Dubai: The UAE has introduced rules allowing eligible Emiratis whose homes are damaged by crises or disasters to receive up to Dh350,000 in financial assistance to cover repairs and losses to household belongings.
Under Cabinet Decision No. 135 of 2026, the Ministry of Community Empowerment will provide relief and emergency support for damage to residential properties, including furniture, household electrical appliances and essential interior and exterior fittings.
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The decision, published in Issue No. 829 of the Official Gazette, came into effect on August 15, 2026. It establishes eight eligibility requirements, a 30-day deadline for submitting applications and a seven-working-day period for authorities to make a decision.
The regulations define a crisis or disaster as an incident in which five or fewer homes suffer physical damage caused by external factors.
The amount of assistance will depend on the extent of the damage, which must be established through an official assessment report issued by the Federal Authority for Ambulance and Civil Defence, the relevant local civil defence authority or another government body responsible for responding to crises and disasters.
The Minister of Community Empowerment will issue a separate decision setting out the amounts payable for different categories of damage, subject to the Dh350,000 ceiling.
