Volunteer officers distribute cold water, juices, and frozen treats to over 18,000 blue-collar employees across four major hubs in the emirate.
DUBAI, August 18, 2026:The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai (GDRFA) has deployed volunteer officers across four major field locations to support the third edition of the ‘Al Freej Fridge’ campaign, reaching more than 18,000 outdoor workers with cold beverages and heat-relief supplies during peak summer conditions.
Refrigerated vans staffed by GDRFA personnel delivered thousands of bottles of cold drinking water, juices, and ice creams directly to worksites across Dubai. The outreach forms part of a broader emirate-wide community initiative aimed at mitigating heat stress, dehydration, and related health risks among laborers working in open environments during the high-temperature months.
The ‘Al Freej Fridge’ initiative is spearheaded by the Dubai Furjan Foundation with strategic backing from Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Global Initiatives (MBRGI). Implementation is carried out in operational partnership with the UAE Water Aid Foundation (Suqia UAE) and the UAE Food Bank, utilizing specialized cold-chain vehicles to maintain safe storage and distribution temperature standards.
The seasonal outreach specifically targets high-exposure operational sectors, including municipal sanitation crews, construction workers, delivery riders, agricultural staff, and road maintenance personnel.
Major General Obaid Muhair bin Suroor, Deputy Director General of GDRFA Dubai, stated that institutional performance cannot be evaluated solely through routine administrative services, but must also account for human and social impact within the community. He noted that field initiatives targeting worker welfare form a core component of the department’s corporate social responsibility framework.
“While seemingly simple in execution, the operational impact of the ‘Al Freej Fridge’ program is substantial,” Bin Suroor said. He added that the outreach serves as an expression of institutional gratitude toward workers who maintain the emirate’s infrastructure, urban aesthetics, and economic activity under challenging weather conditions.
GDRFA officials emphasized that active participation in worker relief programs reflects the UAE’s broader policy emphasis on social solidarity, human dignity, and sustainable social development through direct investment in human capital.
