The UAE’s social welfare programme and aid extends to widows, divorced women, people of determination (disabled or those with special needs), the elderly, orphans, children whose parents are not known, those with low income and some other categories. This page provides information about the various social welfare programmes and guides on the process to apply for them.
UAE nationals can apply for social subsidy services under the social welfare policy through the website of Ministry of Community Development. Find links for availing social assistance from local government entities:
At the federal level, Ministry of Community Development oversees the UAE's social welfare system. The ministry makes specific allocations to the country's women's organisations to ensure that all those in need, particularly women in rural areas, have access to both an economic safety net and assistance.
In addition, the government supports social welfare and rehabilitation centres that provides assistance to the needy and disabled.
According to Federal Law No. 2 of 2001 (PDF in Arabic, 2 MB) monthly assistance is provided to the following categories of UAE nationals residing within the UAE:
widows
divorced women
disabled or those with special needs
elderly
orphans
children whose parents are not known
medically unfit persons
married student
families of prisoners
financially unfit
abandoned women
Emirati women married to expatriates
The UAE law stipulates that only nationals residing in UAE can avail the social assistance provided by Ministry of Community Development. However, it made some exceptions to this rule.
An Emirati woman who is married to a foreigner may seek a monthly assistance for herself and her children if her husband:
An Emirati woman can also seek social assistance for herself if her foreigner husband has no income for a reason behind his control, or if her husband's income is less than the average required to run a family.
An Emirati widow from her marriage to a foreigner and her children are also entitled for social assistance.
Further, a divorcee or a widow of an Emirati man can seek welfare for herself if she has children of that marriage and resides in the country and if she has no source of income or well-to-do provider.
The value/amount of social assistance is decided by the UAE Cabinet and on the recommendation of the Minister of Community Development.
If the beneficiary has another source of income, the assistance amount will be reduced in proportion to that income, given that the assistance does not go below AED 625 per person.
For values of social assistance, refer to Cabinet Decision No. 21 for 2005 and No. 14 for 2008 regarding amendments on social welfare values on the Ministry of Community Development website.
People, whose applications were declined, may submit a petition to the Minister within 60 days of being informed of the decision.
The assistance amount may not to be given up or seized, unless it will be used to fulfil a court-ordered assistance for one of the beneficiary's family members.
In case the applicant provided false information or falsifying documents, the ministry has the right to stop the assistance and request for reimbursement of the amount given.
The committee has the right to pay the assistance to the legal guardian, if it is proved that the beneficiary is not qualified to handle the assistance for any reason.
The complete assistance amount is given to the beneficiary's family in case of his death.
Cabinet Decision No 22 for 2008 provides about monetary compensation to citizens for their losses because of personal or natural disasters which include fire and drowning besides other calamities specified by the supreme committee in coordination with other ministries.
The compensation amounts range from 50 to 80 per cent of the total estimate of losses in money and properties resulting from the disasters.
The ministry is also tasked with providing urgent aid such as food and shelter needed immediately after the disaster. Article 2 of the law provides that the ministry will provide within two days of notification about the disaster, an urgent cash relief of AED 300 per person affected per day.
Useful links
The Abu Dhabi Social Support Programme (website in Arabic only) is an income-based scheme that is managed by the Department of Community Development in Abu Dhabi. It is also executed as part of Abu Dhabi’s development accelerator programme ‘Ghadan 21’ and the establishment of social welfare and other development initiatives to support Abu Dhabi’s limited-income Emirati families and provide a decent life for them. In addition to financial support, the programme empowers individuals who can work and enables them to secure jobs more easily in partnership with several government entities.
Conditions
Every householder in Abu Dhabi with a family book issued by the emirate may apply for financial assistance if their monthly income is less than the approved support line, which is determined according family's size, structure and total income. If the family’s total income falls short, the department will grant the financial benefit to make up for the difference.
Divorced women and widows too can apply for the scheme.
For evaluation, the programme will accept applications submitted from 6 January 2019 until 31 March 2019. Applicants who meet the programme's terms and criteria will receive support in April 2019 which will be retroactive from 1 January 2019.
How to apply for Abu Dhabi Social Support Programme?
Eligible applicants can apply through the website of Abu Dhabi Social Support Programme (website in Arabic only), after registering with the UAE Pass.
People of determination (special needs’ people) and senior Emiratis who need technical assistance, may visit one of the Tamm’s services centres in Abu Dhabi city, Al Dhafrah and Al Ain.
For more inquiries, please contact Abu Dhabi Government Call Centre on 800555.
Community Development Authority (CDA) offers a variety of social benefits to citizens in Dubai. It offers periodic benefits for citizens to meet their daily living expenses.
It offers one-time benefits of maximum value of AED 50,000 for facilities for medical treatment and education.
It offers emergency benefit in cash up to AED 25,000 in times of emergency situations that result in a threat to life.
CDA also offers one-time assistance by providing cash to low-income families to buy air-conditioner and furnish their homes.
Bunyan card
Dubai Municipality launched the Bunyan card under the theme ‘We build happiness for a better life’ for UAE citizens aged 18 years and above. The card provides citizens with discounts and offers on furniture to meet their needs of building materials and home furnishings at reduced price, thus providing them with good financial savings.
A citizen can get the Bunyan card from Dubai Municipality centres at Al Tawar, Al Kafaf and Hatta.
The Social Services Department in Sharjah offers an assistance for the low-income citizens of the Emirate of Sharjah, whose income is equal to or less than the assistance provided by the Ministry of Community Development. The website has content only in Arabic.
29 Oct 2024
Social welfare programme for low-income citizens
The UAE’s new social welfare programme for low-income citizens targets Emirati families whose total income is less than AED 25,000 a month. The programme covers various social aspects and support schemes packages as follows:
In addition, there is the inflation allowance, which covers food, electricity and water, and fuel subsidies.
Restructured in July 2022, the social welfare Programme for low-income citizens was allocated a budget of AED 28 billion. The programme is managed by Ministry of Community Development (MoCD) and it will be implemented in September 2022.
1. New Allowances
Unemployed citizens allowance: Up to AED 5,000 per month for citizens over the age of 45
Housing allowance: Up to AED 2,500 per month
University education allowance: AED 3,200 per month to outstanding students
Unemployed job seekers allowance: AED 5,000 per month for six months
2. Increasing Allowances
3. Inflations Allowance
Fuel subsidies
A monthly subsidy of 85% of the fuel price increase over AED2.1 per litreElectricity and water subsidies
Monthly subsidy of 50% for electricity consumption less than 4,000 kilowatts, and for water at a value of 50% for consumption less than 26,000 gallonsFood supplements subsidies
75% of food price inflationHow to apply
Eligible individuals can apply for social subsidy services through the website and/or the application of MoCD.
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Contact MoCD for queries.
Related links
Watch this video about how to apply for Social welfare programme.