Blitz Bureau
SHEIKH Mohammed Bin Rashid, Vice-President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, hosted a government meeting on July 30 where he stressed his desire to position the UAE among the top countries globally. He said particular emphasis should be placed on housing, employment and education.
In attendance were Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Vice- President, Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Presidential Court, and Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Ministries’ work commended
During the meeting, Sheikh Rashid highlighted the importance of enhancing the quality of life in the country, while commending the recent work of government ministries and entities, state news agency Wam reported.
“A key focus is elevating government services to meet the highest international standards,” he said. “We must redouble our efforts and align our energies to achieve the objectives across all national sectors,” he said.
The meeting also addressed various matters concerning government operations and continuing development plans. Sheikh Rashid sought a concerted effort to expedite the fulfilment of national goals. The meeting addressed various matters concerning government operations, ongoing development plans, and the latest updates on government initiatives and projects that underpin the UAE’s swift progress. Their Highnesses discussed the UAE government’s unwavering commitment to enhancing citizens’ wellbeing, improving services, and providing comprehensive support across all domains, the agency said.
Housing for locals
As part of the vision to make UAE a top country, plans are afoot to build tens of thousands of housing units for its local population for which the government has allocated 32 billion dirhams ($8.7 billion), according to an official announcement. The plan will see 34,000 units built for nationals within the next six years, Sheikh Rashid, said in a tweet.
The income limit for beneficiaries of housing grants was raised to 15,000 from 10,000 dirhams per month, and the maximum value for housing loans was raised to 1.2 million dirhams from 800,000, he said.
Smart classes
As for education, the Mohammed Bin Rashid Smart Learning Programme was earlier launched to establish a unique learning environment in schools through the introduction of ‘Smart Classes’ under which students will utilise smart devices and high-speed 4G networks as means of acquiring knowledge. The initiative also includes specialised training programmes for teachers and the introduction of new curricula to serve its purpose.
Employment prospects
The UAE government in March launched the “Work Bundle” to facilitate employee residency procedures and work permits in private sector companies. The first phase of the initiative will be implemented in Dubai and will be gradually expanded to include other emirates. The initiative aligns with the “Zero Bureaucracy” program aimed to simplify and reduce government procedures and eliminate unnecessary requirements.
