1,480 Emiratis approved for new homes

ABU DHABI // More than 1,400 eligible Emiratis who satisfied all statutory requirements to be granted housing have been issued the final approval by the follow-up committee, as per directives of the President, Sheikh Khalifa.

The approval coincides with celebrations of the nation’s 42nd National Day anniversary.

The 1,480 eligible UAE citizens are among the first and second batches to be granted homes under orders of Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and the Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Wam the state news agency reported.

The follow-up committee, under the chairmanship of Ahmed Juma Al Za’abi, deputy minister for presidential affairs, also released a preliminary list of 1,553 citizens who form the third batch of applicants for houses and asked them to report to the Ministry of Public Works to complete formalities.

Another list of 80 Emiratis entitled to houses in Al Bidiya area of Fujairah and 37 citizens entitled to houses in Dibba Al Hosn of Sharjah was also released.

Mr Al Zaabi said the committee endorsed the budget for the third phase of the initiatives and submitted findings and recommendations to Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs who will submit these to Sheikh Khalifa.

This phase includes the construction and renovation of 10,000 houses and the building of 2,500 houses in different areas. Maintenance and renovation to about 1,000 houses in remote areas will also be completed.

“Provision of proper housing to the citizens of the UAE has always been a top priority for Sheikh Khalifa,” he said. “The recent lists are considered the largest ever released.”

Mr Al Zaabi said the committee was satisfied with the progress of projects under way.

The completed projects, built at a cost of Dh6 billion, include hospitals, clinics, health centres, roads, bridges, dams, houses and mosques

“Citizens are already starting to benefit from the projects,” he said.

“We look forward to seeing progress at the same pace in the remaining projects.”