The UAE has launched a scheme to provide training to Emiratis who are receiving financial support from the government, in an effort to help them find work.
The initiative, which has been in place for several months, was officially announced on Monday by Shamma Al Mazrui, Minister of Community Empowerment.
Ms Al Mazrui said the project would empower citizens by offering them the opportunity to be productive members of the community.
“We don’t want individuals to depend on the government in financial aid, but we want the person to participate [in society] and be productive," she said.
While the government is always prepared to assist citizens in need, she added, now is the time for them to give back to their country.
“We want to change the mentality in society to sit back and wait for the government to solve challenges," Ms Al Mazrui said. "People should take a step forward."
How does the scheme work?
Citizens on low incomes and receiving financial aid will be enrolled in courses that provide the skills they need to return to the workplace. They will continue to receive assistance during their training.
“We don’t want the low-income family to survive, but to thrive,” Ms Al Mazrui said. "Survival alone is not an option. We want them to be prosperous families participating in society. We want them to be contributors, rather than only depending on us."
More than 3,800 people have already found work through the training scheme, Ms Al Mazrui said. The ministry aims to empower 10,000 families to become financially independent by 2030.
The ministry also hopes to increase the number of registered volunteers to one million by 2031, from its current level of 630,000.
Stepping up support
The employment programme is the latest step by the government to provide additional assistance to its citizens.
In 2022, President Sheikh Mohamed announced a Dh28 billion ($7.6 billion) social support package to provide lower-income Emirati families with subsidies to pay for essentials including fuel, food and utilities.
Under the move, annual financial support for eligible families was raised from Dh2.7 billion to Dh5 billion, with the total social support budget doubling from Dh14 billion.
The UAE’s social welfare programme for low-income citizens is available to Emirati families whose income is less than Dh25,000 ($6,800) a month.
The programme offers Dh5,000 aid a month for citizens over the age of 45, housing allowance up to Dh2,500 a month, university education allowance of Dh3,200 a month to outstanding students and Dh5,000 a month for six months to those who are unemployed.
In addition, the government offers an inflation allowance, which covers food, electricity, water and fuel costs.
In 2023, Sheikh Mohamed ordered financial assistance for low-income Emirati farm owners in the form of electricity subsidies.
The President directed the Ministry of Community Development and Etihad Water and Electricity, which primarily serves the Northern Emirates, to provide the monthly subsidies from July.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, in December set out a new vision for the ministry, which was previously known as the Ministry of Community Development.
“The ministry will oversee the social support system and empowerment programmes, providing a safety net for low-income families and tailored pathways to improve their quality of life and foster their financial independence,” Sheikh Mohammed, also Vice President, said at the time.
