The UAE has marked significant progress in its federal housing sector, further cementing its leadership in urban development and social stability. Since its launch, the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme has provided over AED63 billion in housing assistance, benefiting more than 93,000 Emiratis. In the first half of 2025 alone, the UAE Cabinet approved housing decisions worth AED1.2 billion for over 1,800 citizens.
Recent strategic developments have streamlined housing processes, reduced wait times for support by more than half, and raised the percentage of citizens owning homes to 91 percent — a 17 percent increase compared to 2017. Private sector funding now accounts for 76 percent of housing finance, underlining the success of sustainable financial policies.
Customer satisfaction with housing services has doubled since 2021, reflecting the effectiveness of recent improvements. To ensure continued progress, the Cabinet has endorsed a new financing policy for the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme extending to 2041. This policy aims to issue 40,000 housing support decisions in four phases, with the first phase covering 13,000 approvals valued at AED11.5 billion — doubling the annual allocation compared to past years.
Key initiatives include the Flexible Loan, which tailors financing to individual circumstances, and the Reuse of Housing Assistance Value, allowing families to adapt support to changing needs. The Manzili bundle has dramatically reduced paperwork and bureaucracy, cutting procedures from 14 steps to three and slashing carbon emissions by improving service efficiency.
Additionally, the national platform Darak offers citizens a unified portal for advisory and construction services, created in collaboration with various partners.
Internationally, the UAE’s leadership in housing has been recognized through its election as president of the UN-Habitat General Assembly and its Executive Board membership, reinforcing its commitment to global sustainable urban development.
Officials, including Suhail bin Mohammed Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy and Infrastructure, and Eng. Mohamed Al Mansouri, Director-General of the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, highlighted that these achievements reflect the UAE’s commitment to empowering families, ensuring sustainable resources, and maintaining its position as a global leader in quality of life and urban planning.
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