The UAE Cabinet has approved an AED2 billion package to address the damage suffered by the citizens' homes during the recent severe weather conditions.
A ministerial committee has been tasked with assessing the damage and disbursing compensations in coordination with federal and local authorities.
This was announced during a cabinet meeting on Wednesday, chaired by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
The cabinet commended the efforts of government and emergency response teams, as well as volunteers and the public for tackling the challenges and coming together for the sake of the nation.
His Highness Sheikh Mohammed allocated AED2 billion to address citizens' home damage and formed a ministerial committee for oversight, with support from Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan. Another committee, chaired by the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, was formed to assess infrastructure damage from floods and propose national solutions. Over 200,000 reports were handled by central operation rooms with participation from security, emergency, and interior personnel, local authorities, and volunteers. Sheikh Mohammed noted the positive impact of the weather event, filling dams, replenishing water reserves, and enhancing future readiness.
The Cabinet also reviewed updates of the UAE Tourism Strategy and the major achievements of the sector. The total number of hotel guests reached 28 million in 2023, an increase of 11% from the previous year. The tourism sector's contribution to GDP is approaching AED180 billion in 2023, according to the UAE Government Media Office.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
