Most acts of giving end once the gift is given.
Gift It Forward redefines what giving can do and how far it can go by building purpose into the act of giving.
1,800+
440,000+
26,000+
1,800+
440,000+
26,000+
Why volunteer with us
Direct impact, delivered in person
Volunteers participate in pop-up marketplace events located throughout the UAE where surplus items are distributed directly to beneficiaries. This ensures every donation reaches the right hands with dignity.
Shared experiences that build connection
Connect with colleagues and other volunteers from across the UAE’s business landscape in an environment that promotes purposeful giving, learning and collaboration.
A practical take on sustainability
As a volunteer, you will take part in sustainability awareness sessions focused on SDG 12. Learn how simple actions, such as repurposing surplus, can create long-term change.
Official recognition for your contribution
Volunteers receive certificates of appreciation and are eligible to earn Community Development Authority volunteer credit hours (upon prior registration with CDA).
Celebrating dedication
Top-performing volunteers may be invited to an end-of-campaign gala dinner, where they can reconnect, reflect and celebrate shared impact.
Choose your events
In light of ongoing regional developments and in line with guidance issued by the local authorities, all Gift It Forward marketplace events have been postponed until further notice.
The safety and wellbeing of our volunteers and beneficiaries remain our highest priority. A revised marketplace schedule will be communicated in due course. We sincerely appreciate your understanding and continued support.
For any questions or further clarification, please contact: giftitforward@dubaiholding.com.
Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
Sunday
February 16
February 17
February 18
February 19
Young Dreamers: Boys’ Community School Marketplace
07:00
Young Dreamers: Boys’ Community School Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace hosted at a national charity school, supporting boys aged 10–19 from low-income families.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
February 20
February 21
Stronger Together: Emirati Family Community Marketplace
19:30
Stronger Together: Emirati Family Community Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting low-income Emirati families, including widows, divorced women and orphan children.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
February 22
Stronger Together: Emirati Family Community Marketplace
19:30
Stronger Together: Emirati Family Community Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting low-income Emirati families, including widows, divorced women and orphan children.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
February 23
Stronger Together: Emirati Family Community Marketplace
19:30
Stronger Together: Emirati Family Community Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting low-income Emirati families, including widows, divorced women and orphan children.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
February 24
Stronger Together: Emirati Family Community Marketplace
19:30
Stronger Together: Emirati Family Community Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting low-income Emirati families, including widows, divorced women and orphan children.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
February 25
Stronger Together: Emirati Family Community Marketplace
19:30
Stronger Together: Emirati Family Community Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting low-income Emirati families, including widows, divorced women and orphan children.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
February 26
Stronger Together: Emirati Family Community Marketplace
19:30
Stronger Together: Emirati Family Community Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting low-income Emirati families, including widows, divorced women and orphan children.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
February 27
February 28
She Thrives: Women Workers Marketplace
07:30
She Thrives: Women Workers Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace hosted at a female labour accommodation, supporting women working in facility management roles such as cleaning, security and support services.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
She Thrives: Women Workers Marketplace
19:30
She Thrives: Women Workers Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace hosted at a female labour accommodation, supporting women working in facility management roles such as cleaning, security and support services.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
March 1
Hard Hat Heroes: Men’s Construction and Facility Workers Marketplace
07:30
Hard Hat Heroes: Men’s Construction and Facility Workers Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace hosted at a male labour accommodation, supporting construction and facility management workers.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
Hard Hat Heroes: Men’s Construction and Facility Workers Marketplace
19:30
Hard Hat Heroes: Men’s Construction and Facility Workers Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace hosted at a male labour accommodation, supporting construction and facility management workers.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
March 2
March 3
March 4
Bright Futures: Girls’ Community School Marketplace
07:00
Bright Futures: Girls’ Community School Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting girls aged 9–16 from low-income families, hosted at a national charity school.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
Supporting Our Driving Force: Taxi Drivers’ Marketplace
19:30
Supporting Our Driving Force: Taxi Drivers’ Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting taxi drivers, hosted at the Dubai Taxi Corporation.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
March 5
Supporting Our Driving Force: Taxi Drivers’ Marketplace
19:30
Supporting Our Driving Force: Taxi Drivers’ Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting taxi drivers, hosted at the Dubai Taxi Corporation.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
Supporting Our Driving Force: Taxi Drivers’ Marketplace
07:30
Supporting Our Driving Force: Taxi Drivers’ Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting taxi drivers, hosted at the Dubai Taxi Corporation.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
March 6
March 7
She Thrives: Women Workers Marketplace
08:30
She Thrives: Women Workers Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace hosted at a female labour accommodation, supporting women working in facility management roles.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
She Thrives: Women Workers Marketplace
19:00
She Thrives: Women Workers Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace hosted at a female labour accommodation, supporting women working in facility management roles.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
March 8
Hard Hat Heroes: Men’s Construction and Facility Workers Marketplace
08:30
Hard Hat Heroes: Men’s Construction and Facility Workers Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace hosted at a male labour accommodation, supporting workers from a steel manufacturing facility.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
Hard Hat Heroes: Men’s Construction and Facility Workers Marketplace
20:00
Hard Hat Heroes: Men’s Construction and Facility Workers Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace hosted at a male labour accommodation, supporting workers from a steel manufacturing facility.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
March 9
March 10
Strong Foundations: Construction Workers Community Marketplace
07:30
Strong Foundations: Construction Workers Community Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace hosted at the campaign’s storage warehouse, supporting construction workers.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
March 11
Strong Foundations: Construction Workers Community Marketplace
07:30
Strong Foundations: Construction Workers Community Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace hosted at the campaign’s storage warehouse, supporting construction workers.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
March 12
Strong Foundations: Construction Workers Community Marketplace
07:30
Strong Foundations: Construction Workers Community Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace hosted at the campaign’s storage warehouse, supporting construction workers.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
Inclusive Community: Family and People of Determination Marketplace
19:30
Inclusive Community: Family and People of Determination Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting low-income expatriate families and people of determination.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
March 13
March 14
Stronger Together: Single Mothers and Household Workers Marketplace
19:30
Stronger Together: Single Mothers and Household Workers Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting single mothers and female household workers from the Filipino community.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
Stronger Together: Single Mothers and Household Workers Marketplace
07:30
Stronger Together: Single Mothers and Household Workers Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting single mothers and female household workers from the Filipino community.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
March 15
Stronger Together: Single Mothers and Household Workers Marketplace
19:30
Stronger Together: Single Mothers and Household Workers Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting single mothers and female household workers from the Filipino community.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
Stronger Together: Single Mothers and Household Workers Marketplace
07:30
Stronger Together: Single Mothers and Household Workers Marketplace
A Gift It Forward pop-up marketplace supporting single mothers and female household workers from the Filipino community.
Join other volunteers in creating real impact through simple, hands-on support. Whether helping manage stands, coordinating queues, or assisting beneficiaries as they choose their gifts, your time and effort help uplift communities and make giving feel thoughtful and dignified.
FAQs
Volunteering is open to employees from organisations officially taking part in the Gift It Forward initiative, including donating partners, outreach partners and from across Dubai Holding businesses.
At this time, we are unable to accept volunteers from outside partner entities.
No prior volunteering experience is required. You only need a positive attitude and a willingness to support the community. All volunteers will receive guidance and training.
You can register through the Gift It Forward website. Once your registration is confirmed, you will receive instructions, event details and training modules.
All volunteers must:
• Watch the volunteer information video.
• Register through the website and select the marketplaces you would like to volunteer at.
• Complete a short online sustainability training.
• Attend the on-site health, safety and environment briefings held at the marketplaces during Ramadan.
These steps ensure a safe and seamless experience for everyone.
Volunteers may support with:
• Stand and donation management.
• Queue coordination.
• Assisting beneficiaries with gift selection.
• Distribution of items.
Volunteers are not required to lift or move heavy items.
Gift It Forward marketplaces are pop-up shop-style experiences that enable beneficiaries to personally select items for themselves and their families, nurturing a dignified and joyful donation experience. Hosted throughout Ramadan, these marketplaces are organised across the UAE to ensure donations reach those most in need.
Donation items will be organised before beneficiaries arrive and the items displayed by category, from clothing and household items to children’s goods and electronics. Every item is brand-new or in excellent quality.
Marketplaces will be held across Dubai and other Emirates, including worker accommodations, community centres and schools. Some activations will take place before Iftar and others after Iftar, with both weekday and weekend options.
A full calendar of events will be published in January 2026 for volunteer registration, after which you can select your preferred dates and time slots.
Yes. Volunteers must remain for the full duration of the event, as each role is essential to a seamless marketplace experience.
Yes. You are more than welcome and encouraged to support multiple activations.
Wear comfortable clothing suitable for movement and closed-toe shoes. As marketplaces take place during Ramadan, volunteers are encouraged to dress modestly. A volunteer vest will be provided on-site.
Volunteers are responsible for arranging their own transportation to and from marketplace locations.
Some volunteering slots are open to immediate family members. Please review the specific event guidelines before registering, as certain venues may not be suitable for children.
Yes. If required, please select this option during registration. A dedicated refreshment area will be provided for non-fasting volunteers. Water coolers will also be provided so please bring your own refillable water bottle to stay hydrated and reduce single-plastic waste.
Yes. Volunteers who complete their shift will receive a certificate of appreciation.
To ensure accurate attendance, volunteers must check-in on arrival and check-out at the end of their shift. Checking out of a marketplace and completing the post-event survey ensures that volunteers will receive their certificates.
Yes. Volunteers registered with the Community Development Authority may receive volunteer credit hours for Dubai-based activations.
CDA registration must be completed at least three weeks before participating in a marketplace. Support on this can be provided after you register for your volunteer shift.
Contact details of a volunteer manager will be shared with you in the confirmation email upon registering as a volunteer.
Please watch the entire video to continue. The "Continue" button will become available when the video ends.
Why volunteer with us
Direct impact, delivered in person
Volunteers participate in pop-up marketplace events where surplus items are distributed directly to beneficiaries, ensuring every donation reaches the right hands with dignity.
Why volunteer with us
.avif)
Shared experiences that build connection
Connect with colleagues and other volunteers from across the UAE’s business landscape in a purposeful setting that blends giving, learning, and collaboration.
Why volunteer with us
.avif)
A practical take on sustainability
As a volunteer, you’ll take part in sustainability awareness sessions focused on SDG 12. You will learn how simple actions, like repurposing surplus, can spark long-term change and impact communities.
Why volunteer with us
.avif)
Official recognition for your contribution
Volunteers receive certificates of appreciation and are eligible to earn Community Development Authority volunteer credit hours
(upon prior registration with CDA).
Volunteer with us
Please complete this form to help us prepare for your volunteering day. It will only take a few minutes.