UAE spends $690mn to build 3,567 houses under national housing programme

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) expanded its national housing programme in 2025, with the cabinet approving 3,567 housing decisions worth AED2.546 billion (US$690 million) during the year. Of these, nearly AED478 million (US$130.16 million) was allocated in the final quarter.

The national housing programme supports family stability, improves living standards and provides suitable housing for UAE nationals across the country. This federal support includes a mix of residential financing, government grants for low-income families, as well as government housing and financing schemes in cooperation with national banks.

In Abu Dhabi, agreements were signed to develop 13 residential communities worth AED106 billion (US$28.9 billion). This will deliver more than 40,000 homes and land plots by 2029.

UAE scales up citizen housing support

To further assist homeowners, Abu Dhabi introduced new financial facilities, including a community support subsidy of AED250,000 (US$68,000) to be automatically and retroactively deducted from housing loans of up to AED1.75 million (US$480,000). It also extended repayment terms to 30 years.

Total housing benefits issued by Abu Dhabi during the year reached AED15.384 billion (US$4.2 billion), benefiting over 10,700 citizens.

Dubai also announced housing projects worth AED5.4 billion (US$1.47 billion), including the construction of 3,004 new homes. Dubai approved an additional AED2 billion (US$540,000) package for 1,100 units across the areas of Wadi Al-Amardi, Al Aweer, Hatta, and Oud Al Muteena.

The emirate also launched an affordable housing initiative expected to deliver 17,000 units in its first phase for employees in key and strategic sectors.

In Sharjah, the Executive Council approved land grants for 3,500 beneficiaries, split evenly between residential and investment plots.

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure launched a programme to secure funding for housing support decisions, prioritising senior citizens, through insurance coverage extending to age 95 and covering cases of death or permanent disability.

These combined federal and local efforts underscore the state’s strategic focus on integrating social stability with large-scale urban development.