During Ramadan 2026, Pathfinders in the UAE helped provide Iftar meals for laborers facing increased hardship because of the conflict in the region.
By Gureni Lukwaro
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is regarded by Muslims as the holiest time of the year, during which the first verses of the Quran are understood to have been revealed to the Prophet Muhammad.
It is a period of self-discipline, reflection, and strengthening one’s relationship with God. During this month, adult Muslims are expected to fast and abstain from food, drink, and other things from dawn to sunset.
After a full day of fasting, Muslims end the day with an Iftar, which is the meal to break the fast at sunset, often starting with dates and water.
This year, Ramadan lasted from Wednesday, February 18, until Thursday, March 19, 2026. Shortly after the start of Ramadan, Pathfinder connected with AKCAF, an association of various college alumni from over 100 colleges in Kerala State in India and worked with the organization to distribute these meals. The association is registered by the Community Development Authority (CDA) of the Dubai Government, and they sponsored some 10,000 Iftar meals every day during the month of Ramadan.
Every year, during Ramadan, CDA designates specific areas where people, especially low-income, working-class laborers, gather to wait for distribution of free iftar. The United Arab Emirates has a large population of laborers who are an integral part of the workforce, especially in construction, cleaning, security, transport, and other manual jobs. Most are migrant workers from countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Nepal, and the Philippines. Pathfinders, under the auspices of AKCAF, were assigned one specific location.
Every evening, several Pathfinders would gather at a designated area to help distribute iftar meals to the fasting laborers. Hundreds of people would gather and be seated in an orderly manner. When the trucks carrying boxes of pre-packaged Iftar meals arrived, Pathfinders would get to work, alongside other volunteers, to distribute the food to the waiting crowd.
This year was especially critical because, right after the month of Ramadan began, war broke out in the region, affecting, among other countries, the United Arab Emirates. With the war, several work sites were closed for safety reasons, making it even more challenging for these laborers to have access to necessary supplies. This made these free Iftar meal distributions even more necessary.
The organizers made sure that the distribution sites were safe for both volunteers and the recipients. On days where the government issued emergency alerts, Pathfinders would not go out. But when it was safe to do so, they went out to help meet the needs of the people who needed the support.
Most of the Pathfinders who participated in this initiative are taking part in the prestigious Sheikh Sultan Award in the Gold Award and Silver Award categories. The Sheikh Sultan Award for Educational Excellence is a prestigious award established in the UAE by Sheikh Dr. Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, the ruler of the Emirate of Sharjah. Sharjah is one of the seven emirates that comprise the United Arab Emirates.
What began as a volunteer effort during Ramadan became for many Pathfinders a meaningful experience of service they will carry with them beyond this year’s initiative.