• Somah Harp,42, and her son Selman,3, travel towards a market on one of the roads inside Sheikh Zayed City. She says her family depends on UNRWA for most of their food.The Sheik Zayed City charity housing project was ordered and financed by the late President of the UAE , Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Photo by Heidi Levine for The National).
    Somah Harp,42, and her son Selman,3, travel towards a market on one of the roads inside Sheikh Zayed City. She says her family depends on UNRWA for most of their food.The Sheik Zayed City charity housing project was ordered and financed by the late President of the UAE , Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan. Photo by Heidi Levine for The National).
  • The Sheik Zayed Mosque in Sheik Zayed City in Gaza. Heidi Levine for The National
    The Sheik Zayed Mosque in Sheik Zayed City in Gaza. Heidi Levine for The National
  • Palestinain Mahmoud Neta,20, jumps over the dry fountain by the Sheikh Zaid Mosque in the Sheikh Zayed City housing project in Gaza. Heidi Levine for The National
    Palestinain Mahmoud Neta,20, jumps over the dry fountain by the Sheikh Zaid Mosque in the Sheikh Zayed City housing project in Gaza. Heidi Levine for The National
  • A young Palestinian girl nearby buildings in Sheik Zayed City which have been damaged during Israeli military attacks. Heidi Levine for The National
    A young Palestinian girl nearby buildings in Sheik Zayed City which have been damaged during Israeli military attacks. Heidi Levine for The National
  • Abdullah Abu al Karaya, 14 in Sheikh Zayed City. Heidi Levine for The National
    Abdullah Abu al Karaya, 14 in Sheikh Zayed City. Heidi Levine for The National
  • Salah abu Safi,16, as he prepares his donkey and cart at Sheik Zayed City where his family lives in the Gaza Strip. Heidi Levine for The National
    Salah abu Safi,16, as he prepares his donkey and cart at Sheik Zayed City where his family lives in the Gaza Strip. Heidi Levine for The National
  • Nahed Abu Safi, 50, outside his apartment in Sheikh Zayed City. He was injured and lost his leg in 2004 during an Israeli military attack. Unable to work, the family depends on their son Salah who takes his donkey and cart each morning to the market in Jabalya to sell vegetables. Heidi Levine for The National
    Nahed Abu Safi, 50, outside his apartment in Sheikh Zayed City. He was injured and lost his leg in 2004 during an Israeli military attack. Unable to work, the family depends on their son Salah who takes his donkey and cart each morning to the market in Jabalya to sell vegetables. Heidi Levine for The National
  • Majda Walid, 43 and her husband Nahed Abu Safi, 50 and their son Salah ,16, inside their apartment in Sheikh Zayed City. Heidi Levine for The National
    Majda Walid, 43 and her husband Nahed Abu Safi, 50 and their son Salah ,16, inside their apartment in Sheikh Zayed City. Heidi Levine for The National
  • Amira Abu Shahar, 64 with her grandchildren at her apartment she received at the Sheik Zayed City after her home was destroyed by Israeli bulldozers during the Israel Gaza War in 2009. Heidi Levine for The National
    Amira Abu Shahar, 64 with her grandchildren at her apartment she received at the Sheik Zayed City after her home was destroyed by Israeli bulldozers during the Israel Gaza War in 2009. Heidi Levine for The National
  • An overview showing part of Sheikh Zayed City against the skyline of the densely populated Gaza Strip which has a chronic housing shortage. Sheikh Zayed City was intended to be much bigger but further construction came to a halt after Hamas took over the territory in 2007 and Israel enforced a blockade. Heidi Levine for The National
    An overview showing part of Sheikh Zayed City against the skyline of the densely populated Gaza Strip which has a chronic housing shortage. Sheikh Zayed City was intended to be much bigger but further construction came to a halt after Hamas took over the territory in 2007 and Israel enforced a blockade. Heidi Levine for The National

In pictures: Inside Gaza’s Sheikh Zayed City

Mark Asquith

April 17, 2014

  • English
  • Arabic

In 2005, the first phase of a housing project funded by Sheikh Zayed, the founding president of the UAE , opened in Gaza. the development provides housing to Palestinians who have suffered injury, bereavement or who had lost their homes through the ongoing conflict with Israel. It also provides affordable homes for newly-married couples. Gaza, which is under an Israeli blockade, has a chronic housing shortage. The National recently went to visit tSheikh Zayed City to meet those who have benefitted from the project.

GazaHamas