InfoAnda - Ramadan in Dubai: a month of soaring food waste? |

Pakistanis angry over detentions in Times Sq. case
Monday, May 24, 2010
ISLAMABAD – Relatives of three men detained by Pakistan for alleged links to the suspect in the attempted Times Square bombing say the men are innocent.
They

Taiwan denies boycotting Australian film festival
Thursday, August 6, 2009

AFP - Thursday, August 6TAIPEI (AFP) - - Taiwan's Beijing-friendly government on Wednesday denied boycotting an Australian film festival amid a row over the e

Merkel's support dips, regional ally resigns International
Thursday, September 3, 2009

By Sarah Marsh and Noah Barkin

BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel suffered a double blow on Thursday as a senior party ally in east German

Minister seeks closure of anti-Berlusconi websites
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
ROME (AFP) - – The Italian government moved Tuesday to close down Internet sites encouraging further violence against Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi, who

Asian markets mixed after Wall Street rally
Wednesday, March 18, 2009

By ELAINE KURTENBACH,AP Business Writer AP - Wednesday, March 18SHANGHAI - Asia's stock market rally seemed to be running out of steam Wednesday, despite an

China shares rise on moves to boost real estate | 18 December 2008
Sudan still not agreed to bigger UN force: official | | 7 January 2011
Senate Approves Credit Card Overhaul Bill | 20 May 2009

Jennifer Lopez, Adam Lambert ready for AMA stage | 21 November 2009

Forum Views () Forum Replies ()

Read more with google mobile : Ramadan in Dubai: a month of soaring food waste? |

Edition: U.S. Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom Home Business Business Home Economy Technology Media Small Business Green Business Legal Deals Earnings Summits Business Video Markets Markets Home U.S. Markets European Markets Asian Markets Global Market Data Indices M&A Stocks Bonds Currencies Commodities Futures Funds peHUB World World Home U.S. Brazil China Euro Zone Japan Mexico Russia Afghan Journal Africa Journal India Insight Global News Journal Pakistan: Now or Never? World Video Politics Politics Home Front Row Washington Politics Video Technology Technology Home MediaFile Science Tech Video Opinion Opinion Home Chrystia Freeland Felix Salmon Breakingviews George Chen Bernd Debusmann Gregg Easterbrook James Pethokoukis James Saft John Wasik Christopher Whalen Ian Bremmer Mohamed El-Erian Lawrence Summers The Great Debate Unstructured Finance Newsmaker MuniLand Money Money Home Analyst Research Global Investing MuniLand Reuters Money Alerts Watchlist Portfolio Stock Screener Fund Screener Personal Finance Video Life & Culture Health Sports Arts Faithworld Business Traveler Left Field Entertainment Oddly Enough Lifestyle Video Pictures Pictures Home Reuters Photographers Full Focus Video Article Comments (0) Full Focus Editor's choice A selection of our top photos from the past 48 hours. Full Article Follow Reuters Facebook Twitter RSS YouTube Read Pakistan let China see crashed U.S. "stealth" copter 14 Aug 2011 Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion 11:22am EDT Markets heading to new danger zone: Zoellick 14 Aug 2011 Death toll rises in Indiana State Fair stage collapse | 14 Aug 2011 Stop coddling the super-rich: Buffett 10:48am EDT Discussed 208 Obama says he inherited economic problems 199 Appeals court rules against Obama healthcare law 105 Most Americans believe U.S. on wrong track: Reuters/Ipsos poll Watched Sky-high cable car rescue. Sun, Aug 14 2011 Underwater volcano erupts off Oregon coast Wed, Aug 10 2011 Stage collapse kills four Sat, Aug 13 2011 Ramadan in Dubai: a month of soaring food waste? Tweet Share this Email Print Related News Somalia wants humanitarian force to guard food convoys Sat, Aug 13 2011 UPDATE 2-Dubai's ICD opts to repay $4 bln loan in full Mon, Aug 8 2011 Gulf Arab markets fall Sun, Aug 7 2011 UPDATE 2-Gulf Arab markets fall; cbankers back U.S. peg, debt Sun, Aug 7 2011 As bleak Ramadan begins, Yemeni protesters cling to hope Wed, Aug 3 2011 Analysis & Opinion Obama hosts Iftar dinner marking Ramadan Deals wrap: Capital One beefs up credit card portfolio Related Topics World » A customer shops for rice at a grocery store in Dubai February 1, 2011. Credit: Reuters/Jumana El Heloueh By Jason Benham and Warda Al-Jawahiry DUBAI | Mon Aug 15, 2011 10:08am EDT DUBAI (Reuters) - Hundreds of Asian laborers sit silently on the floor outside Dubai's Fatima Hassan Mosque in front of plates laden with fruit, pakoras and biryani as they wait patiently in the energy-sapping humidity to begin their Ramadan iftar. Nearby, sweat-drenched volunteers hastily scoop the deep-fried vegetables and the rice-based dishes of stewed meats from huge metal urns on to plates for the last of their weary guests, as they count down the final minutes until the sun disappears from the horizon, the moment they can break their daily dawn-to-dusk fast in the Muslim holy month due to end as August closes. The mosque, situated downtown just yards from Dubai's creek -- the location of the emirate's original trading hub when it was just a small trade and fishing center -- provides a free iftar for the poor every day during the holy month, cooking enough rice, mutton or chicken to feed some 1,500-1,800 workers in one sitting. The Fatima Hassan Mosque's waste bins may be empty, but Ramadan brings a huge increase in food waste across the city and the Gulf as leftovers from more lavish banquets attended by the well-to-do are thrown out in a region where soaring summer temperatures mean that fresh food goes off quickly. "We hardly have any waste. Whatever is left over we serve to people. We call the people over and give it to them," said Nour Mohammed, a sales coordinator who volunteers to serve food. But not all iftars in Dubai are simple meals provided for the poor -- many of whom are migrant workers, paid less that 1,000 dirhams ($272) a month and often have large debts. Dubai has transformed itself over the last 50 years into a regional business and tourism hub renowned for extravagant real estate projects, flashy living and the luxurious banquets at hotels and restaurants to accommodate the demands of wealthy consumers who want the best fresh food at their iftar feasts. The emirate boasts the world's tallest tower, man-made islands in the shape of palms visible from space, and a number of luxurious hotels -- including the sail-shaped Burj Al Arab -- many of which lay on massive iftars for those who can afford it. Iftars at the top end venues are often pricey, with some charging as much as 200 dirhams ($55) per person. "They see Ramadan as a possibility to squeeze a non-alcoholic consuming demographic and the economy has been slow for a while," said Mishaal al-Gergawi, a current affairs commentator in the United Arab Emirates. WHAT A WASTE Despite the hours of preparation put into the often vast displays of food, waiters at top hotels in Dubai say much of the food left over goes straight into the waste bins. The amount of food thrown out in the emirate jumps considerably in the holy month --- by as much as 20 percent according to Dubai Municipality, with most of the waste comprising rice and non-vegetable foods. Around 1,850 tons of food were thrown out on average per day during Ramadan in 2010, roughly 20 percent of total waste in the emirate during the holy month, it said. In neighboring Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, at least 500 tons of food were thrown out on a daily basis during the month Abu Dhabi-based daily the National reported in August last year. "Hot and cold -- all the food on the buffet gets thrown out," said a waiter at a five star hotel in Dubai who gave his name only as Nazir, through fear of losing his job, as he went around topping up dishes on the iftar buffet, while businessmen hovered around him, eyeing the vast spread of food on offer. "If people order room service then we'll make it fresh again. But sometimes we have a lot of waste," Nazir said. Food experts at top hotels JW Marriott and Hilton in Dubai however say they plan so that no food is thrown out despite preparing up to 15 percent more food during the holy month. "We have control systems that help us avoid excess," said Simon Lazarus, senior area director of food and beverage, Hilton Worldwide, Middle East and Africa. "Even if there is a little bit left over the staff all eat it. We never recycle food and we have our own strict policy not to." SPIRIT OF FASTING The large increase in food waste during the holy month has drawn criticism from religious scholars who say that it goes against the spirit of fasting. "Wasting the blessing of Allah, like food, particularly at a time when you see people starving in Ethiopia, Somalia and other places, does not fit in the Islamic notion of moderation. God says in the Koran that those who waste the blessing of God, they are the brethren of the devils," said Sheikh Muddassir Siddiqui, an Islamic scholar in Dubai. "Hotels should cut back on the amount of food they provide. It should not be a matter of prestige. Iftars at hotels should not be intended just for rich people but for everyone - particularly the less fortunate and there are many of them." One charity that has been looking to help the poor and needy is Hefth al-Ne'ma -- Arabic for "Saving Grace". Set up in 2004, the Abu Dhabi-based organization collects leftover food from large gatherings such as weddings, banquets and iftars at hotels in the UAE capital to distribute food that is safe to eat. The charity is hoping to set up operations in Dubai and other emirates later this year its manager Sultan al-Shehi told Reuters. "There are a lot of people who are in need in the UAE and this is an interesting way to bridge the disparity," said commentator Gergawi. (Editing by Paul Casciato) World Tweet this Link this Share this Digg this Email Reprints We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/ Comments (0) Be the first to comment on reuters.com. Add yours using the box above. Social Stream (What's this?) Edition: U.S. Africa Arabic Argentina Brazil Canada China France Germany India Italy Japan Latin America Mexico Russia Spain United Kingdom Back to top Reuters.com Business Markets World Politics Technology Opinion Money Pictures Videos Site Index Mobile Legal Bankruptcy Law California Legal New York Legal Securities Law Support & Contact Contact Us Advertise With Us Connect with Reuters Twitter Facebook LinkedIn RSS Our Flagship financial information platform incorporating Reuters Insider An ultra-low latency infrastructure for electric trading and data distribution A connected approach to governance, risk and compliance Our next generation legal research platform Our global tax workstation Thomsonreuters.com About Thomson Reuters Investor Relations Careers Contact Us Thomson Reuters is the world's largest international multimedia news agency, providing investing news, world news, business news, technology news, headline news, small business news, news alerts, personal finance, stock market, and mutual funds information available on Reuters.com, video, mobile, and interactive television platforms. Thomson Reuters journalists are subject to an Editorial Handbook which requires fair presentation and disclosure of relevant interests. NYSE and AMEX quotes delayed by at least 20 minutes. Nasdaq delayed by at least 15 minutes. For a complete list of exchanges and delays, please click here.

Other News on Monday, 15 August 2011
Edwin Encarnacion drives in winning run in 10th as Blue Jays nip Angels
Mike Stanton belts 26th homer of season, gives Marlins 1-0 lead vs. Giants
MLS: Quakes’ woes continue; winless run reaches to 11 games vs. Rapids
Gaddafi defiant as government said to be talking with rebels |
UK's Cameron: will mend broken society after riots |
NHL's Comrie sits while wife celeb wife Hilary Duff gets set to deliver baby
Back on Utoeya Island, Norway killer describes carnage |
Pakistan quizzes suspects over abducted American |
Tank, navy attack on Syria's Latakia kills 26: witnesses |
Djokovic tops Fish in Rogers Cup; resurging Serena Williams wins second straight tourney
Egypt's ex-president Mubarak to return to court |
Morgan lifts Brewers to sweep of Pirates
Former Ohio State quarterback Pryor awaits decision on entering supplemental draft
Suicide bombers, gunmen kill 22 in central Afghanistan |
PGA History: rookie Keegan Bradley gets major win in playoff with Dufner
Disgruntled Giants defensive end Osi Umenyiora may return to team Monday
Algerian suicide attack wounds 29 |
Rains pushes NASCAR Cup race back to Monday
Pena's two-run blast powers Cubs past Braves; Uggla's hitting streak ends at 33
Syrian navy boats, tanks shell port city of Latakia, 26 killed
Pakistan let China see crashed U.S. stealth copter |
Manila bus hijacking survivors, victims' kin to sue Philippine government
Libyan rebels, government hold talks in Tunisia: source |
Security expert warns hackers can attack Android |
Computer Sciences a likely target for breakup |
Verizon, union swap labor complaints |
$25 billion Groupon valuation very high: analyst |
Sprint ditches 4G model of RIM PlayBook |
Exclusive: Wal-Mart changes e-commerce leadership |
Toshiba to narrow varieties of chips: report |
Apes hangs on to domestic box office lead |
Hilary Duff pregnant with first child |
Weddings for View hosts take place days apart |
Brooke Burke, David Charvet tie the knot |
Tina Fey gives birth to second child |
Film producer Jon Peters accused in harassment case |
Don't Stop Believin: Glee cast will be back |
Coldplay's new Mylo Xyloto album gets October release |
Singer Pablo Milanes urges more freedom in Cuba |
Egypt's ex-president Mubarak to return to court |
Two bombs kill at least 34 in Iraq's Kut: officials |
Iran's nuclear partner Russia seeks to revive global talks |
America’s Cup experience to return to Rhode Island
Ryan Hunter-Reay wins NH IndyCar race
Grand coalition floated as Japan eyes new PM |
In political death zone, Australia PM faces season of protest |
Primary win boosts chances of Argentina's Fernandez |
Activist renews anti-graft fast to pressure India government |
Electronic Arts upbeat about holiday season sales |
Gold falls, stocks rise as traders take profits
Syrian tanks shell Latakia, 31 killed in assault |
Diamondbacks top Mets, but lose pitcher Jason Marquis to injury
UK's Cameron: will mend broken society after riots |
Exxon back on top of 10 most valuable U.S. firms
British boy gets helping hand with bionic arm
Former fighter turns candidate in Sierra Leone elections |
Analysis: Medicare, liberals and the lesser of two evils
Sri Lankans besiege government office over Grease Devils |
Landslide risk as rains drench eastern districts of Uganda
Ramadan in Dubai: a month of soaring food waste? |
Cesc Fabregas' move from Arsenal to Barcelona is official
Cholera hits crowded Mogadishu refugee camps
Siblings of autistic children at much greater risk for disorder
Primary win boosts chances of Argentina's Fernandez |
eHealth Ontario employees initiate class action suit to hike wages
Pakistan let China see crashed U.S. stealth copter |
Google to buy Motorola Mobility for $12.5 billion |
InterDigital tanks after Google's Motorola Mobility buy |
Huawei closes in on Ericsson, sees growth in consumer sector |
Nokia jumps as Motorola Mobility bid rekindles M&A hope |
BBC America travels beyond Doctor Who for new hits |
Greece at new risk of being pushed off euro
Bodies of missing Tenn. mom, Jo Ann Bain, and daughter found
Female Breasts Are Bigger Than Ever
AMD Trinity Accelerated Processing Units Now in Volume Production
The Avengers (2012 film), made the second biggest opening- and single-day gross of all-time
AMD to Start Production of piledriver
Ivy Bridge Quad-Core, Four-Thread Desktop CPUs
Islamists Protest Lady Gaga's Concert in Indonesia
Japan Successfully Broadcasts an 8K Signal Over the Air
ECB boosts loans to 1 trillion Euro to stop credit crunch
Egypt : Mohammed Morsi won with 52 percent
What do you call 100,000 Frenchmen with their hands up
AMD Launches AMD Embedded R-Series APU Platform
Fed Should not Ignore Emerging Market Crisis
Fed casts shadow over India, emerging markets
Why are Chinese tourists so rude? A few insights

USD EUR - 1 year graph		BlogMeter 1.01