Abu Dhabi launches new affordable housing initiative to boost quality of life
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
Zawya
a day ago
- Zawya
Integrated Transport Centre issues amendments to road toll executive regulations in Abu Dhabi
Abu Dhabi - The Integrated Transport Centre, an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, has announced amendments to the provisions of the Road Toll Executive Regulations in Abu Dhabi 'DARB'. This comes as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance traffic flow and reduce congestion on main roads during peak hours. The new amendments will come into effect starting Monday, 1 September 2025, introducing changes to the tariff schedule. The evening period will be revised to run from 3:00 PM to 7:00 PM, while the morning period will remain unchanged, from 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM, Monday through Saturday. Tariffs will continue to be free of charge on Sundays and official public holidays. The new amendments also remove the current daily and monthly toll caps for private vehicles. This means there will no longer be a maximum limit on the toll charges collected per vehicle each day (AED16) or each month (AED200, AED150, and AED100) for the first, second, third vehicle, and any additional ones. The fee of AED 4 will continue to be charged every time a vehicle passes through a toll gate in the emirate. The existing exemption policy will continue for eligible groups, including People of Determination, low-income families, senior citizens, and retirees. Q Mobility, a subsidiary of the Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ), will take over the management and operation of Abu Dhabi's DARB toll system, working in coordination with the relevant authorities to implement the updates. About Integrated Transport Centre: The Integrated Transport Centre (ITC), affiliated with the Department of Municipalities and Transport, is the legislative, regulatory, and supervisory authority responsible for managing and developing the transport sector in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. It formulates policies and frameworks aimed at establishing a smart, safe, and integrated mobility system that supports the Emirate's aspiration to be among the most advanced cities in the world. ITC oversees all land, maritime, and aviation transport activities across the Emirate, ensuring the integration and advancement of the mobility system in line with urban expansion and population growth. It also strives to harness the latest technologies, innovation, and sustainability tools to meet future mobility demands, enhance quality of life, and redefine urban living standards by embedding advanced solutions and promoting sustainable mobility practices.
Al Etihad
a day 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.'
Gulf Today
2 days ago
- Gulf Today
Abu Dhabi to amend DARB toll rules from Sept.1, removing daily and monthly caps
The Integrated Transport Centre (Abu Dhabi Mobility), an affiliate of the Department of Municipalities and Transport, has announced amendments to the provisions of the Road Toll Executive Regulations in Abu Dhabi (DARB). This comes as part of its ongoing efforts to enhance traffic flow and reduce congestion on main roads during peak hours. The new amendments will come into effect starting Monday, 1 September 2025, introducing changes to the tariff schedule. The evening period will be revised to run from 3pm to 7pm, while the morning period will remain unchanged, from 7am to 9am, Monday through Saturday. Tariffs will continue to be free of charge on Sundays and official public holidays. The new amendments also remove the current daily and monthly toll caps for private vehicles. This means there will no longer be a maximum limit on the toll charges collected per vehicle each day (Dhs16) or each month (Dhs200, Dhs150, and Dhs100) for the first, second or third vehicle, or any additional vehicle after that. Under the updated rules, a fee of Dhs4 will apply each time a vehicle passes through a toll gate in the emirate. The existing exemption policy will continue for eligible groups, including People of Determination, low-income families, senior citizens, and retirees. Q Mobility, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi Developmental Holding Company (ADQ), will assume management and operation of Abu Dhabi's DARB toll system, working in coordination with the relevant authorities to implement the updates.
