UAE Lottery partners SmartLife Foundation to roll out cooling bus program for labourers

The initiative delivered air-conditioned rest stops, refreshments and rechargeable neck fans to labourers in Abu Dhabi as part of the country’s summer heat protections.

UAE.- The UAE Lottery has partnered with SmartLife Foundation to provide temporary cooling spaces for outdoor workers through the Cool Bus Shelter initiative, with air-conditioned buses deployed near labour sites in Abu Dhabi on July 20.

The programme supports the UAE’s mandatory Midday Break, which suspends outdoor work between 12:30pm and 3:00pm during the summer to reduce workers’ exposure to extreme heat.

The buses served as rest areas where workers could cool down before returning to their duties. Volunteers from The UAE Lottery and SmartLife Foundation distributed chilled drinking water, cold towels and refreshments, while each worker also received a portable rechargeable neck fan for additional cooling after the break.

Suzan Kazzi, associate director of corporate social responsibility at Momentum – The UAE Lottery, said: “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, said: “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 organisations such as The UAE Lottery and other community partners to create moments of comfort, appreciation and human connection that leave a lasting impact.”

The project forms part of The UAE Lottery’s H.O.P.E. programme, which supports initiatives focused on health and wellbeing, opportunity creation and environmental protection.