Petrol price subsidy part of Dh28bn cost-of-living support package for Emiratis

President Sheikh Mohamed doubles support for citizens on lower incomes

Hessa Buhumaid said fuel and shopping subsidies would begin on July 5, 2022, while household payments and other measures will be introduced in September 2022. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

Emiratis on lower incomes will receive a subsidy on the petrol they purchase. This effectively means a 85 per cent discount on any petrol that costs more than Dh2.1 per litre - the current price is about Dh4.6 per litre. Sarah Dea/ The National

Monthly support payments will help Emiratis to absorb the cost of living. Jaime Puebla / The National

Emiratis on household incomes lower than Dh25,000 will receive a further subsidy on energy costs. Photo: PA

University fees will be subsidised to encourgage Emirati children to study further. Pawan Singh / The National

President Sheikh Mohamed has announced a Dh28 billion ($7.6bn) social support package to provide lower income Emirati families with subsidies to pay for essentials including fuel, food and utilities.

The President said the existing social support scheme for citizens would be restructured to raise annual financial assistance from Dh2.7bn to Dh5bn.

The total social support budget has been doubled from Dh14bn.

Led by the Ministry of Community Development, the programme offers aid for housing, food, fuel, electricity and water, in addition to temporary financial support for unemployed citizens over the age of 45.

The initiative sets out a series of allowances for Emiratis.

All of the measures are for Emirati households with a total household income of up to Dh25,000.

Hessa Buhumaid, Minister of Community Development, said further details of how the scheme will be implemented will be announced on Tuesday.

“The increase in these subsidies aims to tackle inflation," the minister told Dubai TV.

"Starting tomorrow, Tuesday, we will announce more details of the application and mechanisms for disbursing aid and social allowances to the various eligible groups," she added in a tweet.

Nationwide, inflation was up 3.3 per cent in Q1 2022 compared to the previous year, official figures show.

In Dubai, consumer inflation rose to 4.6 per cent in April year-on-year, Emirates NBD said, the highest rise since 2015. Food prices were 8.6 per cent higher year-on-year, the bank said, while fuel and average rents rose significantly.

Fuel subsidies

The scheme aims to mitigate the impact of rising fuel costs, providing an 85 per cent discount on fuel prices above Dh2.10 per litre.

The head of the family will receive this monthly subsidy on up to 300 litres, while a working wife receives an additional 200 litres. The head of the family will be granted 400 litres if the wife does not have employment.

Officials have yet to state whether this will be done by presenting a card at a petrol station, for example.

Electricity and water

Eligible Emiratis will be granted a 50 per cent subsidy for electricity consumption of less than 4,000 kilowatts, and a 50 per cent monthly water subsidy for water consumption below 26,000 gallons.

Food supplement allowance

The government will bear 75 per cent of food price inflation for lower income Emiratis “to meet their living requirements and provide them with a decent life,” state news agency Wam reported.

How the discount scheme will work was not stated.

University education

Among the new allocations included in the social support programme for the family is the “University Education Allowance” for outstanding students.

This is designed to encourage children to enrol in university education, with the value of the allowance at Dh3,200 per month.

Unemployed citizens over the age of 45

A fixed subsidy is granted, ranging from Dh2,000 to Dh5,000 per month, according to age, for unemployed citizens, in addition to other allowances in the event that the unemployed person is the head of a citizen family.

Job seekers

This allowance extends for a period of six months, and amounts to Dh5,000 dirhams per month for each beneficiary, regardless of age. The allowance offers financial assistance while looking for employment.

Accommodation

The programme includes a provision for housing, ranging between Dh1,500 dirhams and Dh2,500 per month, to pay for private accommodation until a family obtains government housing. Applicants who live with parents or any other family are entitled to 60 per cent of these amounts.

The support does not apply to those who have any other form of government housing benefit, or who own a house registered in their name.

The benefit stops when the applicant secures government housing.

Family allowances increased

The father of the family will now receive an allowance starting at Dh5,000 per month. This amount will increase at a rate of Dh2,000 per month for every 10 years of work experience, to a maximum of Dh13,000 per month.

This allowance is granted from the age of 30 and above, with the calculation of work years beginning from age of 21.

The wife’s allowance will be lifted to Dh3,500 per month.

Allowances for children will rise to Dh2,400 a month for the first child, Dh1,600 a month for the second and third child, and Dh800 for every subsequent child – up to the age of 21.

This allowance applies to all citizens, those in work, the unemployed and those seeking work.