In a move that champions both sustainability and social welfare, Expo City Dubai has launched Terrazo, a new pilot programme designed to reduce food waste by redistributing surplus meals to blue-collar workers across the site.
The initiative actively collects excess high-quality food from on-site restaurants and delivers it through smart fridges, aiming to serve more than 10,000 meals by September 2025 and revolutionizing food surplus management in urban environments.
Bridging the Gap Between Surplus and Need
At the core of the Terrazo programme is a simple yet powerful principle: quality food should not go to waste when it can meet real nutritional needs. Restaurants at Expo City Dubai are encouraged to set aside untouched surplus from their daily operations. These items are then transformed into nutritionally balanced meals and made accessible to blue-collar workers through designated smart fridges.
This solution directly addresses two critical challenges: food insecurity among labourers and the rising concern around food waste in the UAE.
How the Terrazo Model Works
Smart Technology for Smarter Distribution
Smart fridges continuously store meals and undergo real-time monitoring to maintain temperature and freshness. Strategically placed within worker access zones, they ensure easy, hygienic, and timely retrieval.
Compliance with Health and Safety Standards
Each meal undergoes rigorous quality checks to ensure compliance with Dubai’s strict food safety regulations. The initiative places a strong emphasis on preserving both dignity and health for the recipients.
From Pilot to Scalable Model
Inspired by the legacy of Expo 2020’s food recovery efforts, Terrazo is built with scalability in mind. With early indicators already showing strong engagement, there are plans to expand the initiative beyond Expo City to other areas across Dubai in the near future.
Why Terrazo Matters for Dubai Residents
A Win for Workers and the Environment
The Terrazo food rescue programme contributes to the UAE’s goal of halving food waste by 2030, as part of its commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. At the same time, it strengthens the welfare framework for a vital segment of the population—Dubai’s working-class community.
Promoting Responsible Business Practices
This initiative encourages restaurants and businesses to rethink waste and take an active role in community wellbeing. By redirecting excess rather than discarding it, Terrazo introduces a practical and replicable model for corporate responsibility.
Making Terrazo a UAE-Wide Standard
The goal by September 2025 is not just to distribute 10,000 meals, but to create a replicable blueprint that could transform food recovery efforts across the country. Expo City Dubai is already engaging partners to explore low-cost funding models, donations, and sponsorships that can support wider implementation.
Residents and professionals in the UAE actively support the programme by spreading awareness, urging their favorite eateries to adopt similar practices, and advocating for smarter food use across the city.
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