CSR Project Deploys Mobile Air-Conditioned Units, Hydration, and Cooling Gear During Mandatory Midday Work Breaks
The UAE Lottery has partnered with non-profit community organization SmartLife Foundation to launch the Cool Bus Shelter initiative. The community outreach program is designed to protect outdoor workers from extreme summer heat during the country’s legally mandated midday work break.
Under the national Midday Break policy, outdoor labor across the UAE must cease between 12:30 PM and 3:00 PM to mitigate heat exhaustion and heatstroke risks. To support this directive, the initiative stationed custom air-conditioned buses near major construction and industrial sites, giving workers an immediate, climate-controlled space to rest.
Direct Relief and Community Outreach Details
During the daily operational window, a joint team of volunteers from The UAE Lottery and SmartLife Foundation welcomed workers into the Cool Bus Shelters. In addition to providing immediate relief via air-conditioned interiors, volunteers handed out cold towels, chilled drinking water, and refreshing beverages.
To extend thermal protection beyond the mandatory break period, each participant received a portable, rechargeable neck fan. The wearable fans provide continuous airflow to assist workers in managing heat stress after returning to their afternoon shifts outdoors.
Executive Perspective: Fostering Social Impact and Worker Wellbeing
Representatives from both participating organizations emphasized that protecting the health of the nation’s workforce requires active community collaboration and practical CSR measures.
Suzan Kazzi, Associate Director – Corporate Social Responsibility at Momentum (The UAE Lottery), stated:
“Outdoor workers are the backbone of our cities’ urban development, and initiatives like the Cool Bus Shelter ensure they receive the care and recognition they deserve during the most challenging months of the year. This is our small way of saying thank you and reminding them that their wellbeing truly matters”.
Abhijeet Oak, Vice President at SmartLife Foundation, added:
“At SmartLife Foundation, we believe that protecting the wellbeing of outdoor workforce is a shared responsibility. Through the Cool Bus Shelter initiative, we are proud to collaborate with organizations such as The UAE Lottery and other community partners to create moments of comfort, appreciation and human connection that leave a lasting impact”.
The initiative operates under the umbrella of The UAE Lottery’s H.O.P.E. program, which directs resources toward environmental protection, health, wellbeing, and community inclusion projects across the Emirates.
