Zayed Housing Scheme budget doubled to AED 1.28b

DUBAI, Jan 24th, 2008: Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has ordered the doubling of the Shaikh Zayed Housing Programme budget to Dh1.28 billion.

DUBAI, Jan 24th, 2008: Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has ordered the doubling of the Shaikh Zayed Housing Programme budget to Dh1.28 billion.

During a press conference at the Shaikh Zayed Housing Programme's office, Minister of Public Works Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan outlined the objectives of the Programme, explaining how the Programme will significantly help and possibly solve the existing housing problem. The Shaikh Zayed Housing Programme is the sole federal programme in the UAE; responsible for building individual houses and housing compounds ranging from 300 to 700 houses within each compound. "The priority will be for people who do not have houses, which are about 12, 700 [people], and those with ramshackle houses, which are 1,240 people". Said Sheikh Hamdan. In addition, Sheikh Mohammed directed the Ministry of Financial and Industrial Affairs to start building 40,000 villas for low-income Emiratis throughout the nation without delay. The project will be implemented at a cost of Dh15 billion and will reach completion in the coming three to four years. Shaikh Hamdan revealed that beginning from February, over a period of 11 months, they will announce 8,000 names of Emiratis who will benefit from this housing project. "This is the biggest housing project in the history of the UAE as one batch which shows the wise leadership that works to provide decent living for the Emiratis," Shaikh Hamdan said. He also added, "The gesture is in line with the state's policy of seeking civilization and urban integration in all the emirates of the country."