UAE Red Crescent to open Dh15m housing project in Palestine

Dubai: A Dh15 million residential district in the outskirts of Jerusalem financed by the UAE Red Crescent is set for inauguration later this week.

The district, located in the town of Beit Hanina in the outskirts of Jerusalem, overlooks the highway that links Jerusalem to other Palestinian cities in the west and the Al Aqsa mosque in the south.

The total cost of the UAE's projects in Palestine so far is AED600 million, as well as millions of dirhams spent on the seasonal, relief and fixed programmes.

The UAE's projects in Palestine include, among others, the Jenin refugee camp rehabilitation project at a cost of Dh100 million, Sheikh Zayed City in Gaza at the cost of Dh220 million, Sheikh Khalifa City in Rafah, the Emarati district in Khan Younis and hospitals, schools, health centres and handicap centres across the Palestinian territories.

The Emarati district, which cost AED15 million, is spread at land area of 7000 metre square. It includes 58 residential units of 100 metres squared each.

These units will be distributed to members of the Teachers' Housing Society. Samia Barakat, head of the society, said she was grateful to the UAE RCA for financing the project, which was much appreciated by the teachers who were suffering from a housing shortage.

Barakat told Emirates News Agency (WAM) in an interview that the "UAE RCA projects are well known by Palestinians who live in Palestine. They are grateful for all UAE efforts''.

The Jerusalem city and other projects, she said, were testament to the UAE's commitment to helping the Palestinians. She added that the RCA executed a number of projects at Al Aqsa Mosque worth AED50 million.

Hashim Abu Lafi, who supervised the construction of the Sheikh Zayed District in Jerusalem, said that the completion of project was delayed due to many obstacles which were eventually overcome.

The RCA had been paying the costs of all construction phases until the project was accomplished.

He added that the district was built in Arab Islamic architecture style in a way that matches value of the holy land on which it is constructed.

The UAE's development projects in Palestine:

Shaikh Zayed Suburb, Jerusalem

Cost: Dh15 million
Housing units: 58
Total area: 7000 m2