Latest news with #AffordableHousingProgramme
Arabian Post
21-05-2025
- Business
- Arabian Post
Dubai's Housing Vision Expands with 17,000-Unit Development
Arabian Post Staff -Dubai Dubai has embarked on a significant affordable housing initiative, aiming to construct over 17,000 residential units across six locations in the emirate. This development is a collaborative effort between the Roads and Transport Authority , Dubai Municipality, and Wasl Group, aligning with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. The first phase of the project encompasses areas including Me'aisem 1, Al Twar 1, Al Qusais Industrial Area 5, and Al Leyan 1, covering approximately 1.46 million square metres. The housing units are intended for skilled professionals of various nationalities employed in both public and private sectors. The initiative seeks to provide quality housing options at affordable rental rates, enhancing living standards and supporting the city's economic growth. ADVERTISEMENT Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister of Defence, witnessed the signing of the agreement. He emphasized that the project supports the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and aligns with the city's affordable housing policy, aiming to improve living standards for the workforce and reinforce Dubai's status as a premier city to live and work. Mattar Al Tayer, Director General and Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, highlighted that housing remains a key priority under the leadership's guidance. He stated that the Affordable Housing Programme is one of the government's pioneering initiatives aimed at enhancing community well-being and quality of life, aligning with the UAE's designation of 2025 as the 'Year of Community'. Marwan Ahmad bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, noted that the affordable housing projects reflect the vision of building a cohesive and prosperous society. He mentioned that these projects are a significant step in developing sustainable urban centres, contributing to inclusive, healthy communities equipped with comprehensive services and recreational facilities. Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, CEO of Wasl Group, expressed the company's commitment to shaping a future where inclusive urban living is a reality for all. He stated that the collaboration with RTA and Dubai Municipality represents a strategic step forward in delivering sustainable, high-quality housing solutions, supporting the goals of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan. The initiative also aligns with the '20-Minute City' concept, aiming to ensure connectivity to the city centre and access to essential services within a short commute. By optimizing land use and developing residential models tailored to diverse community needs, the project aspires to enhance productivity, reduce commuting times, and improve overall employee satisfaction and well-being.
Al Etihad
20-05-2025
- Business
- Al Etihad
Hamdan bin Mohammed witnesses signing of an agreement to implement affordable housing projects in Dubai
20 May 2025 14:50 DUBAI (ALETIHAD)His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, witnessed the signing of an agreement to implement a series of affordable housing projects in the emirate. The agreement was signed between the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Municipality, and Wasl Excellency Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Urban Planning, signed the agreement on behalf of the RTA. His Excellency Marwan bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, signed on behalf of the Municipality, while His Excellency Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Chief Executive Officer of Wasl Group, signed on behalf of Dubai Real Estate Corporation (DREC).The agreement follows a directive from The Executive Council of Dubai to allocate land for affordable housing projects, in line with the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan and the objectives of the Affordable Housing policy aims to develop vibrant, healthy communities; support urban centres that drive key economic sectors; diversify employment opportunities; and address the housing and service needs of residents across income levels. It also seeks to provide diverse, high-quality housing options that meet approved standards, ensure connectivity to the city centre, offer access to essential services, and align with the '20-Minute City' first phase of the housing projects covers six areas across Muhaisnah 1, Al Twar 1, Al Qusais Industrial Area 5, and Al Leyan 1, with a combined area of approximately 1.46 million square metres. The development will deliver more than 17,000 residential units, catering to skilled professionals of various nationalities working in strategic positions in both public and private sectors. The overall objective is to provide suitable housing options at affordable rental rates, optimise land use, and develop residential models tailored to diverse community Mattar Al Tayer, Director General, Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors of the RTA, and Chairman of the Supreme Committee for Urban Planning, said: 'Housing remains a key priority under the guidance of our leadership, reflecting their commitment to enhancing community well-being and quality of life. The Affordable Housing Programme is one of the Dubai Government's pioneering initiatives aimed at supporting individual and family welfare, while promoting a balanced lifestyle. The launch of the programme also aligns with the UAE's designation of 2025 as the 'Year of Community'.'He added: 'The Programme supports the objectives of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan, which envisions Dubai as the world's best city to live in, offering integrated, accessible, and high-quality housing solutions. It also contributes to reducing commuting times between residences and workplaces, helping to lower the cost of living, enhance productivity, and improve employee satisfaction and well-being.'HE Marwan Ahmad bin Ghalita, Director General of Dubai Municipality, said: 'The affordable housing projects reflect the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to build a cohesive and prosperous society and position Dubai as the best city in the world to live and work. This vision is driven by a commitment to providing a world-class quality of life within vibrant and empowered communities, enabling residents to grow sustainably, realise their aspirations, and sustain their success.'He added: 'The new projects introduced under the Affordable Housing Policy, launched under the directives of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, represent a major step in developing sustainable urban centres that will shape the future of housing in Dubai and support the goals of the Dubai 2040 Urban Master Plan.' HE Hesham Abdulla Al Qassim, Chief Executive Officer, Wasl Group, said: 'At Wasl, we are committed to shaping a future where inclusive urban living is a reality for all. Our collaboration with RTA and Dubai Municipality represents a strategic step forward in delivering sustainable, high-quality housing solutions. Insights from the recent 'Bridges of Communication' workshop have reinforced the importance of unified efforts in addressing housing affordability.'
Scotsman
12-05-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Scotland is leading the way in social housing
If you want an affordable home you're better off up north Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Across the UK, the social housing sector has suffered from decades of underfunding, leading to a sharp decline in the construction of new properties. Policies such as the Right to Buy scheme have further depleted social housing stock, and successive governments in England have failed to replace sold homes at the same rate. Today, more than 1.5 million people in England remain on social housing waiting lists. Devolution has given the Scottish Government greater control over housing policy, allowing a more focussed response. Notably, the Housing (Scotland) Act 2014 ended the Right to Buy scheme in July 2016, unlike in England, where it remains available to eligible tenants. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland has invested significantly in affordable housing. Between 2015 and 2020, the Scottish Government invested £3 billion to help deliver more than 50,000 affordable homes. Its current 2021-2026 Affordable Housing Programme aims to deliver 110,000 affordable homes by 2032, with at least 70% for social rent and 10% in rural and island communities. England's equivalent programme allocated £8.03 billion to deliver at least 100,000 affordable homes outside London by March 2026. However, Scotland's per capita investment is almost three times greater than England's. Scotland has invested significantly in affordable housing, says Martin Bennett Affordability remains a key concern across the UK. Scotland has introduced additional measures to regulate the private rental sector. The Private Residential Tenancy (PRT) system, introduced in 2017, provides tenants with greater security and predictable rent increases. In response to the cost-of-living crisis, a rent freeze was introduced in 2022, a move not mirrored in England. Although the freeze has now ended, new rent controls are proposed in the Housing Bill currently under consideration by the Scottish Parliament. In contrast, England's private rental market remains largely unregulated, contributing to rising rents, particularly in cities such as London. The growing gap between wages and housing costs continues to push lower-income families into overcrowded or poor-quality housing. Diverging political priorities have also shaped housing policy across the UK. England's approach has been market-driven, with schemes such as Help to Buy aimed at increasing home ownership, without effectively addressing the rising demand for affordable social housing. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scotland has taken a more socially focused approach, emphasising the right to adequate housing and the prevention of homelessness. The Homelessness etc. (Scotland) Act 2003 guarantees the right to permanent accommodation for people experiencing homelessness, unlike in England, where protection is more limited. Proposed reforms within the new Housing Bill will further strengthen duties on Scottish social landlords and relevant bodies to prevent homelessness early. Scotland has led efforts to improve housing standards. The Scottish Housing Quality Standard (SHQS), introduced in 2004, sets minimum standards to ensure social housing is safe and habitable. England has had a history of deregulation of consumer standards, though recent tragedies such as the death of Awaab Ishak and the Grenfell Tower fire have prompted a shift. The Social Housing (Regulation) Act 2023 marks a move towards improved quality and safety. The social housing crisis affects the entire UK, but Scotland's approach, rooted in tenant protections and substantial investments, offers a progressive, socially conscious alternative to England's more market-driven model. As pressure grows, Scotland's progressive approach may serve as a model for delivering affordable, quality housing across the UK.
The Star
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Housing that puts families first
Better living: Nga delivering his keynote address at the 81st Session of the Escap in Bangkok, Thailand. PETALING JAYA: With local home-ownership standing at 77%, the government will focus on integrating features that support holistic living in its urban development. Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming, who disclosed this, said the development of green public spaces and childcare facilities would be given priority to support working families. 'Our utmost priority is to preserve the humane element in our public housing initiatives. 'To that end, we are integrating features that support holistic living, such as the development of green public spaces and childcare facilities to support working families,' he said on Monday in his keynote address at the 81st Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (Escap) in Bangkok, Thailand. Escap is an intergovernmental platform in the Asia-Pacific region, comprising 53 member states and nine associate members. As one of the United Nation's five regional commissions, Escap promotes regional cooperation to address sustainable development challenges. Nga said initiatives such as the Affordable Housing Programme (Rumah Mampu Milik), Citizen-Friendly Home Programme (Rumah Mesra Rakyat), and housing projects under PR1MA prioritised eco-friendly designs while scaling up industrialised building systems to reduce construction waste. Nga said the newly-rebranded People's Residency Programme will also integrate the Green Building Index, urban farming, rainwater harvesting systems and rooftop solar panels to ensure that the urban poor were not left behind during the transition to a green economy. He said the Malaysian government also emphasised on community-driven housing initiatives, through programmes such as the Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) and urban farming projects to ensure that housing solutions aligned with social resilience and food security strategies. 'As Asean Chair, Malaysia reaffirms our commitment to advancing housing policies that align with global best practices. 'Malaysia looks forward to steering Asean towards achieving collective understanding for bold and urgent measures to address housing accessibility, resilience and inclusivity,' he added.
The Star
22-04-2025
- Business
- The Star
Housing Ministry backs green housing push at UN regional forum
PETALING JAYA: Malaysia is doubling down on greener public housing — and it wants the region to do the same. At the 81st Session of the Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP) in Bangkok, Housing and Local Government Minister Nga Kor Ming reaffirmed Malaysia's commitment to sustainable urban development and housing policies that leave no one behind. Delivering his keynote address on Monday (April 21), Nga said the country's 77% homeownership rate reflects ongoing efforts under the National Housing Policy and the National Affordable Housing Policy — both focused on ensuring access to affordable, quality homes. He said programmes such as the Affordable Housing Programme (Rumah Mampu Milik), Citizen-Friendly Home Programme (Rumah Mesra Rakyat), and PR1MA housing projects are being reimagined with green features in mind, from industrialised building systems (IBS) that reduce construction waste to energy-saving designs. The newly-rebranded People's Residency Program, he added, will go even further — incorporating the Green Building Index, rooftop solar panels, rainwater harvesting systems and urban farming to support low-income households in the green transition. 'Our utmost priority is to preserve the humane element in our public housing initiatives,' Nga said. 'To that end, we are integrating features that support holistic living, such as the development of green public spaces and childcare facilities to support working families.' He said Malaysia is also placing strong emphasis on community-driven housing models, with initiatives such as Community-Based Disaster Risk Management (CBDRM) and local urban farming projects to strengthen social resilience and food security. 'As Asean Chair for 2025, Malaysia is committed to pushing forward bold, inclusive and future-proof housing policies that reflect global best practices,' he said. ESCAP is a regional arm of the United Nations, bringing together 53 member States and 9 associate members. It serves as a platform for regional cooperation on sustainable development and policy challenges in the Asia-Pacific.
