food Bank and ADNH Catering Partner to Redirect Surplus Meals and Strengthen Food Security

A significant new cooperation agreement between UAE Food Bank and ADNH Catering establishes a structured framework for collecting and redistributing safe surplus food while advancing sustainable practices across the emirates.

The rhythms of a major catering operation generate inevitable surplus, yet within that surplus lies opportunity. UAE Food Bank and ADNH Catering have signed a cooperation agreement that transforms what might otherwise be wasted into nourishment for those who need it, establishing a model of practical sustainability rooted in responsibility and care.

The partnership creates a formal framework for collecting, managing and redistributing surplus meals and food products that meet stringent food safety standards. ADNH Catering, which serves more than 400,000 meals daily, brings considerable scale to the initiative, while UAE Food Bank contributes expertise in safe redistribution and community engagement. Together, they aim to reduce food waste by 20 per cent annually at participating sites.

The cooperation extends beyond logistics. The two organisations will coordinate ten awareness workshops each year, addressing meal planning, food preservation and the preparation of innovative recipes from surplus ingredients. These initiatives engage not only their immediate operations but also government entities, educational institutions and private-sector partners, creating a wider ecosystem of responsible food practices.

This partnership reflects broader momentum across the emirates toward food security. As we reported in September, the UAE targets a 50 per cent reduction in food loss and waste by 2030, addressing vulnerabilities that span production, transport, retail and household consumption. Recent initiatives also demonstrate how creative approaches can transform surplus into community benefit: earlier this month, Dubai Food Bank and the Community Development Authority united to redirect wedding surplus into community care, establishing that collaborative models work across diverse food sources.

Manal Obaid bin Yaroof, Head of the Executive Team at UAE Food Bank, described the agreement as reflective of the organisation’s commitment to expanding cooperation with the private sector. Colm Gerard Omahony, Manager of ADNH Catering, emphasised the responsibility that accompanies serving such volume and the value of a structured approach to redirecting meals to those in need.

The agreement establishes clear responsibilities: UAE Food Bank will provide guidance on food safety standards, packaging and storage requirements, and procedures for verification and distribution. ADNH Catering will supply suitable surplus food in good condition and maintain records of quantities and types donated, supporting effective monitoring and coordination.

Between 2020 and 2026, UAE Food Bank’s joint initiatives contributed to the development of more than 200 sustainable recipes, engaged over 1,000 participants in workshops and awareness programmes, and involved cooperation with more than 50 entities. These efforts supported the safe management of approximately one tonne of surplus food through appropriate handling and redistribution. The new agreement with ADNH Catering represents the next evolution in this expanding work.

What it means for Abu Dhabi

This partnership reinforces the emirate’s trajectory toward food security and sustainability. By establishing structured cooperation between a major private-sector food service provider and a humanitarian organisation, the agreement demonstrates how institutional scale can be directed toward social benefit. The focus on awareness programmes and best practice sharing means that benefits extend beyond immediate food redistribution to systemic change in how food is managed and valued across organisations and households.

The agreement also aligns with national priorities. The UAE’s ambitious 2030 targets for food waste reduction require precisely this kind of private-sector engagement. By creating measurable outcomes, annual reporting and clear frameworks for monitoring progress, the partnership between UAE Food Bank and ADNH Catering establishes a replicable model that other organisations can adopt, multiplying impact across the food service sector.

Source: UAE Food Bank and ADNH Catering Cooperation Agreement, WAM