The Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme was established in 1999 to help Emiratis, particularly those on low incomes. Photo: Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
The Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme was established in 1999 to help Emiratis, particularly those on low incomes. Photo: Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
The Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme was established in 1999 to help Emiratis, particularly those on low incomes. Photo: Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
The Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme was established in 1999 to help Emiratis, particularly those on low incomes. Photo: Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure

UAE approves Dh1.68bn in housing aid for Emiratis


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The UAE has approved Dh1.68 billion in housing support for Emiratis as part of a long-term drive to bolster standards of living for its citizens.

The funding, which will be delivered under the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, was announced by the UAE Cabinet this week.

Authorities granted applications made by Emiratis for the construction of 2,160 houses in June.

The decisions have been made to coincide with the upcoming Eid Al Adha celebrations.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, chaired the ministerial gathering on Monday.

The Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme was established in 1999 to help Emiratis, particularly those on low incomes.

Relief provided by the organisation includes funding applications for house construction, completion, purchase, maintenance and upgrades.

In June 2022, President Sheikh Mohamed ordered Dh2.3 billion of grant applications made to the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme to be finalised.

Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, said at the time that all pending applications for funding assistance would be processed in the next five years.

Raising government efficiency

Sheikh Mohammed unveiled plans to streamline services offered by the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme to speed up the application process.

“We approved during the Cabinet meeting, 2,160 new housing decisions for citizens under the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme valued at Dh1.68 billion,” Sheikh Mohammed said, in remarks shared by the UAE Government Media Office on Tuesday.

“We also approved a project to simplify and reduce procedures within the programme in collaboration with 24 government entities.

“This will streamline the process, reducing the number of required documents for housing loan approval from 10 to two.

“We thank the teams working tirelessly to eliminate bureaucracy, re-engineer all government procedures, simplify them and ease the lives of our citizens.”

Known as the Manzil bundle, the enhanced platform is central to a wider push to reduce government bureaucracy and boost efficiency across the Emirates.

On Tuesday, the UAE expanded a government initiative to cut processing times for residency visas and work permits from up to 30 days to only five.

The move would benefit more than 600,000 businesses employing more than seven million staff, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation said.

In February, Sheikh Mohammed, also Vice President, set out wide-reaching plans to make government services more efficient.

He said government departments would work to eliminate 2,000 unnecessary procedures within a year as part of the strategy.

Departments will aim to halve the time taken to carry out services under the Zero Government Bureaucracy programme announced in November.

Bonuses of up to Dh1 million ($272,000) will be awarded to the best performing employees or work teams.

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COMPANY PROFILE

Founders: Sebastian Stefan, Sebastian Morar and Claudia Pacurar

Based: Dubai, UAE

Founded: 2014

Number of employees: 36

Sector: Logistics

Raised: $2.5 million

Investors: DP World, Prime Venture Partners and family offices in Saudi Arabia and the UAE

PROFILE OF HALAN

Started: November 2017

Founders: Mounir Nakhla, Ahmed Mohsen and Mohamed Aboulnaga

Based: Cairo, Egypt

Sector: transport and logistics

Size: 150 employees

Investment: approximately $8 million

Investors include: Singapore’s Battery Road Digital Holdings, Egypt’s Algebra Ventures, Uber co-founder and former CTO Oscar Salazar

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Abu Dhabi GP Saturday schedule

12.30pm GP3 race (18 laps)

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5pm Formula One qualifying

6.40pm Formula 2 race (31 laps)

WORLD CUP SEMI-FINALS

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(Saturday, 12pm UAE)

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(Sunday, 12pm, UAE)

 

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Traits of Chinese zodiac animals

Tiger:independent, successful, volatile
Rat:witty, creative, charming
Ox:diligent, perseverent, conservative
Rabbit:gracious, considerate, sensitive
Dragon:prosperous, brave, rash
Snake:calm, thoughtful, stubborn
Horse:faithful, energetic, carefree
Sheep:easy-going, peacemaker, curious
Monkey:family-orientated, clever, playful
Rooster:honest, confident, pompous
Dog:loyal, kind, perfectionist
Boar:loving, tolerant, indulgent   

Diriyah%20project%20at%20a%20glance
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RESULTS
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Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12

Power: 819hp

Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm

Price: From Dh1,700,000

Available: Now

The biog

From: Upper Egypt

Age: 78

Family: a daughter in Egypt; a son in Dubai and his wife, Nabila

Favourite Abu Dhabi activity: walking near to Emirates Palace

Favourite building in Abu Dhabi: Emirates Palace

Living in...

This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

The specs

Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors

Transmission: two-speed

Power: 671hp

Torque: 849Nm

Range: 456km

Price: from Dh437,900 

On sale: now

Our legal consultant

Name: Dr Hassan Mohsen Elhais

Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.

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1. Mathieu van der Poel (NED) Alpecin-Fenix - 3:45:47

2. David Dekker (NED) Jumbo-Visma - same time

3. Michael Morkov (DEN) Deceuninck-QuickStep   

4. Emils Liepins (LAT) Trek-Segafredo

5. Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis

6. Tadej Pogacar (SLO UAE Team Emirates

7. Anthony Roux (FRA) Groupama-FDJ

8. Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:00:03

9. Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep         

10. Fausto Masnada (ITA) Deceuninck-QuickStep

STAGE 4 RESULTS

1 Sam Bennett (IRL) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 4:51:51

2 David Dekker (NED) Team Jumbo-Visma

3 Caleb Ewan (AUS) Lotto Soudal 

4 Elia Viviani (ITA) Cofidis

5 Matteo Moschetti (ITA) Trek-Segafredo

General Classification

1 Tadej Pogacar (SLO) UAE Team Emirates - 12:50:21

2 Adam Yates (GBR) Teamn Ineos Grenadiers - 0:00:43

3 Joao Almeida (POR) Deceuninck-QuickStep - 0:01:03

4 Chris Harper (AUS) Jumbo-Visma - 0:01:43

5 Neilson Powless (USA) EF Education-Nippo - 0:01:45

HIJRA

Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy

Director: Shahad Ameen

Rating: 3/5

BMW M5 specs

Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor

Power: 727hp

Torque: 1,000Nm

Transmission: 8-speed auto

Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km

On sale: Now

Price: From Dh650,000

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Sand storm

  • Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
  • Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
  • Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
  • Travel distance: Limited 
  • Source: Open desert areas with strong winds

Dust storm

  • Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
  • Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
  • Duration: Can linger for days
  • Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
  • Source: Can be carried from distant regions
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MATHC INFO

England 19 (Try: Tuilagi; Cons: Farrell; Pens: Ford (4)

New Zealand 7 (Try: Savea; Con: Mo'unga)

What is tokenisation?

Tokenisation refers to the issuance of a blockchain token, which represents a virtually tradable real, tangible asset. A tokenised asset is easily transferable, offers good liquidity, returns and is easily traded on the secondary markets. 

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Updated: June 12, 2024, 5:53 AM`