Sheikh Sultan inspects a project. File / WAM

Jihan Shoaid, Staff Reporter

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, the Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has directed to raise the number of beneficiaries getting annual housing assistance from 1,000 to 1,500, as of 2023.

This follows the results of the Sharjah census of 2022 which showed that 1,400 new Emirati families are added annually.

This was announced by Engineer Khalifa Musabah Al Tunaiji, Head of the Sharjah Housing Programme, through the direct line programme on Sharjah Radio and Television.

Al Tunaiji clarified that the number of beneficiaries of housing assistance for 10 years is more than 10,879 beneficiaries, and the government's contribution to spending on government housing amounted to Dhs8.9 billions.

He added that grants paid to citizens with the aim of housing assistance amounted to Dhs5 billions, in addition to Dhs3.4 billions given as loans.

According to Al Tunaiji, the city of Sharjah and Al Hamriyah got the largest share of housing assistance, as they received more than 6,400 assistance, while the eastern region received 3,155, and the central region 1,271 assistance, pointing out that during the past 10 years, more than 4,200 houses were handed over.

He also added that the first integrated housing complex projects started in the city of Kalba, where the programme in the Al Saf residential complex includes 151 houses, while the second batch will include 273 houses, which are scheduled to be handed over by the end of 2023.

There are also five residential complexes in the city of Khor Fakkan, which include 80 residences, in addition to the Al Qadisiyah Residential Compound, which includes 87 residences, and Al Harai Residential Complex “4”, which includes 329 residences, and scheduled to be completed within two years, according to Al Tunaiji, who added that there are 8 residential buildings comprising 248 housing units in the city of Dibba Al Hisn.