Abu Dhabi — Housing polices have been updated introducing a package of residential products in Abu Dhabi and allowing Emiratis aged 22 years to be provided with housing.

His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Abu Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces, has approved a package of updated housing polices and the launch of new housing products for citizens in the emirate.

“Based on the vision of President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we are updating policies related to citizen housing system and introducing a package of residential products in Abu Dhabi,“ Shaikh Mohammad said.

As per the updates, Emirati citizens from other emirates who work in Abu Dhabi are entitled to buy residential plots at subsidised prices.

The updates aim to improve and diversify housing services and expanding the base of beneficiaries. Emiratis will not wait so long to receive housing units as the updates cut the waiting period by more than a half.

Citizens are allowed to trade and replace land grants and buy other land plots at subsidised prices according to certain regulations and rules.

The new housing system allow more categories to benefit from housing programmes and financial assistance given to families with limited incomes.

Single Emirati women, citizens who previously received housing grants and Emiratis from other emirates working in Abu Dhabi are eligible to benefit from updated residential products.

Coinciding with the updated housing policies, Abu Dhabi government has launched a new real estate company called ‘Mudon Properties’, which is tasked with designing and building new housing communities that cater to the needs to Emirati families within the scope of the value of grants and loans given by the government.

The newly-established company will oversee forging contracts with experts, designers and construction companies to ensure the creation of housing designs that reflect the emirate’s identity, and the construction of integrated housing communities.

Meanwhile, Shaikh Mohammad has ordered that the largest housing project in Abu Dhabi be called “Riyadh City”.

“We are proud to name the largest housing project in Abu Dhabi as Riyadh City. Saudi Arabia-UAE long-standing ties are based on brotherhood, cooperation and common destiny,” Shaikh Mohammad said,

The well-being, happiness and comfort of citizens is an utmost priority under Shaikh Khalifa’s vision. We will not stop exerting more efforts to develop a modern and sustainable housing system,” he added.

“The UAE leadership, through development projects, aims to build a cohesive society that enjoys a dignified life within a safe and stable environment that encourages them to work and be productive. The happiness of Emiratis is a top priority, and development witnessed by the UAE is based on people and our vision for the future is to implement the best housing system that lives up to the UAE and its citizens’ expectations,” tweeted Shaikh Mohammad.

Saeed Eid Al Ghafli, Board Chairman of Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, said improving the quality of life and ensuring the welfare of citizens are top priorities of the Abu Dhabi government. “The key goal of the housing updates is to give citizens the freedom to select the proper housing for them and their families, thus contributing to social and family stability,”