Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, has said authorities 'welcome all ideas that contribute to a cohesive and prosperous society that embraces diversity'. Photo: Wam
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, has said authorities 'welcome all ideas that contribute to a cohesive and prosperous society that embraces diversity'. Photo: Wam
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, has said authorities 'welcome all ideas that contribute to a cohesive and prosperous society that embraces diversity'. Photo: Wam
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, has said authorities 'welcome all ideas that contribute to a cohesive and prosperous society that embr

Sheikh Hamdan approves development of 17,080 new affordable homes in Dubai


Rachel Kelly
  • English
  • Arabic

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, has approved plans to develop 17,080 affordable residential units in the city.

The first phase of the 1.46 million-square-metre project spans six sites in Al Mueisim 1, Al Twar 1, Al Qusais Industrial 5 and Al Leyan 1.

The announcement, aimed at skilled professionals in the emirate, is part of Dubai’s Affordable Housing Policy and the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.

“We are committed to offering a range of housing options and we welcome all ideas that contribute to a cohesive and prosperous society that embraces diversity – Dubai is a city for everyone," Sheikh Hamdan said.

The new residential units will be offered at affordable rental rates, with access to key infrastructure and essential services.

The project will be overseen by the Supreme Committee for Urban Planning and implemented by the Dubai Land Department, Dubai Municipality, the Roads and Transport Authority, the General Directorate for Identity and Foreigners Affairs – Dubai, Dubai Civil Defence and Dubai Real Estate Corporation.

The new residential projects were among several initiatives approved by Sheikh Hamdan at the Executive Council of Dubai’s March meeting.

UAE teacher Moza Mohammed Rashid Saadan Al Hafiti named in the top 50 shortlist for the $1m Gems Education Global Teacher Prize. Zayed Educational complex, Dibba, Fujairah. Chris Whiteoak / The National
UAE teacher Moza Mohammed Rashid Saadan Al Hafiti named in the top 50 shortlist for the $1m Gems Education Global Teacher Prize. Zayed Educational complex, Dibba, Fujairah. Chris Whiteoak / The National

Enhancing educational quality

Other policy's approved include teacher training initiatives to enhance Arabic language and Islamic studies.

The Dubai Protocol for Curriculum Enhancement and the Emirati Teacher Recruitment and Training Programme are among the initiatives being introduced.

They aim to increase the number of Emirati teachers in Arabic language and Islamic studies, focusing on teaching methods from early childhood to pre-primary levels.

“This policy is a collaborative effort involving education providers, experts, and parents to equip students with a strong foundation in these essential subjects,” Sheikh Hamdan said. “It presents an opportunity to strengthen the capabilities of future generations, enrich school curricula, modernise learning tools, and empower Emirati teachers.”

New flexible legal consultant pilot

Sheikh Hamdan also approved a one-year pilot phase to allow for flexible working in the legal profession. The Independent Legal Consultant Project will enable Dubai citizens to practise legal consultancy independently, without the need to establish a physical office.

“The legal profession is evolving and we encourage Emiratis to explore the opportunities in this dynamic field," Sheikh Hamdan said. "Dubai remains a hub for entrepreneurship, supporting innovative work models that promote work-life balance and enhance quality of life.”

The pilot phase covers real estate and personal status law, and all applicants must have a minimum of two years of legal experience, as well as meeting other criteria such as passing an assessment and completing a training programme in the relevant field.

Mica

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Stars: Zakaria Inan, Sabrina Ouazani

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Director: Saeed Roustaee

Starring: Parinaz Izadyar, Payman Maadi

Rating: 4/5

Engine: 80 kWh four-wheel-drive

Transmission: eight-speed automatic

Power: 402bhp

Torque: 760Nm

Price: From Dh280,000

The candidates

Dr Ayham Ammora, scientist and business executive

Ali Azeem, business leader

Tony Booth, professor of education

Lord Browne, former BP chief executive

Dr Mohamed El-Erian, economist

Professor Wyn Evans, astrophysicist

Dr Mark Mann, scientist

Gina MIller, anti-Brexit campaigner

Lord Smith, former Cabinet minister

Sandi Toksvig, broadcaster

 

Normcore explained

Something of a fashion anomaly, normcore is essentially a celebration of the unremarkable. The term was first popularised by an article in New York magazine in 2014 and has been dubbed “ugly”, “bland’ and "anti-style" by fashion writers. It’s hallmarks are comfort, a lack of pretentiousness and neutrality – it is a trend for those who would rather not stand out from the crowd. For the most part, the style is unisex, favouring loose silhouettes, thrift-shop threads, baseball caps and boyish trainers. It is important to note that normcore is not synonymous with cheapness or low quality; there are high-fashion brands, including Parisian label Vetements, that specialise in this style. Embraced by fashion-forward street-style stars around the globe, it’s uptake in the UAE has been relatively slow.

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How to protect yourself when air quality drops

Install an air filter in your home.

Close your windows and turn on the AC.

Shower or bath after being outside.

Wear a face mask.

Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.

If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.

Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
  • Priority access to new homes from participating developers
  • Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
  • Flexible payment plans from developers
  • Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
  • DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates

Company profile

Name: GiftBag.ae

Based: Dubai

Founded: 2011

Number of employees: 4

Sector: E-commerce

Funding: Self-funded to date

The National Archives, Abu Dhabi

Founded over 50 years ago, the National Archives collects valuable historical material relating to the UAE, and is the oldest and richest archive relating to the Arabian Gulf.

Much of the material can be viewed on line at the Arabian Gulf Digital Archive - https://www.agda.ae/en

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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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At a glance - Zayed Sustainability Prize 2020

Launched: 2008

Categories: Health, energy, water, food, global high schools

Prize: Dh2.2 million (Dh360,000 for global high schools category)

Winners’ announcement: Monday, January 13

 

Impact in numbers

335 million people positively impacted by projects

430,000 jobs created

10 million people given access to clean and affordable drinking water

50 million homes powered by renewable energy

6.5 billion litres of water saved

26 million school children given solar lighting

Defined benefit and defined contribution schemes explained

Defined Benefit Plan (DB)

A defined benefit plan is where the benefit is defined by a formula, typically length of service to and salary at date of leaving.

Defined Contribution Plan (DC) 

A defined contribution plan is where the benefit depends on the amount of money put into the plan for an employee, and how much investment return is earned on those contributions.

WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?

1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull

2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight

3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge

4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own

5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed

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Updated: March 13, 2025, 6:14 AM`