Monitoring Desk (THE NATIONAL): Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid has approved a wide-scale nationwide housing initiatives and vowed to improve living standards and build stronger communities for Emiratis.
The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai said UAE citizens should be at the heart of efforts to lay the foundations for a happier and healthier society as he launched the National Policy for Residential Communities on Wednesday.
The policy bids to provide a structure for a new model of living, in line with the UAE Vision 2021 and national agendas that will lead to the UAE centennial in 2071.
“Our goal is to provide an integrated life experience for every citizen, not just a place to live in,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“We want to have residential communities that bring people to live together, communities where residents enjoy healthy lifestyles and social cohesion.
“We want communities where government agencies and sectors coordinate and integrate their roles to enhance the quality of life in the UAE.”
Sheikh Mohammed made his pledge in the presence of Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.
The scheme has been developed by the National Programme for Happiness and Well-being in partnership with the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme.
The strategy is based on six principles, including perfect location, integrated facilities, interconnected communities and places designated for interactive social life, venues for cultural life and intelligent systems.
The policy will usher in new standards for the development of residential communities and quality of life for residents going forward.
“We start today laying the foundations for a new stage in the development of vibrant housing communities,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
“Residential communities that facilitate the life of all citizens and make their lives easier – where Emiratis are involved in the designing of these communities and contribute to improving and developing them.”
The Ruler of Dubai called on authorities to begin implementing the policy when designing and constructing all residential projects across the Emirates.
“Our objective is to provide a comprehensive life experience for every citizen, not only a place to live. We want housing communities that gather people, and enhance their health and social cohesion. Where roles of government sectors and entities integrates to improve life quality in the UAE.
“Today we lay foundation for a new era for the development of vital housing communities that facilitate the life of all citizens without exception, where they are at the heart of its design.”
The announcement comes in a week in which Sheikh Mohammed has already unveiled a 50-year charter for the development of the emirate and given th green-light to an expansion plan of DIFC that will see Dubai’s financial district eventually triple in size.
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