Abandoned Food Shipments at Jebel Ali Port to Aid Those in Need

The UAE Food Bank and the DP World Foundation have launched a new initiative to recover abandoned food shipments at Jebel Ali Port and redistribute eligible products through the UAE Food Bank's humanitarian network. Known as 'Sustainable Goodness', the programme aims to reduce food waste while ensuring that all redistributed products comply with approved health and food safety standards.
Under the initiative, participating entities will identify and manage consignments whose owners do not complete customs clearance procedures at Jebel Ali Port. Eligible shipments will be assessed before being transferred to the UAE Food Bank for redistribution. The mechanism is intended to streamline release procedures and reduce costs and processing times for companies that voluntarily relinquish ownership and donate qualifying food consignments to the UAE Food Bank's programmes.
The initiative was launched in collaboration with Dubai Municipality, Dubai Customs and DP World. Dubai Municipality, through its Environment, Health and Safety Agency, will provide technical and regulatory support to ensure food shipments meet approved health and food safety requirements before they are transferred.
According to the UAE Food Bank, the programme addresses a challenge within food supply chains by preventing eligible abandoned shipments from becoming waste and redirecting them towards humanitarian purposes. The DP World Foundation said the initiative reflects coordinated efforts between food, logistics, customs and regulatory stakeholders to support sustainability and strengthen humanitarian impact.
Partners involved in the initiative will also conduct awareness campaigns aimed at promoting responsible consumption and highlighting the importance of reducing food waste.