President Sheikh Mohamed has ordered the distribution of Dh1.5 billion ($410 million) worth of housing benefits to Abu Dhabi citizens.
It is the second such announcement this year and it coincides with the holy occasion of Eid Al Adha.
The payout will include grants for home loans and exemptions from loan repayments.
More than 1,100 Emiratis will benefit from the package, including retirees and families in which the mortgage payer has died.
In April, under the first housing package of 2022, which coincided with Eid Al Fitr celebrations, 1,347 citizens in Abu Dhabi received housing loans worth a total of Dh2.36bn.
Sheikh Mohamed ordered the payment of the loans following directives from then-President Sheikh Khalifa.
Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme
The UAE government allocates land, free accommodation or a loan to eligible Emiratis who apply though the Housing Allocation Committee.
The Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, established in 1999, provides low-income Emiratis with interest-free loans that are repayable over a 25-year period. Priority is given to widows, senior Emiratis and people with disabilities.
The scheme was introduced to ensure all Emiratis have access to safe and affordable housing and basic services.
The UAE capital aims to double the number of housing loans issued to Emiratis as part of Abu Dhabi Government Accelerator Programme, Ghadan 21.
Emiratis who have worked for at least 15 years and lived in the UAE for a decade or longer can apply for loans of Dh500,000 to Dh2.25m from the government to buy a home or plot of land on which to build a house.
This loan is repaid over the remainder of their lives but can sometimes be waived by order of Sheikh Mohamed. Typically, retired or low-income Emiratis are exempt from such directives.
The loans are distributed by Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme but Emiratis can alternatively apply for a pre-built home with Abu Dhabi Housing Authority.
Cost of living subsidy
Earlier this month, a Dh28 billion ($7.6bn) social support package was announced, to provide lower-income Emirati families with subsidies to pay for essentials including fuel, food and utilities.
The President said the existing social support scheme for citizens would be restructured to raise annual financial assistance from Dh2.7bn to Dh5bn.
The total social support budget was doubled from Dh14bn.
Emirati cost of living subsidy: in pictures
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Hessa Buhumaid said fuel and shopping subsidies would begin on July 5, 2022, while household payments and other measures will be introduced in September 2022. Khushnum Bhandari / The National -
Emiratis on lower incomes will receive a subsidy on the petrol they purchase. This effectively means a 85 per cent discount on any petrol that costs more than Dh2.1 per litre - the current price is about Dh4.6 per litre. Sarah Dea/ The National -
Monthly support payments will help Emiratis to absorb the cost of living. Jaime Puebla / The National -
Emiratis on household incomes lower than Dh25,000 will receive a further subsidy on energy costs. Photo: PA -
University fees will be subsidised to encourgage Emirati children to study further. Pawan Singh / The National
