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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

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UAE weather: Cooler weekend ahead but watch out for strong winds

Published

46 mins ago

May 22, 2026

Michael Gomes

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The UAE is set for another hot day on Friday before weather conditions begin to shift over the weekend, bringing dust, stronger winds, and slightly cooler temperatures across parts of the country.

According to the National Centre of Meteorology (NCM), Friday’s weather will remain generally fair, although temperatures are expected to rise slightly in several areas.

Inland regions could see temperatures climb between 40°C and 46°C, while coastal and island areas are forecast to reach between 36°C and 42°C. Mountainous areas will remain comparatively cooler, with temperatures ranging from 27°C to 32°C.

Winds are expected to stay light to moderate during the day but may strengthen at times, reaching speeds of up to 40 km/h and creating rougher sea conditions in the Arabian Gulf later at night. The Oman Sea is expected to remain slight to moderate.

The weather is then forecast to change on Saturday, with dust and blowing sand likely to affect parts of the UAE as winds become more active. Temperatures are also expected to ease slightly compared to Friday.

By Sunday, skies could turn partly cloudy, especially in eastern areas, while humidity levels are expected to increase overnight and into Monday morning across some coastal and internal regions. Forecasters also warned of possible mist formation in western areas during the early morning hours.

Looking ahead to Monday and Tuesday, temperatures are expected to rise again gradually, with generally fair to partly cloudy weather continuing across the country. Sea conditions are also forecast to improve, becoming calmer in both the Arabian Gulf and Oman Sea by early next week.

The shifting conditions come as the UAE moves deeper into the summer season, with residents already experiencing rising temperatures and occasional dusty weather patterns across several emirates.

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Dubai announces new VAT charges on parking and Salik

Published

1 hour ago

May 22, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Dubai motorists are set to see a noticeable change in how they pay for parking and toll services from June 1, after both Parkin and Salik confirmed that a 5 per cent Value Added Tax (VAT) will officially apply to several services across the city.

The update means drivers using public parking, toll gates and related services will now pay slightly more as part of the UAE’s tax regulations.

According to Parkin, VAT will apply to on-street and off-street parking, seasonal parking cards, permits and reservation services. Meanwhile, Salik confirmed the same tax will also be added to toll gate charges and Salik tag activation fees starting from the same date.

The companies said the collected VAT will be transferred to the UAE’s Federal Tax Authority in line with existing tax laws.

But the changes do not stop there.

Fully cashless payment

In another major shift, Dubai is also moving one step closer towards becoming a fully cashless city. Parkin confirmed that cash payments at parking meters across Dubai will be phased out from June 1 as part of the emirate’s wider digital transformation strategy.

Drivers will still be able to pay for parking using several digital methods, including:

The Parkin app
SMS parking payments
Dubai Now app
RTA app
Nol cards

The move is expected to make parking payments faster and more streamlined, while reducing the need for cash transactions across the city.

For many motorists, the changes may slightly increase day-to-day driving costs, especially for residents who regularly use paid parking zones and Salik gates during daily commutes.

Dubai has increasingly been expanding smart mobility and cashless services in recent years, with digital transport systems, app-based payments and AI-powered parking technology becoming a larger part of the city’s infrastructure.

Parkin has advised customers to follow its official channels for additional updates and guidance as the new system rolls out.

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Traffic alert: New diversion announced on Sharjah’s Al Khan Road starting Friday

Published

19 hours ago

May 21, 2026

Michael Gomes

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Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority has announced a temporary traffic diversion on Al Khan Road as part of ongoing road expansion and bridge construction works aimed at improving traffic flow across the emirate.

The diversion will take effect from Friday, with authorities urging motorists to follow approved detour routes and traffic instructions during the construction period.

According to the authority, the works are part of wider infrastructure upgrades designed to reduce congestion and enhance connectivity in one of Sharjah’s busiest traffic corridors.

Drivers have been advised to plan journeys, use alternative routes where possible and comply with traffic safety guidelines to help maintain smooth traffic movement in the area.

The project forms part of Sharjah’s broader transport development strategy focused on upgrading road networks and supporting the emirate’s growing population and mobility needs.