UAE: How food companies are using AI, collecting extra meals to reduce wastage this Ramadan
From using artificial intelligence to reduce food waste to launching a van to collect surplus meals, many brands in the hospitality industry are going the extra mile to ensure that this Ramadan is a sustainable one. Some restaurants have even swapped the way they serve food to ensure minimal wastage.
Local food delivery company Deliveroo has launched a van in collaboration with the UAE Food Bank that will collect surplus food from its partners and redistribute it to communities in need.
The company, which has over 13,000 partners in the UAE, has seen an overwhelming response since announcing the campaign. 'Our partners very interested because they're always actively looking for ways to repurpose or distribute leftover food and to prevent food waste,' said Taghrid Oraibi, Head of Communications at Deliveroo Middle East.
This year, the UAE Food Bank has formed several partnerships to reduce food waste in the country. In 2024, its efforts helped divert 5,466 tonnes of food from landfills and the bank aims to reduce food waste by 30 percent by 2027.
Taghrid added that restaurants in the country had clear guidelines from the Food Bank on how to package surplus food and ensure they were safe for consumption. 'This is a first collaboration of this kind with Food Bank,' she said. 'I hope it's a start and that more private companies will do similar initiatives and provide vans to collect surplus food.'
Using artificial intelligence
Conrad Dubai is using AI-driven tracking to reduce food waste by half during the month as part of their Green Ramadan initiative. The hotel, part of the Hilton group, is also locally sourcing their ingredients from within a 50-mile radius and is participating in composting initiatives, apart from maintaining a hydroponic farm that provides fresh, locally grown ingredients.
In addition to these steps, it is also donating excess food to the UAE Food Bank, ensuring that surplus meals reach those in need. Done in partnership with United Nations Environment Program West Asia and Winnow's AI technology, this campaign is returning for the third year and has succeeded in preventing thousands of meals from being discarded in the last two years.
One of the longest-running iftar tents in the UAE, the Majlis at Dubai World Trade Centre (DWTC) will be renewing its partnership with the Tarahum Charity Foundation and UAE Food Bank by donating meals to those in need.
Punjab Grill restaurant in Dubai has opted to serve curated set menus instead of buffets to minimise food waste during the month of Ramadan. 'We offer slight customisations in portion sizes when requested, especially for dishes that might be too much for some diners,' said a spokesperson. 'We focus on minimal pre-prepared waste, ensuring that our kitchen operates with efficiency. We also are happy to pack the leftover food for the customers to take away and reheat for Suhoor.'
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