Hundreds of housing assistance applications worth a total of Dh500 million were approved for UAE citizens on Wednesday. The applications were approved by Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme during a meeting chaired by Dr Abdullah Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development and chairman of SZHP, with the rest of the board members in Ras Al Khaimah. The board members visited the northern emirate for a tour of Bateen Al Samar, an Emirati housing project comprising 888 units that are due to be completed by the end of 2020. On Wednesday, the programme's board, led by Dr Al Nuaimi, approved a plan to implement a UAE Cabinet decision to <a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/sheikh-mohammed-announces-changes-to-housing-grants-for-emiratis-1.830226">raise the income ceiling</a> of those eligible to receive housing support from Dh10,000 to Dh15,000, to increase the number of beneficiaries. It also approved a proposal to link Hassantak, a centralised smart fire alarm system introduced in buildings and villas, to future housing units. SZHP has approved 2,336 housing assistance applications, valued at Dh1.8 billion, for Emirati families since January, reported state news agency Wam..