Housing loans and grants worth Dh373 million have been approved for hundreds of Emiratis in Sharjah.
The loans for 550 Emiratis were issued on Wednesdays in line with a directive from Sheikh Dr Sultan bin Muhammad Al Qasimi, Ruler of Sharjah.
This represented the third batch of housing support approved by the Sharjah Executive Council in 2023.
The money will be distributed across the emirate and will be used for construction, home extensions maintenance and the securing of government housing, according to state news agency Wam.
The funds will be used for the construction of new homes, the completion of partially built houses and property extensions.
They will also be used to carry out maintenance and to help Emiratis seeking to secure government housing.
Since the establishment of the emirate's Housing Department, total support extended to Emiratis now stands at slightly under Dh10.4 billion, with more than 12,100 people having reaped the benefits of the programme.
Earlier this year, Sheikh Dr Sultan increased the number of Emiratis eligible for the programme by 50 per cent.
The expansion, announced in June, means an additional 500 families will now have the opportunity to apply for housing assistance after the annual limit was raised to 1,500, from 1,000.
Changes following census results
The change followed the results of Sharjah's 2022 census, which reported a 22 per cent increase in the emirate's population to 1.8 million people.
Launched in 2012, the Sharjah Housing Programme has spent Dh8.9 billion ($2.4 billion) so far in supporting Emiratis, with 10,879 families having benefitted.
This includes more than Dh5 billion in housing grants and Dh3.4 billion in housing loans.
The news of the housing loans and grants in Sharjah came a few weeks after the Abu Dhabi government approved housing benefits for about 5,700 Emiratis.
“The wise leadership’s interest and continuous support for the housing sector in the emirate has led to achieving the aspirations of citizens, meeting their needs in a way that secures a decent life alongside family and social stability,” Mohamed Al Shorafa, chairman of the board of directors of the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, said at the time.
It was the third round of housing benefits this year in the UAE capital and brought the total value of packages disbursed in 2023 to Dh13.44 billion, which benefitted 9,292 Emiratis, according to Abu Dhabi's media office.
The package included Dh6 billion in housing loans for 3,714 Emiratis, on top of a decision to waive repayments by low-income retirees and the families of people who died in 2023, which came to more than Dh573 million, with 549 Emiratis benefitting.
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6.30pm: Maiden (TB) Dh82,500 (Dirt) 1,200m
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7.40pm: Handicap (TB) Dh102,500 (D) 2,000m
8.15pm: Conditions (TB) Dh120,000 (D) 1,600m
8.50pm: Handicap (TB) Dh95,000 (D) 1,600m
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Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Tightening the screw on rogue recruiters
The UAE overhauled the procedure to recruit housemaids and domestic workers with a law in 2017 to protect low-income labour from being exploited.
Only recruitment companies authorised by the government are permitted as part of Tadbeer, a network of labour ministry-regulated centres.
A contract must be drawn up for domestic workers, the wages and job offer clearly stating the nature of work.
The contract stating the wages, work entailed and accommodation must be sent to the employee in their home country before they depart for the UAE.
The contract will be signed by the employer and employee when the domestic worker arrives in the UAE.
Only recruitment agencies registered with the ministry can undertake recruitment and employment applications for domestic workers.
Penalties for illegal recruitment in the UAE include fines of up to Dh100,000 and imprisonment
But agents not authorised by the government sidestep the law by illegally getting women into the country on visit visas.
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Who has been sanctioned?
Daniella Weiss and Nachala
Described as 'the grandmother of the settler movement', she has encouraged the expansion of settlements for decades. The 79 year old leads radical settler movement Nachala, whose aim is for Israel to annex Gaza and the occupied West Bank, where it helps settlers built outposts.
Harel Libi & Libi Construction and Infrastructure
Libi has been involved in threatening and perpetuating acts of aggression and violence against Palestinians. His firm has provided logistical and financial support for the establishment of illegal outposts.
Zohar Sabah
Runs a settler outpost named Zohar’s Farm and has previously faced charges of violence against Palestinians. He was indicted by Israel’s State Attorney’s Office in September for allegedly participating in a violent attack against Palestinians and activists in the West Bank village of Muarrajat.
Coco’s Farm and Neria’s Farm
These are illegal outposts in the West Bank, which are at the vanguard of the settler movement. According to the UK, they are associated with people who have been involved in enabling, inciting, promoting or providing support for activities that amount to “serious abuse”.
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Company name/date started: Abwaab Technologies / September 2019
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Based: Amman, Jordan
Sector: Education Technology
Size (employees/revenue): Total team size: 65. Full-time employees: 25. Revenue undisclosed
Stage: early-stage startup
Investors: Adam Tech Ventures, Endure Capital, Equitrust, the World Bank-backed Innovative Startups SMEs Fund, a London investment fund, a number of former and current executives from Uber and Netflix, among others.
Results
Ashraf Ghani 50.64 per cent
Abdullah Abdullah 39.52 per cent
Gulbuddin Hekmatyar 3.85 per cent
Rahmatullah Nabil 1.8 per cent
The Transfiguration
Director: Michael O’Shea
Starring: Eric Ruffin, Chloe Levine
Three stars
MO
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
