Mohammed okays Dh2.1b housing aid

The People's Ruler!

Staff Reporter / 5 August 2013


His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Saturday approved more than Dh2 billion in housing assistance to Emirati citizens through the Shaikh Zayed Housing Programme.

Shaikh Mohammed also gave directives to the officials concerned at the programme to address the 5,000 additional housing requests before the end of the year.
He also ordered building of houses to cater to the needs of about 700 families.
He issued the directives while visiting the Shaikh Zayed Housing Programme headquarters at Al Rumoul in Dubai in the evening to follow up on the progress of work and the services offered to Emirati citizens. Shaikh Mohammed was accompanied by Dubai Crown Prince Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and Dubai Deputy Ruler Shaikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
To meet the demand for additional houses, Shaikh Mohammed gave instructions to officials at the programme to prepare a feasibility study report on building large housing projects for Emirati citizens in different emirates in cooperation and coordination with local governments.
During the visit, Shaikh Mohammed and the accompanying delegation listened to a briefing on the services presented to Emirati citizens through the Shaikh Zayed Housing Programme since its inception in 2000 by the orders of the late Shaikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan and the late Shaikh Maktoum bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The projects carried out by the programme provided housing units across the emirates at a total cost of over Dh14 billion.
Shaikh Mohammed launched the new portal of the programme that caters to the needs of customers, contractors, consultants and stakeholders in a bid to save time and effort in line with the mGovernment services initiative.
Continuing his tour, Shaikh Mohammed was also briefed by Chairman of the Board of the programme on ongoing projects in the emirates of Ajman, Umm Al Quwain and Fujairah. His Highness inspected the designs and locations of the projects and expressed satisfaction with the efforts exerted by the programme officials in delivering housing units in accordance with international standards.
Shaikh Mohammed stressed that government housing services were a key priority, for they represented a basic service and a legitimate right of every citizen. He said the prosperity of citizens and providing decent living standards were one of the most important duties of the federal government.
Speaking to the housing programme chairman and staff, Shaikh Mohammed said, “Your responsibility is heavy and the efforts expected from you are high. Housing is the right of every Emirati citizen and you should work as a team to eliminate delays and disruptions in work progress.”
His Highness approved Dh1.7 billion in the form of housing grants and Dh390 million in the form of housing loans for citizens. Towards the end of his visit, Shaikh Mohammed received a photo of himself bearing the signatures of Shaikh Zayed Housing Programme employees to mark his visit.

Accompanying Shaikh Mohammed on the visit were Minister of Cabinet Affairs Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Dubai Director of Protocol and Hospitality Khalifa Saeed Suleiman.