Ayesha Khan: Full Meals for Dh3 or Less
Ayesha Khan's Food ATM sells full meals to workers for 50 fils to Dh3, and gives them free to anyone who cannot pay.
Ayesha Khan is the founder of Food ATM, which sells full meals to low-income workers in the UAE for a few dirhams and gives them free to anyone who cannot pay.
What they do
An engineer who moved to the UAE in 2006, she began by cooking for the cleaners and workers in her building. She opened the first Food ATM in Ajman in 2019. Meals cost from 50 fils to Dh3, and prices stay low because Food ATM buys near-expiry food, which also cuts waste. Companies can sign contracts for their workers, who get a card with a QR code that is reloaded each month.
Why it matters
By August 2024 Food ATM had five kitchens, each feeding 12,000 to 15,000 people a day. In 2021 it earned a Guinness World Records title for serving 50,744 community meals in under eight hours. Outlets have been reported in Ajman, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
How to get involved
The route described in coverage is sponsorship: a company or individual pays in advance and the meals are loaded onto a worker’s Food ATM card. Food ATM has no website that we could find, so its Instagram account is the best place to start.
Checked on 8 November 2026, details can change.
Not sponsored. Nobody paid to be featured and there are no affiliate links in this article. We share these links to support UAE businesses, creators and causes.
Images are AI illustrations, not photos of the places or people featured.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a Food ATM meal cost?
Between 50 fils and Dh3, and the meal is free for anyone who cannot afford it.
Where are Food ATM outlets?
The first opened in Ajman in 2019. Outlets have since been reported in Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Abu Dhabi and Dubai.
How can I support Food ATM?
Companies and individuals can sponsor meals in advance, which are loaded onto a worker's Food ATM card.
Sources
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