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President MBZ announces more relief measures to support low-income UAE citizens

Published

4 years ago

July 4, 2022

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ABU DHABI (WAM) – In a welcome relief from the tightening economy squeeze for Emiratis, President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan has directed the restructuring of the Social Welfare Progarmme of low-income citizens into an integrated programme worth AED28 billion instead of AED14 billion.

The move aimed at raising the annual social support allocation from AED2.7 billion to AED5 billion.

The programme, overseen by the Ministry of Community Development, covers various social aspects for national families with limited income, including the head of the family allowance, the wife allowance, and the children allowance. The programme also covers financial support for housing and other basic needs such as food, water, electricity and fuel, in addition to temporary financial support for unemployed job seeker, and unemployed citizens over the age of 45.

Introducing new allowances

The programme has introduced four new allowances: housing allowance, university education allowance, the allowance for unemployed citizens over the age of 45, and the allowance for the unemployed job seekers.

Housing allowance: The new programme includes a housing allowance between AED1,500 to AED2,500 per month until the family obtains government housing.

Applicants who live with their parents or any other family are entitled to 60% of these amounts. This allowance does not apply to those who obtain government housing subsidy or own a house registered in their names. Beneficiaries will stop receiving this allowance once acquiring government housing.

For illustrative purposes only

University education allowance: An allowance of AED3,200 per month will be allocated to outstanding high school students enrolled in university studies (according to the requirements of the Education and Human Resources Council). The allowance also includes students enrolled in diploma and university education programmes according to the allowances of children for each family (between AED2,400 and AED800) up to the age of 25.

Allowance to unemployed citizens over the age of 45: It is one of the new financial subsidies within the social welfare programme, where a fixed subsidy is granted starting from AED2000 to AED5000 per month according to the age of the unemployed citizens.

Allowance for unemployed job seekers: This allowance extends for a period of six months, and amounts to AED5000 per month for each beneficiary, regardless of his age.

Increasing allowances

The social welfare programme has been keen to increase the allowances allocated to all family members, including the three current allowances: the allowance for the head of the family, the one for the wife, and the one for children.

The allowance for the family head has been increased to start from AED5,000 per month and then increase at a rate of AED2,000 per month for every 10 years of work experience until it reaches AED13,000. Whereas the head of the family in the age group of 21-30 years receives an amount of AED5000 per month, and the allowance increases for the age group from 30-40 years to reach AED7000, and the age group from 40-50 years is AED9,000, and the age group from 50-60 years to reach AED11,000, and the age group of those over 60 years old, which amounts to AED13,000 per month.
The wife’s allowance has been raised to AED3,500, with the aim of raising the social support that low-income national families receive.
The social welfare programme includes increasing the children allowance to AED2,400 per month for the first child, AED1,600 per month for the second and third child, and AED800 for the fourth child or more, and it shall be disbursed up to the age of 21 years.

Inflation allowance

The programme includes three types of allowances: food, electricity and water, and fuel subsidies.

The government will bear 75% of food price inflation, as a commitment to provide the necessary assistance to Emirati families to enable them to meet their living requirements and provide them with a decent life.
Electricity and water subsidy worth 50% for electricity consumption less than 4,000 kilowatts, and monthly subsidy for water consumption less than 26,000 gallons.
The programme provides a monthly subsidy of 85% of the fuel price increase over AED2.1 per litre. The head of the family receives a monthly subsidy of 300 litres, while the working wife receives a subsidy of an additional 200 litres. Meanwhile, the head of the family receives a subsidy of 400 litres if the wife does not receive support.

Related Topics:#UAE Emirati Featured fuel inflation MBZ measures Oil petrol Sheikh Mohamed Bin Zayed subsidy

Staff Reporter

News

UAE Ramadan 2026: Get your car renewal inspection done at home for only Dh300

Published

4 hours ago

February 24, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Motorists in Sharjah can now renew their vehicle inspection without leaving home this Ramadan, as Rafid Vehicle Solutions has introduced a doorstep vehicle renewal inspection service.

The initiative aims to simplify the inspection process and provide a more convenient experience for customers across the emirate during the holy month.

How the service works

Residents can book a vehicle renewal inspection appointment directly through the Rafid app.

Once the booking is confirmed, Rafid’s team will:

Collect the vehicle from the customer’s location
Transport it to the inspection centre in Al Azra
Complete the renewal inspection
Return the vehicle to the customer after the process is finished

To use the service, customers must:

Share their live geographical location via the app
Ensure vehicle and owner details are accurate
Book the appointment at least one day in advance

Service timings

The service operates throughout Ramadan during the following hours:

Saturday to Thursday: 9:00am to 3:00pm
Friday: 8:00am to 12:00pm

Cost and Contact Details

The service costs Dh300, which includes both transportation and the renewal inspection.

For inquiries or additional information, customers can contact Rafid through its official channels or call 80092.

Rafid Vehicle Solutions is affiliated with Sharjah Asset Management, the investment arm of the Sharjah government.

The new Ramadan service is designed to enhance customer convenience, allowing residents to complete essential vehicle procedures smoothly while observing the Holy Month.

Education

UAE announces academic calendar 2026–2029: Here are the full school start dates and break schedule

Published

5 hours ago

February 24, 2026

Michael Gomes

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The Ministry of Education has approved the academic calendar for the next three years, covering 2026 to 2029, for public and private schools across the UAE.

The move is aimed at strengthening stability within the education system and enabling students, parents and educators to plan well in advance.

According to the Ministry, the three-year framework balances instructional time with quality learning outcomes, while taking educational and social considerations into account.

2026–2027 Academic Year

Start date: August 31, 2026
End date: July 2, 2027

Breaks:

Mid-term break: October 12–18, 2026
Winter break: December 14, 2026 – January 3, 2027
Spring break: April 5–11, 2027

2027–2028 Academic Year

Start date: August 30, 2027
End date: June 30, 2028

Breaks:

Mid-term break: October 11–17, 2027
Winter break: December 13, 2027 – January 2, 2028
Spring break: March 27 – April 2, 2028

2028–2029 Academic Year

Start date: August 28, 2028
End date: June 29, 2029

Breaks:

Mid-term break: October 16–22, 2028
Winter break: December 11, 2028 – January 1, 2029
Spring break: March 26 – April 1, 2029

Important guidelines

All schools are required to adhere to the approved mid-term break schedule. However, local education authorities may permit private schools that do not follow the Ministry’s curriculum to split the mid-term break between October and February, provided it does not exceed five school days and aligns with operational needs.

This exception does not apply to private schools in Sharjah, which follow the emirate’s own regulatory framework.

The Ministry also emphasised that all schools must ensure students attend through the final week of each term, during which assessments and curriculum requirements will be completed.

Notably, the calendar does not apply to private schools following the Indian, Bangladeshi, or Pakistani curricula.

Why the three-year plan matters

The Ministry said the extended academic outlook is designed to enhance readiness, improve long-term resource planning, and provide greater clarity for families across the UAE.

By confirming start and end dates well in advance, authorities aim to support schools as key pillars in preparing future generations, while giving parents more certainty for travel, enrolment and academic planning decisions.

News

UAE announces Eid Al Fitr 2026 holiday for public and private sector employees

Published

1 day ago

February 23, 2026

Michael Gomes

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The UAE has officially announced the Eid Al Fitr 2026 holiday dates for both public and private sector employees, giving residents clarity as Ramadan draws to a close.

The Federal Authority for Government Human Resources confirmed that all federal ministries, government institutions, and public sector entities will observe the Eid holiday from March 19 to March 22, with official working hours resuming on March 23, 2026.

For private sector employees, the holiday will run from March 19 to March 21. Authorities added that if Ramadan lasts 30 days, the private sector break will be extended to include March 22, aligning it with the public sector holiday.

The announcement follows the anticipated moon sighting that marks the end of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month of fasting, reflection, and community gatherings. Eid Al Fitr is one of the most significant celebrations in the Islamic calendar, bringing families and communities together for prayers, festive meals, and charitable giving.

Officials encouraged citizens and residents to plan their travel and festive activities, particularly as the holiday period may create a long weekend for many employees. Public services and government operations are expected to resume smoothly following the break.

With confirmed dates now in place, residents across the UAE can begin preparations for the Eid celebrations.