Dubai Municipality has launched a comprehensive intervention to reform food systems in schools after an audit found significant gaps in the nutritional value of meals currently served to students across the emirate.
As part of its My School Food campaign, the civic body inspected more than 200 schools and evaluated over 7,000 food items, uncovering issues ranging from limited fruit availability to the use of restricted ingredients in snacks.
The findings were presented at the Dubai International Food Safety Conference, where Hassa Al Sumaiti, Acting Head of Applied Nutrition and Awareness Section, highlighted the challenges some schools face in offering balanced meals.
“Many schools still offer limited fruit options, even though it is one of the most effective ways to improve nutrition on a daily basis,” she said. “We also observed a wide gap between schools that offer smart choices, and those that struggle, highlighting inequality in what students receive.”
The audit found that some schools serve snacks that exceed nutritional guidelines or contain banned ingredients, underscoring the need for tighter oversight and proactive guidance.
In response to these findings, Dubai Municipality has developed a phased plan aimed at improving food quality in school canteens. A tailored nutritional benchmark has been created and tested through a pilot program involving selected schools and food suppliers.
“Before any new tool or guideline is introduced citywide, we test it with selected schools and suppliers,” Al Sumaiti explained. “These pilots allow us to refine our approach, address challenges, and adjust guidelines before a full-scale rollout.”
The next phase will see the initiative extended across all schools in Dubai, ensuring that every student has access to healthy, nutritious food options.
Al Sumaiti emphasized the long-term impact of school meal offerings on children’s health and academic performance. “What students have in their canteen today influences their habits during adulthood,” she said.
“Early eating habits build lifelong patterns, and protecting children from obesity and chronic diseases starts with the choices available at their schools.”
She added that proper nutrition also enhances learning outcomes: “A nourished child concentrates better, behaves more positively, and has the mental energy needed to succeed academically.”
As part of the ongoing initiative, Dubai Municipality also recognized students who participated in its School Food Hero competition. Winners included Jillian Jose Manaloto of Apple International School for her smartplate concept featuring AI-powered meal monitoring, and Lamar Mohammed Adil from Pristine International School for her video promoting an AI-driven canteen model to curb food waste and single-use plastics.
The municipality’s efforts reinforce the role of schools in shaping not only students’ eating habits but also influencing families and communities toward healthier lifestyles.