The United Arab Emirates has launched an ambitious slate of housing initiatives in 2025 to strengthen family stability and improve living standards, marking the “Year of Community” with tangible support for Emirati citizens.
Since January, the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme has issued 2,971 housing approvals worth AED2.07 billion. These included 522 grants under presidential directives totaling AED355 million, 595 government housing loans valued at AED246.2 million, 24 housing grants worth AED19 million, and 1,830 housing finance approvals amounting to AED1.449 billion.
The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, through the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, introduced a financing initiative for loan beneficiaries, particularly senior citizens, with insurance coverage extended to age 95. Abu Dhabi also announced agreements to develop 13 new residential communities, providing more than 40,000 homes and plots at a combined cost of AED106 billion. Construction of 25,244 housing units for Emiratis will take place over five years, alongside 14,876 residential plots.
Ongoing projects such as the West Baniyas and Yas Canal Housing Projects will deliver a total of 45,000 homes and plots by 2029. Abu Dhabi also introduced a community support subsidy of AED250,000 for loans up to AED1.75 million and extended repayment periods to 30 years. The Value Housing Programme aims to enhance flexibility in the emirate’s real estate market. In 2025 alone, two housing benefit packages worth AED11.38 billion were approved for 7,218 citizens.
Dubai approved AED5.4 billion in housing projects in January, adding 3,004 new homes, and later announced an AED2 billion package for over 1,100 units across multiple areas. The Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment distributed 3,027 support packages worth AED1.725 billion in the first half of the year and signed an agreement to deliver 17,000 affordable units for key sector workers.
Sharjah approved 2,000 land grant beneficiaries in February and provided a new AED335 million housing support package for 431 families in urgent need in July, including ready-built homes as full grants.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
