
Abu Dhabi launches new affordable housing initiative to boost quality of life
In an effort to enhance the real estate landscape and improve the quality of life for its residents, Abu Dhabi is rolling out a new initiative focused on affordable, high-quality housing.
Value Housing Programme will be rolled out in phases, with a focus on improving living standards for individuals and families.
Launched by the Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), the initiative also aims to strengthen social integration and foster community bonds, which are central to the Year of Community. By offering affordable, high-quality housing, the programme emphasises the commitment to building dynamic, inclusive communities.
As part of this initiative, DMT has signed Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) with Sdeira Group (formerly KEZAD Communities) and Central Holding Group (CHG).
By leveraging their extensive global experience, the partnership between DMT and CHG aims to drive collaboration, share knowledge, and amplify the effectiveness and impact of affordable housing across Abu Dhabi.
Commenting on the initiative, Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of DMT, noted that the MoU agreements aim to create vibrant and thriving neighbourhoods that would set new benchmarks for quality and innovation.
'These partnerships underscore our dedication to delivering housing solutions that adhere to our principles of inclusivity and sustainability. They are a crucial step in addressing the growing demand for housing in the Emirate, while improving living standards and providing avenues for everyone to access housing that enhances their well-being,' Al Shorafa said.
DMT is also committed to working closely with investors, developers, and partners to drive the programme forward. Through strategic partnerships, the department aims to reshape the real estate sector and ensure the versatility of Abu Dhabi's housing market, offering diverse options for all segments of society.
Furthermore, the DMT is committed to working closely with investors, developers, and partners to identify new opportunities and drive the Value Housing Programme forward.
These efforts contribute to Abu Dhabi's recognition as the most liveable city in the MENA region, according to the Economist Intelligence Unit's (EIU) Global Liveability Index 2024.
Hashtags

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


Sharjah 24
3 days ago
- Sharjah 24
Khaled bin Mohamed approves AED4.62 billion housing package
More than 3,000 Emiratis to receive housing support A total of 3,052 Emirati citizens across Abu Dhabi will benefit from the latest package. The support includes AED4.4 billion in housing loans for 2,862 individuals. Additionally, AED212 million has been allocated to exempt 190 citizens—comprising limited-income retirees and beneficiaries of deceased citizens—from loan repayments. Housing package timed for Eid Al Adha and UAE Year of Community This second housing package of 2025 has been strategically issued ahead of Eid Al Adha. It reflects the leadership's commitment to strengthening family wellbeing, improving quality of life, and aligning with the UAE Year of Community. The initiative aims to deepen social cohesion and reinforce community bonds. Total housing support for 2025 reaches AED11.38 billion With the approval of this package, the total value of housing benefits provided to citizens in Abu Dhabi during 2025 has reached AED11.38 billion. This continued investment underscores the government's long-term vision of sustainable development and citizen empowerment. Abu Dhabi Housing Authority leaders commend initiative Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, highlighted the leadership's enduring support for citizens through quality housing initiatives. He stated that the package is a powerful example of the government's efforts to enhance family stability and social wellbeing. Hamad Hareb Al Muhairi, Director-General of the Abu Dhabi Housing Authority, added that the package reflects the forward-looking vision of the leadership. He emphasized that it aims to provide sustainable housing solutions that fulfill the needs and aspirations of Emirati families while securing their long-term prosperity. Broader support measures also recently approved This housing initiative follows the recent approval of an additional community support subsidy of AED250,000 for existing beneficiaries of housing loans. The support includes significant reductions in monthly loan instalments—up to 50 percent—and access to various other supportive services and facilities aimed at improving living standards for citizens.


Al Etihad
5 days ago
- Al Etihad
Eid Al-Adha in UAE: Ordering sacrificial meat via apps gains popularity as retailers partner with abattoirs, government
4 June 2025 00:17 SARA ALZAABI AND TAARIQ HALIM (ABU DHABI)These days, technology takes the crowds and the risk out of Al Udhiya — the traditional slaughter of sheep, goats, oxen, and camels during Eid for sacrificial meat can be placed via butchery apps or even grocery apps. The slaughter is performed at accredited abattoirs in the UAE, and the meat is packaged and delivered to your Al-Adha, or the Festival of Sacrifice, commences on 10th of Dhul-Hijjah in the Islamic calendar, or June 6 in the Gregorian calendar this year. Al Udhiya is a commemoration of Prophet Ibrahim's test of faith, where God asked him to sacrifice his son Ismail. Ibrahim passed the test and God replaced Ismail with a meat from the sacrifice is distributed among family members and a third of it goes to the the past, UAE residents would visit authorised slaughterhouses to get their sacrificial meat for Eid Al Adha; but online platforms have made the process much easier. Ordering by Apps For a second year, retail apps noon Minutes and Careem have launched Al Udhiya services, giving users a chance to order their animals using their smartphones. Prices range from Dh1,000 for a Somali goat to Dh7,000 for a 150kg Minutes has again partnered with meat distribution app Zabehaty, and orders for 2025 have already doubled from their launch year in Minutes spokesperson Saro Djerrahian, GM Commercial, explains: 'Sacrifices are performed by our trusted partner Zabehaty after Eid prayers, in line with Islamic principles and hygiene standards. Fresh meat is delivered to your door, with live updates every step of the way.'We brought the service back — and made it bigger — because demand has been so strong. Orders are already up 50% vs last year, with more expected as Eid gets said stringent measures are in place to ensure hygiene and cultural standards are maintained.'This is an important service for us, and we take every detail seriously. Sacrifices are carried out by certified experts at licensed facilities, fully Sharia-compliant and professionally managed. Customers will get confirmation and contact info for total peace of mind.'Careem Groceries, in partnership with Dhabayeh Al Emarat, offers local and imported options. According to their catalogue, a 14–17kg local goat aged 12 to 24 months costs Dh1,723, while a 7–9-month-old Naimi sheep (16–20 kg) is priced Dh2, can opt to have their meat delivered at home, or donate it directly to the UAE Food Bank. DMT Preparations The Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT) in Abu Dhabi has finalised all the slaughterhouses' preparations for Sharia-compliant public services this services include dedicated pre-slaughter veterinary inspection offices and cutting, wrapping, and vacuum-sealing applications also provide the option of easy home the app, residents can choose the type of meat, the time of the sacrifice, and the nearest basic service pillars — veterinary inspection; halal, religious slaughter; and hygiene — will be adhered to. Aletihad spoke with Ali Shujaa, Executive Director of the Zabehaty smart app, about how the app has transformed Al Udhiya. 'The app was initially designed to facilitate general public access and alleviate congestion at slaughterhouses, including the elderly and people of determination.'He described how the process works: 'Carcasses are selected by a specialised team from the municipality, examined by veterinarians, and then transported to municipal slaughterhouses. They are slaughtered, cut up, packaged and prepared, then transported in special refrigerated vehicles to the Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority (ADAFSA), where they are distributed across all emirates and locations.'The services are supervised by the municipality, including the municipal slaughterhouses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al Dhafra, and Sharjah. Municipal oversight is mandatory, so the procedures are clear and regulated.'Shujaa also highlighted the app's gifting and donation services: 'We work with organisations like the Emirates Red Crescent, and others.'On the use of technology, he noted: 'The application itself uses artificial intelligence to respond to customers, and the cutting and packaging equipment is electric.'Khaled Almessabi, Manager of the Halal Mazrana app, said the platform ensures the freshness of the meat and allows the customers to manage the delivery.'Slaughtering takes place immediately after the Eid prayer, at municipality-approved slaughterhouses. The customer can also select from various farm and livestock owners based on their prices and delivery times.'All sacrifices are handled by the approved slaughterhouses, in line with the procedures adopted at the slaughterhouse itself, with the presence of a veterinarian.'The app is integrated with Abu Dhabi and Al Ain municipalities for seamless service delivery. ADAFSA Awareness Campaign The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority is intensifying its efforts to raise public awareness about the importance of slaughtering livestock in licensed campaign aims to curb random slaughter practices and dealings with unlicensed butchers, reinforcing biosecurity measures and public health standards to prevent zoonotic diseases that can spread between humans and emphasises that slaughtering in regulated abattoirs plays a vital role in ensuring public health. Abattoirs across Abu Dhabi offer controlled environments that minimise contamination risks, ensuring that carcasses are processed in clean and hygienic conditions and preventing inspections before and after slaughter guarantee the safety of meat for human consumption. Qualified and legally licensed butchers oversee the process, while waste management protocols ensure the safe disposal of slaughtering by-products, aligning with biosecurity also ensures that Islamic slaughtering guidelines — including proper positioning, recitation, precise cutting techniques for efficient bleeding, and full exsanguination — are adhered to, as poor bleeding due to fever or improper cutting can compromise meat quality. ADAFSA's campaign encourages residents to utilise Abu Dhabi's modern abattoirs, which adhere to high safety and hygiene standards, ensuring that slaughtered meat is safe for consumption.


Al Etihad
6 days ago
- Al Etihad
Abu Dhabi to get Dh40bn wellness island as Aldar bets big on lifestyle-led urban growth
3 June 2025 01:00 ISIDORA CIRIC (ABU DHABI)Abu Dhabi's real estate ambitions just got a Dh40 billion wellness upgrade, with Fahid Island — Aldar's newest development — indicating that intent, rather than scale alone, has become a defining feature of the emirate's urban planning between Yas Island and Saadiyat, the 2.7 million square metre masterplan blends residential, recreational, and natural spaces, creating a mixed-use community where every resident lives within a five-minute walk of the sea and no more than 250 metres from green island, marketed as Abu Dhabi's first wellness-focused destination, includes more than 6,000 homes, a top-tier international school, retail and hospitality offerings, and 30% of the land reserved for green areas. 'Wellness is a mega trend, and for Aldar, that's not a new thing. Whether it's spa and hospitality, food and nutrition, sleep and breathing - it's everywhere,' Jonathan Emery, CEO of Aldar Development, said in an interview with Aletihad on Monday. 'The challenge for Aldar is, how do we bring that into a physical real estate solution? How do you actually make it real? Rather than just an experience, we have to build the stage for it, and that's what we're trying to do.' Designing for Wellbeing, Rooted in Community Fahid Island's masterplan builds on what Aldar has learned from years of work on Yas and Saadiyat. But Emery is quick to point out that this isn't a cut-and-paste version of previous he said, the project aims to respond to the new expectations of both local and international buyers, many of whom are looking for something different post-pandemic - more nature, less distance, and a quieter, more intentional way of a result, Fahid Island is being designed as a fully walkable and connected environment, with 15km of shaded pedestrian routes and bridges connecting both sides of the island to limit car use. It will also feature a 10km landscaped Berm Park, complete with cycling routes and running trails, and a 2km promenade.'We've learned how to optimise the natural benefits of the island,' Emery said. 'How to work with the mangroves, even with the wind, the sea, and the sun. Just understanding what those things mean to people.'The emphasis on proximity, ecology and liveability also ties into the UAE's current national theme, the Year of Community. In the case of Fahid Island, that has meant prioritising walkability, shared public areas and amenities that bring residents into contact with one another. Emery described this approach as rooted in the UAE's sense of 'generosity', not in scale, but in how space is shared.'It's about how we allocate space and how we create opportunities for people to meet. That's very much in line with the values of the UAE, and the kind of community we're trying to build.' Backed by Strong Funding and Market Momentum The first phase of Fahid Island, which includes the school and residential buildings, is expected to be completed by 2029. Later phases will be delivered over the following three developer acquired the land in early 2023 for Dh2.5 billion, initially estimating the site's gross development value at Dh26 billion, which has since grown to surpass Dh40 to Aldar, the project is already fully funded through a mix of corporate financing, bonds, sukuk, and projected sales. Sales are expected to begin shortly after the Eid Al-Adha, with one-bedroom units starting at Dh3.5 company is forecasting total development sales of between Dh36 billion and Dh39 billion in 2025, up from Dh33.6 billion last year, and Fahid Island is likely to play a substantial role in meeting those targets. Its launch comes amid a broader upswing in Abu Dhabi's real estate market, where demand for high-end, waterfront communities surged by 15% in 2024, according to a recent report by MPM Properties. Investor confidence received an added boost last month with the announcement of a Disney theme park on nearby Yas revealed that interest in Fahid Island has come from both international and local buyers, though the domestic market has shown particular strength. He attributes this resilience to a mix of ambition, talent, and the UAE's solutions-oriented approach.'The talent that now exists in the UAE is sort of unprecedented - it's an incredible place to be,' he said. 'It's an amazing talent pool that can help it achieve its ambition.' 'That, combined with a focus on quality and problem-solving, is what's driving the next phase of development.'