
Have you heard of Abu Dhabi's new housing programme?
Only six months ago, the Abu Dhabi Real Estate Centre (ADREC) launched the Abu Dhabi Rental index, which offers renters, buyers, and owners data-driven insights into Abu Dhabi's rental market. Now, Abu Dhabi's Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) has launched the Value Housing Programme, aimed at enhancing the city's real estate market.
The new initiative, whose rollout has been planned in stages, is a partnership between the DMT, Sdeira Group and Central Holding Group, and will aim to provide high-quality, affordable housing for individuals and families, in line with the UAE's vision of 2025 as the Year of Community.
It will focus on creating sustainable housing in the UAE capital, while helping to meet growing demand. And while cutting-edge tech and innovation are expected to headline these new housing projects, it all comes down to what the UAE's Year of Community vision stands for – family unity, social cohesion, and collective solidarity to drive national progress and development.
Abu Dhabi has been ranked the most liveable city in the MENA region by the Economist Intelligence Unit's Global Liveability Index 2024, and the new Value Housing Programme will build on this accolade. The UAE capital's housing market is experiencing unprecedented growth, and initiatives such as the new programme ensure multiple benefits including sustainable housing, healthy supply, an improved standard of living and a stronger sense of community – while reshaping the city's real estate landscape.
> Sign up for FREE to get exclusive updates that you are interested in
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Al Etihad
7 hours ago
- Al Etihad
Emirates College for Advanced Education summer camp promotes Emirati heritage and digital innovation
17 Aug 2025 13:12 ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)The Emirates College for Advanced Education (ECAE) has hosted its 2025 summer camp, themed Bridging Generations: Honoring the Past, Innovating the Future, at the ECAE FabLab in Abu by the college's Continuing Education Centre and aligned with the UAE's Year of Community initiative, the camp offered students aged 12-17 a unique hands-on experience that blended traditional Emirati crafts with cutting-edge digital fabrication two weeks, participants engaged in a variety of interactive activities that deepened their understanding of the nation's rich cultural heritage while equipping them with practical skills for the camp ran in two cohorts; the first from July 14-25, and the second from July 28 to August 8, ensuring flexibility for families and wider had the opportunity to work with advanced tools such as laser cutters, computer-aided design (CAD) software, and artificial intelligence applications, learning how to transform heritage patterns into innovative modern the programme, students collaborated in small teams, engaging in group projects that encouraged creativity, teamwork, and problem-solving. The daily schedule featured expert-led workshops on traditional crafts and digital fabrication, as well as cultural storytelling sessions where the participants interacted with community elders and shared personal experiences. The storytelling breaks aimed to nurture a deeper connection to local traditions and inspire students to reflect on their own cultural May Laith Al Taee, Vice Chancellor of ECAE, said: 'Bridging generations through education is essential for building a cohesive and forward-thinking society. By integrating heritage with innovation, this summer camp provides students with the skills and experiences they need to contribute meaningfully to their communities and honour the UAE's rich cultural legacy. This initiative assumes particular significance this year, as it is designated as the Year of Community.'The Abu Dhabi Heritage Authority was the official partner for the cultural workshop. A highlight of the camp was the final showcase event, where students presented their completed projects to peers, parents, and special guests, underscoring the importance of community, innovation, and cultural pride. Since its establishment in 2014, the Continuing Education Centre at ECAE has offered approximately 344 programmes, benefiting more than 7,000 children and supporting lifelong learning. The summer camp is part of this ongoing commitment, providing students with opportunities to explore science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields while staying connected to their cultural roots. Source: Aletihad - Abu Dhabi


Al Etihad
3 days ago
- Al Etihad
ECA's Parent-Friendly Label sets higher bar as more UAE employers adopt family-first policies
15 Aug 2025 00:24 SARA ALZAABI (ABU DHABI)The UAE is seeing a shift in workplace culture as more employers expand parental leave, flexible hours, and support for families of children of determination. This trend is being shaped in part by the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority's Parent-Friendly Label (PFL) programme, which has tightened its evaluation standards and drawn record participation in its third programme's latest cycle saw a record 83 applications from semi-government, private and third-sector employers, with a notable rise in entries from professional services, education, energy and healthcare. The number of employees benefitting from parent-friendly policies rose 28% compared with the previous cycle, while inclusivity for parents of children of determination improved by more than 50%. 'The third cycle of the Parent-Friendly Label marks a significant milestone in the programme's journey, both in scale and impact,' Fatmah Rashed Alkaabi, PFL Programme Manager at the Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA), told Aletihad in an interview. 'This cycle holds special importance as we celebrate our label earners while the UAE marks the Year of Community in 2025, reinforcing the programme's commitment to fostering a more inclusive, family-supportive work culture across the country.'Organisations applying for the label are also adapting to more demanding evaluation criteria, which now place greater weight on the measurable impact and sustainability of workplace practices. Alkaabi revealed that, while the PFL retained the original 19 criteria across the five assessment areas — parental leave, flexible work, family care, family wellbeing, and organisational culture — the third cycle placed greater emphasis on leadership accountability, data tracking, and staff wellbeing support.'We also focused on assessing managers' support mechanisms beyond policy documentation, including leadership accountability, data tracking, and parental wellbeing programmes. These enhancements were informed by insights from earlier cycles to ensure stronger differentiation of label earners,' she added. Impact Beyond the Workplace Alkaabi said label earners have introduced institutional initiatives that directly affect the lives of working parents, creating long-term benefits for their children, communities, and the organisations themselves. Some offer six months' maternity leave, eight weeks' paternity leave, flexible work arrangements, and dedicated support for parents of children of determination. These measures, she explained, reduce stress, strengthen families, and enhance wellbeing, equity, productivity, and global competitiveness.'Our primary objective is to drive social change across the UAE by fostering a deeper understanding of the unique journey of working parents,' Alkaabi said.'This shift represents a long-term investment in child wellbeing and national development goals. Parent-supportive workplaces enhance healthy child development by encouraging beneficial practices like breastfeeding, which improve mother and child health,' she acknowledged that some employers, particularly smaller firms, may have concerns about potential disruption and costs. To address these, Alkaabi said the PFL programme offers free support to foster inclusive policies and has already impacted more than one million employees worldwide.'One of [the programme's] most valuable features is a structured feedback process, through which all applicants, regardless of outcome, receive an independent assessment highlighting their strengths and areas for improvement.'She added that the PFL team also connects organisations with experts and peers to help refine existing policies or develop new ones that align with both the programme's criteria and the unique culture of the 3 honoured 12 national and international organisations, including three earning the PFL+ for meeting or exceeding global standards in parent-friendly policies — HSBC, Ethara, and TAQA Transmission. The remaining nine — ADNOC, Cleveland Clinic Abu Dhabi, Miral, DP World, The Developing Child Centre, Procter & Gamble, Strategy& Middle East, Kraft Heinz, and SLB — earned the PFL for exceeding local best said the ECA will continue to benchmark against leading global models to ensure the programme's evaluation criteria align with international standards, while remaining contextually relevant to the UAE. This ongoing refinement, she explained, is key to sustaining progress and widening the adoption of parent-friendly policies across sectors. 'Looking ahead, we will continue expanding the programme's reach to all sectors across the UAE and drive a nationwide shift to parent-friendly work culture across all industries.'


Zawya
3 days ago
- Zawya
Al-Futtaim launches 'Building Bridges' to empower Emirati youth and celebrate 70 years of UAE–Japan partnership
In alignment with the UAE's Year of Community, Al-Futtaim, in collaboration with its partners, will send 50 young Emirati delegates to Expo 2025 in Osaka to immerse them in an international experience and foster deeper cultural and economic ties between the two nations. Dubai, United Arab Emirates: In recognition of the UAE's Year of Community, Al-Futtaim, in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Culture, Emirates Foundation and Al Khaleejiya Radio 100.9, and with the support of the UAE Pavilion is proud to launch 'Building Bridges: Voices of the Future', a landmark initiative that will see 50 exceptional Emirati youth represent the UAE at Expo 2025 Osaka, Japan, while allowing them to explore the Expo's global showcases, participate in cultural exchange, and engage with innovations shaping the future.' This initiative reflects Al-Futtaim's enduring commitment to national development and global engagement. It also underscores the company's legacy of more than 70 years of partnership with Japan, through its representation of 13 leading Japanese brands. The choice of Osaka as the destination is symbolic, reaffirming the deep bilateral relationship and a shared commitment to innovation, collaboration, and cross-cultural exchange. The delegates, aged 21 to 30, were selected through a rigorous, multi-partner process led by Al-Futtaim, the UAE Ministry of Culture, Emirates Foundation, and Al Khaleejiya Radio. Candidates were evaluated based on key criteria such as ambassadorial potential, creativity, cross-cultural awareness, community impact, and leadership capability. As part of the selection, applicants were asked to complete a creative exercise that demonstrated their alignment with the programme's values. Commenting on the initiative, Omar Al Futtaim, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Al-Futtaim, said: "This initiative perfectly aligns with our values of empowering individuals and contributing to the prosperity of the nation. By providing these exceptional young Emiratis with the opportunity to represent the UAE on a global stage, we are not only strengthening the bond between the UAE and Japan but also investing in the development of future ambassadors who will carry the UAE's message of progress, diversity, and innovation to the world. This programme provides an unparalleled platform for young Emiratis to develop their leadership skills, broaden their horizons, and become influential advocates for the UAE on the global stage, truly celebrating their voices as future global ambassadors." H.E. Mubarak Al Nakhi, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, commented, "Building Bridges is a powerful initiative that reflects the UAE's commitment to empowering youth and strengthening global cultural dialogue. This initiative offers our young creatives and leaders a platform to engage with the world while reinforcing the deep-rooted cultural ties between the UAE and Japan. At the Ministry of Culture, we believe that nurturing cross-cultural understanding and global collaboration is essential to shaping a more inclusive, creative, and sustainable future. We are proud to support this journey and confident that these young ambassadors will carry forward the spirit of our heritage and the vision of our nation." Adding to this sentiment, H.E. Ahmed Taleb Al Shamsi, Chief Executive Officer of Emirates Foundation, stated: "Emirates Foundation is dedicated to empowering the youth of the UAE, and the 'Building Bridges' initiative offers an unparalleled opportunity for our young talent to engage with global communities. We believe this experience will be transformative, equipping them with the skills and perspectives needed to become impactful leaders and innovators." The delegates will travel in three cohorts between August and October 2025, taking part in cultural immersions, leadership workshops, and visits to Expo 2025, where they will engage with global peers and innovations. As youth ambassadors, they will help deepen UAE–Japan ties by sharing the UAE's heritage and vision, while gaining insights and networks to inspire impact at home. In parallel, and as part of its 70YearsForward campaign, Al-Futtaim has launched a dedicated secondment programme in collaboration with the UAE Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka. Between July and October, talented young Emirati employees from across the Group are seconded to support the UAE's presence on the ground. This reflects the Group's enduring commitment to cross-cultural exchange, international collaboration, and the UAE–Japan partnership and demonstrates Al-Futtaim's dedication to empowering its people with meaningful, nation-building experiences that represent the UAE's values on a global stage. About Al-Futtaim: Established in the 1930s as a trading business, Al-Futtaim today is one of the most diversified and progressive, privately held regional businesses headquartered in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Operating across 18 countries in the Middle East, North Africa and Asia, the Group spans key sectors including automotive, financial services, real estate, retail, and health. Al-Futtaim's work is driven by a clear purpose: to enrich lives and elevate communities through practical, forward-looking solutions. Employing a workforce of nearly 33,000 people, Al-Futtaim represents a portfolio of over 200 of the world's most recognised and trusted brands, including Toyota, Lexus, IKEA, ACE, Marks & Spencer, and many more. With a strong focus on digital innovation and artificial intelligence, sustainable growth, strategic partnerships, and empowering its people, Al-Futtaim's approach is anchored in long-term value creation. Its integrated business model positions the Group as a reliable partner to stakeholders—supporting customers, communities, and collaborators alike in navigating the needs of today while planning for tomorrow. Underpinned by the values of respect, excellence, collaboration, and integrity, Al-Futtaim continues to build a legacy that reflects its responsibility to people, progress, and the planet. For more information, visit: Follow us on social media: LinkedIn (@Al-Futtaim) Instagram (@alfuttaim) X (@alfuttaim) Facebook (@Al-Futtaim) For media enquiries, contact: Layla AlBarghouthi Kartik Suresh