A 27-year-old Emirati has been chosen to participate in a prestigious United Nations Women’s Programme, a tremendous feat. Qadreya Al Awadhi, founder and CEO of Bumblebee, a local company that provides ready-made frozen meal plans for babies and toddlers, has been recognised for her creative approach to meeting the nutritional needs of young children.
Bumblebee, led by Al Awadhi, has received widespread acclaim for its mission of providing nutritious and convenient meal options to busy parents.
She got the idea for her business when babysitting a friend’s weaning son and found they couldn’t find any good or nutritional meals for him at the supermarket or local grocery store.
At the time, the only options were bland meals devoid of flavour, colour, and nutrients. Qadreya discovered this market gap and was motivated to assist mothers in providing a healthier option for their newborns. Bumblebee, a baby meal plan that caters to the demands of new parents by offering nutritious and delicious meals for newborns and toddlers, was born.
Qadreya began her firm with a Dh150,000 self-investment to ensure babies develop a healthy and sustainable relationship with food. She enlisted the services of a paediatric nutritionist and a chef to help construct a menu selection to meet a child’s dietary needs and understand a meal’s macronutrients and nutritional value.
They collaborated to create recipes that were not only nutritional but also delicious by using natural and high-quality products. All of Bumblebee’s dishes, including the sauces, are made from scratch and feature a variety of fresh flavours and textures for each meal.
Qadreya was born and raised in Dubai, where she studied Finance at Zayed University before earning a Master’s degree in International Business from The University of Wollongong. She works full-time for one of the world’s largest financial companies.
Qadreya is passionate about volunteering to help and teach young people, particularly in the financial industry, and has won numerous honours for her organisation. Before starting Bumblebee, she also obtained a culinary school certification.
