Dubai summer: ‘Al Freej Fridge’ doubles down on worker support, to distribute 2 million free ice cream, juice this year

This year, the initiative aims to distribute a remarkable 2 million bottles of cold water, juices, and frozen treats to workers across Dubai, offering relief from the summer heat. Last year, the campaign distributed 1 million refreshment packs to workers.

The campaign’s implementation includes deploying refrigerated vehicles across Dubai and installing stocked fridges in workers’ accommodations. It also encourages community members to volunteer and use their vehicles for distribution, fostering a strong sense of social unity.

Alia Al Shamlan, Director of Ferjan Dubai, said, “Building on the significant success of the first edition in summer 2024, this second edition expands its reach by aiming to distribute 2 million bottles of cold water, juices, and frozen treats to workers.” She added, “Our goal is to help ease the impact of extreme heat during the summer and ensure their wellbeing as they carry out essential tasks across the emirate.”

Joining this effort for the second edition is Azizi Developments, under the leadership of its Chairman and founder, Mirwais Azizi, of the Azizi Group.

Azizi expressed his happiness in supporting the vision of the UAE leaders to help and support one another. “We have been supporting initiative to support the country’s workers communities for many years,” said Azizi.

“We are here to show our respect to the workers of this country. We provide 100 to 200 tonnes of ice per day to our workers. Today, we are sharing cold water, juices and ice cream to show our respect towards the community,” he added.

He said the company’s participation in the “Al Freej Fridge” campaign is a natural extension of their ongoing support. Azizi and other senior officials in the group distributed hundreds of water bottles, ice cream, and juice packs to workers at the company’s construction sites in Dubai South.

The “Al Freej Fridge” campaign, which will run until August 23, targets outdoor workers, including those in the cleaning, construction, delivery, and landscaping sectors across Dubai. The goal is to mitigate health risks such as dehydration and heat exhaustion.

Suqia UAE and the UAE Food Bank continue to be pivotal partners, with Suqia providing large quantities of bottled water and the UAE Food Bank offering warehousing, refrigerated transport, and volunteer support for distribution.

Ibrahim Al Balooshi, Director of Sustainability and Partnerships at MBRGI, said, “Freej Fridge is a model of collaborative humanitarian action, where institutional efforts meet community energy and volunteerism to tangibly improve the quality of life for workers—individuals who play a vital role in advancing sustainable development, especially during the harsh summer months.”