Social welfare programmes

How to apply for social welfare

Federal Decree Law No. 23 of 2024 on Social Support and Empowerment defines the elements of social support, the eligibility conditions and the method of its calculation. Articles 6, 7 and 8 of the above decree law specify the mechanism for calculating the family’s eligibility threshold, the calculation of the basic allowance and the calculation of the total monthly household income.

UAE nationals can apply for social subsidy services under the social welfare policy through the website of Ministry of Community Empowerment. Find links for availing social assistance from local government entities:

Apply for periodic social assistance - for nationals from Dubai - Community Development Authority
Apply for financial assistance if your monthly income is less than the approved support line in Abu Dhabi (for nationals of Abu Dhabi only, content in Arabic only) - The Abu Dhabi Social Support Programme
ِApply for social welfare -Family Development Foundation, Abu Dhabi
Apply for financial assistance if your income is equal to or less than the assistance provided by the Ministry of Community Development (for nationals of Sharjah only, content in Arabic only) - Social Services Department in Sharjah.

Federal social welfare programme

Social Welfare Programme

The Social Welfare Programme is a federal initiative implemented by Ministry of Community Empowerment (MoCE). It provides an integrated social safety net to Emirati families, with an aim to enhance social stability, improve quality of life and promote financial independence.

The programme focuses on the most vulnerable groups in society and offers a comprehensive system of support through structured monthly allowances tailored to the family’s needs. Eligibility is determined based on the applicant’s social and economic situation, in line with approved criteria and regulations.

The programme promotes the principle of shared responsibility and seeks to establish a model that balances social stability with economic productivity. It aims to protect vulnerable groups and provide a more inclusive and sustainable support framework.

Objectives of the programme

The objectives of Social Welfare Programme are to:

provide an integrated social safety net by delivering effective financial assistance to low-income families to meet their essential needs, enhance stability, and ensure a dignified standard of living
protect the most vulnerable by offering a comprehensive social support to citizens facing exceptional health or social challenges
promote economic empowerment by enabling capable beneficiaries to gradually integrate into the labour market and achieve financial independence
encourage shared responsibility - by fostering active participation in empowerment opportunities and employment as part of a sustainable support system
ensure crisis and emergency response by delivering timely support to safeguard families during abnormally difficult circumstances.

Coordination with local governments

The Social Welfare Programme works in coordination with local governments in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah to ensure harmonised efforts and to avoid duplication.

Citizens may apply to either or both; the federal or the local programmes. In cases where applicants qualify for both, federal support will be provided first. Local authorities may provide a top-up if the limit of their allowance exceeds that of the federal support.

Allowances under the Social Welfare Programme

The amounts of the allowances were based on comprehensive studies of living conditions in the UAE, including data from the Household Income and Expenditure Survey conducted by the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Centre, as well as cost of living and income indicators. These studies identified the essential costs for low-income families, ensuring that the support provided is effective, equitable and sustainable.

Under the Social Welfare Programme, Emiratis are provided with:

A. Basic allowance

This allowance includes:

primary beneficiary allowance (given to the husband usually)
spouse allowance (given to either husband or wife)
children's allowance (given to individuals up to the age of 21, or 25 if they continue higher education; the allowance ceases upon his/her graduation, marriage or employment, whichever occurs first).

B. Supplementary allowance

This allowance is provided to the families that are already receiving the basic allowance mentioned above. Supplementary allowance includes:

housing allowance
academic excellence allowance for higher education
seasonal allowance.

1. Housing allowance

It is offered to families who do not receive any government housing support. This allowance is adjusted according to the family size, housing and living conditions.

Documents required

The applicant must submit:

a copy of the housing rental contract or its electricity and water bill
proof of family relationship
proof that no buildings are constructed on the land that he/she may own
proof of ownership of the jointly owned or inherited property.

Submit documents online through the website of MOCE/‘My files’ page.

Conditions for obtaining the housing allowance

To receive housing allowance, the applicant must:

be at least 25 years old
not own residential property, nor have a spouse or child under 21, who own a suitable residential property, or a residential property granted by a federal or local government entity
not be receiving any housing financial support from a federal or local government. If any is received, it must be less than the approved housing allowance.
not have a residence provided by his/her employer, or by the employer of any dependent family member.

2. Academic excellence allowance for higher education

It is provided to university students who are the children or siblings of social support beneficiaries, and have achieved outstanding results in their studies. The amount of allowance allocated to them is increased to motivate them to continue their education and academic excellence.

Documents required

The applicant must submit a copy of the academic transcript or record of the most recent semester for the high-achieving student.

Submit documents online through the website of MOCE/‘My files’ page.

Conditions for obtaining the academic excellence allowance

To receive the academic excellence allowance, the applicant must:

be residing in the UAE and have officially enrolled in a recognised government or private higher education institute accredited by Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research
have completed at least 12 credit hours in the previous academic term, and obtained a GPA of 3.3, or equivalent.

For more information, refer to:

3. Seasonal allowance

This allowance is granted to the beneficiary on special occasions, such as national holidays.

Inflation allowance

In addition to the basic and supplementary allowances, MoCE provides inflation allowance, which is a temporary support to mitigate the impact of rising living costs caused by global inflation. It covers expenses for: fuel, food, and electricity and water. The allowance is disbursed monthly as credit to eligible beneficiaries and is implemented under the supervision of Ministry of Community Empowerment. This allowance was designed based on technical studies that analysed price trends and average household spending. The inflation allowance rates shown below have been set in accordance with the Cabinet Resolution No. 58 of 2025 Regarding Inflation Allowance.

1. Fuel allowance

The fuel allowance covers 85 per cent of the increase in fuel prices subject to a maximum amount as shown in the table below.

Fuel price (AED)	Maximum amount of allowance (AED)
<2.1	0
2.1-2.85	AED 300 for each spouse
2.86-3.6	AED 600 for each spouse
>3.6	AED 900 for each spouse

2. Food allowance

The food allowance covers 75 per cent of the increase in food prices subject to a maximum amount as shown in the table below.

Beneficiary	Maximum amount of allowance (AED)
Husband	AED 500
Wife	AED 500
Children	AED 250 per child (up to 4 children)

3. Electricity and water allowance

The electricity and water allowance covers 50 per cent of consumption costs, or AED 400 per month, whichever is lower.

Conditions for receiving the inflation allowance

To receive the inflation allowance, the primary beneficiary or his spouse must either be:

at least 21 years old and employed and insured with one of the UAE’s pension and social security funds, or a retired individual or
a child below 21 years of age.

Moreover, the family’s total monthly income must be less than AED 25,000.

Find steps to apply for the inflation allowance.

How to apply for the Social Welfare Programme?

Find steps to apply for social support.

Abu Dhabi Social Support Programme

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.

Social assistance in Dubai

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.

Social assistance system in Sharjah

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.

Federal social welfare programme

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