DUBAI 5 February 2020: Dubai has allocated Dh500 million to enhance the quality of life for citizens across Dubai’s residential areas and exempted 422 financially distressed persons from paying home loans.
Abu Dhabi has exempted 429 citizens from paying home loans.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, issued directives while chairing the third Dubai Council meeting.
Residential Councils: Among the directives is the formation of 12 residential councils as meeting points for UAE citizens and hubs to organise community and social events as well as the establishment of committees of Emirati retired experts to be tasked with raising citizens’ needs to Dubai Council and suggesting events and initiatives to enhance the quality of life across neighbourhoods.
Mortgage Fee: In another set of directives, Sheikh Mohammed ordered the exemption of all citizens from paying mortgage registration fees and exemption of new Emirati owners of houses that do not exceed Dh4 million from paying electricity connection fees in an effort to ease their financial burden and ensure family stability.
“We will allocate Dh500 million to enhance the quality of life for citizens in residential areas based on their own suggestions and ideas, not government plans. We look forward to receiving ideas from our citizens on public facilities, playgrounds and parks they need in their neighbourhoods through www.Dubaicouncil.ae,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
“We assigned the Commissioner-General of the council’s citizen services pillar to develop Dubai’s societal system to ensure the best quality of life for our citizens…The Commissioner-General of the citizen services shall start with immediate implementation.”
Citizen Ideas: The council adopted directives to receive ideas of citizens through Dubai Council’s website and establish mechanisms to review, evaluate and implement top-priority projects. A nation-wide media campaign will urge citizens to raise their ideas and suggestions to enhance their quality of life in neighbourhoods. Mattar Al Tayer, Commissioner General of the council’s “infrastructure, urban planning and wellbeing” pillar, will oversee the implementation of the campaign.
Abdullah Khalifa Al Marri, Commissioner General of the council’s “citizen services” pillar, shall be tasked with forming the 12 citizen councils and monitoring their progress. Dubai Council will approve committee formation and planning.
Sheikh Mohammed ordered the collaboration of all government entities with residential councils to ensure advanced services that respond to all citizens’ needs in neighbourhoods.
Loan Waiver: Another set of directives stated that the housing loans of 422 financially distressed citizens shall be waived before the end of March 2020. The directive aims to alleviate financial burdens facing some citizens and ensure family stability.
Dubai Council also adopted the decision to exempt all citizens from paying mortgage registration fees to the Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment and Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme.
AbuDhabi exempts 429 citizens from home loan repayments
ABU DHABI: Under the directives of President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has ordered for the exemption of 429 retired citizens from the repayment of housing loans in Abu Dhabi, with a total value of Dh444 million.
The gesture aims to achieve family stability and ensure the best standard of living for citizens.
These exemptions also aim to relieve citizens’ social burdens, especially retirees with low income, to get rid of any related social burdens.
The waived sum totaled to Dh652 million to exempt 640 UAE nationals from paying any pending housing loans. In September 2019, a total of Dh208 million was settled to exempt 211 citizens from paying any pending housing loans.
Exempting UAE retirees and limited-income earners is based on legislations related to pensioners and availability of related budget.
