Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, UAE Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, has announced a Dh500 million drive to boost the quality of life of the emirate's residents.
Sheikh Mohammed said communities would play a key part in deciding how the money was spent in the "Design your Life" campaign.
He made a number of announcements in tweets after chairing the latest Dubai Council meeting.
Sheikh Mohammed said 12 integrated councils would be built across the emirate. These buildings will act as community meeting places for residents to organise activities and social events.
He also ordered Dubai Council to exempt the emirate's young people from paying electricity connection fees for any new homes for which building costs did not exceed Dh4m.
ترأست اليوم الاجتماع الثالث لمجلس دبي وأول قراراتنا تخصيص ٥٠٠ مليون درهم لتحسين الحياة في أحياء المواطنين بدبي بناء على ما يرغبون به وليس بناء على ما تخططه لهم الدوائر الحكومية..خصصنا صفحة لاستقبال أفكار المواطنين حول المرافق والتسهيلات والساحات والحدائق التي يريدونها في أحيائهم pic.twitter.com/3mDaO7dfga
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 4, 2020
"I have chaired today the third Dubai Council meeting and our first decision was the allocation of Dh500m to improve life in Dubai neighbourhoods, based on what residents wish for and not according to what the government is planning," Sheikh Mohammed said on Twitter.
He said authorities would ask for the public's views on what facilities and amenities they felt they needed. People can submit their ideas at mbrmajlis.ae/dubaicouncil/
Sheikh Mohammed said the new council buildings would be built as community centres for public use, and he appointed an official to lead the process.
Neighbourhood councils, made up of experienced members of the community, are also to be formed to devise ways to improve everyday life.
"We have instructed today in Dubai Council to build 12 integrated councils across Dubai neighbourhoods to serve as citizens’ meeting points during gatherings, functions and social events," Sheikh Mohammed said.
كما أقررنا اليوم في مجلس دبي إعفاء ٤٢٢ مواطن من أصحاب القروض السكنية المتعثرة من ديونهم للبرنامج ... وإعفاء كافة المواطنين من رسوم الرهن العقاري الخاص بالقروض السكنية .. pic.twitter.com/0ukg2E9X9F
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 4, 2020
"We have assigned Mattar Al Tayer [director general of the Roads and Transport Authority] to follow up with immediate implementation.
"The neighbourhood councils will oversee these centres' programmes, events and plans."
Abdullah Al Merri was appointed commissioner of people’s services, to oversee the neighbourhood councils.
Sheikh Mohammed said Dubai Council also approved a shake-up of housing policy.
It agreed to exempt 422 Emiratis from their debts to the housing programme, and to exempt all citizens from mortgage fees related to housing loans.
The fledgling Dubai Council has already unveiled major strategies since meeting for the first time last month.
During that gathering, Sheikh Mohammed said the emirate's government leaders would be set 50 goals that must be met to boost growth, or face removal from their posts.
He said said there would be a new economic plan for the emirate and a new "urban plan" to improve living standards.
In the council's second meeting, it was announced that dozens of Dubai government offices were to be set up around the world in to boost tourism and investment in the emirate.
Sheikh Mohammed also launched new non-oil trade targets, a Dh1 billion fund and plans for subsidised housing for entrepreneurs on Tuesday.
He said the offices would "promote Dubai's commercial, tourist and investment opportunities, while boosting our commodities, cultural and creative exports and our human talent".
