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Look: Over 500 meals daily; inside Sharjah's community-led Ramadan iftar
The beneficiaries are primarily workers who are far from their own families, finding not just a warm iftar meal but a welcoming space that feels like home
- PUBLISHED: Tue 24 Feb 2026, 4:33 PM UPDATED: Wed 25 Feb 2026, 10:07 AM
Every evening during Ramadan, the open grounds of a local mosque in Sharjah’s Al Suyoh suburb transform into a bustling communal dining space for iftar — embodying the season’s spirit of generosity and community.
For four consecutive years, an inspiring grassroots initiative has seen local Emirati families come together to prepare and serve iftar to over 500 people daily. The beneficiaries are primarily workers and other individuals in need, many of whom far from their own families, finding not just a warm iftar meal but a welcoming space that feels like home.
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What began as a modest effort has steadily grown into a major community-led project, powered entirely by the residents of Al Suyoh.
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This year, the initiative has gained further prominence with the official partnership of the Sharjah Volunteer Centre, which now awards volunteer hours to the children who play a key role in organising and serving the meals.
Ali Abdullah Ali Al Yasi, one of the organisers from Al Suyoh, looked back on the journey with pride. “We started the iftar initiative four years ago, and praise be to God, this is our fourth year,” he said.
“It’s the effort of the people of Al Suyoh. This year, the Sharjah Volunteer Centre has joined us, and the number of families and volunteers is increasing, especially the young ones, who outnumber the adults.”
The core mission extends beyond providing food; it’s also about instilling values in the next generation. Fathers are actively encouraged to bring their children to participate in distributing the meals.
“We instil a love of volunteering in the young ones,” Al Yasi explained. “If we plant this seed in them now, God willing, it will grow with them, and they will serve our beloved emirate in the future. I encourage fathers to bring their children. Let them feel the blessing they live in and learn to be thankful for what God has given us.”
The evenings are filled with warmth as well as shared joy and camaraderie. A separate dining area is set up where the volunteer families, including fathers and their children, break their fast together after serving the main gathering.
“The young ones love coming here to see their school friends,” Al Yasi noted. “We, the fathers, with our sons and daughters, break our fast here together on the side.”
The impact on the children is clear to anyone who spends a few minutes at the gathering. Twelve-year-old Mayed Ali Al Yasi has been volunteering with his father for the past three years.
“I feel happy when I come to earn a reward from god," he said, smiling. "I feel happy when I count the number of people we are serving.
For many parents, that sense of purpose is exactly the point. Rashed Al Nuaimi, a resident of Al Suyoh, makes it a tradition to bring his children every year.
“This is the third year I have brought my children with me to learn the customs of our ancestors and to earn a spiritual reward,” he said. “This initiative comes from the youth and people of Al Suyoh.”
The spirit of giving is contagious. Bodour Ibrahim Al Mazmi has been part of the initiative since its inception. “It’s a beautiful initiative for doing good,” she said. “I told my friend about it, and she is joining me today.”
For those receiving the meals, the impact is just as meaningful. Hassan, a worker from Bangladesh who has been praying at a neighbouring mosque for three years, comes to the gathering every day during Ramadan. “The iftar is a wonderful idea, especially for workers like us who are far from our families,” he said.
As the numbers of both volunteers and beneficiaries continue to grow each day, the Al Suyoh community iftar stands as a powerful testament to the enduring values of compassion and solidarity in the UAE during Ramadan.
Ruqayya Alqaydi is a Special Correspondent with an endless curiosity to learn. Like a journalist on a caffeine overdrive, she is fuelled by passion and on a mission to uncover every gem in the UAE.