ABU DHABI // More than a thousand Emirati families were celebrating yesterday after being given new homes as part of a Government housing scheme.
Hundreds lined up in anticipation as the keys to 1,326 plots at Al Falah Housing Project were distributed at the municipality's headquarters.
"We told people we'd start at 8am but we started at 7am because people came early - 400 people arrived at 6.30am," said Saif Al Mansoori, manager of customer services at the municipality.
"It is one of the biggest projects of the year because on a normal day we accept about 500 or 600 people. But today, by 1pm we had already finished 1,000 customers."
Recipients took their passports, IDs and family books and left with envelopes containing keys, title deeds and paperwork.
Couriers delivered envelopes to the elderly and disabled.
Abdulla Khalaf Al Hammadi, who will live in his new home with his mother and brother, said the whole process took only an hour and a half.
"We are really very thankful for our leaders and our father Sheikh Khalifa," Mr Al Hammadi said.
"I hope we have a chance to pay them back by doing well in our work and working very hard for our country.
"My mother said she will pray for their good health and prosperity."
Ali Al Khazanawi, a father of three, was also celebrating. He said the Government always tried to help Emiratis.
The project was launched by the President, Sheikh Khalifa, and Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces.
Abdulla Al Junaibi, the acting director of municipal services, said Sheikh Khalifa and Sheikh Mohammed ordered the handover of the homes during Eid.
Following the decree, Abu Dhabi Municipality formed a team with Al Dar Real Estate and Abu Dhabi Distribution Company.
Mr Al Junaibi said the leadership was wise and generous, following in the footsteps of the late president, Sheikh Zayed.
"A big part of Abu Dhabi Government's strategic vision is to provide the best available services and facilities and best possibilities of life for all UAE nationals," he said. "All UAE nationals should have a house.
"The government provides free education, free health care and other kinds of facilities to nationals. One of the main issues is housing, so we're instructed every once in a while to develop, build and provide houses for UAE nationals."
Twenty-five counters were allocated to the house handovers, and the municipality provided a free valet parking service.
It also asked Mawaqif to provide free parking spaces outside its headquarters.
"Our Ruler and Crown Prince gave very clear instructions to all people in Government to try to ease the process, help people get everything done and deliver the best services we can," Mr Al Junaibi said.
The allocated houses were part of the third phase of Al Falah project, launched in 2010 to reinforce national identity.
The entire development consists of 4,857 villas, covering 12.5 million square metres, as well as mosques, schools, a shopping mall and a hospital.
The project is part of Abu Dhabi's 2030 vision of developing sustainable communities and raising standards of living.
