To help low-income Emirati families cope with the country’s skyrocketing living expenses, the United Arab Emirates is increasing the amount of aid it gives them to 28 billion dirhams ($7.6 billion).
According to official news agency, the increased budget allocation includes raising existing benefits and establishing new ones aimed at reducing the impact of inflation on food prices as well as growing fuel and home energy expenditures.
How the financial help will be expanded was not immediately obvious. UAE is a significant oil-producing country.
Financial assistance for college students and jobless people over 45 is one of the new advantages.
Of the nearly 10 million residents of the UAE, the majority of whom are foreign workers and their families, 10% are Emiratis.
They are largely low-paid blue-collar employees who are almost entirely immigrants, therefore the benefits extension will not immediately help them.
Residents of the UAE, including nationals and foreigners, have recently expressed their concerns over growing living expenses, with retail petrol prices alone increasing by around 80% so far this year.
Low-paid foreign delivery drivers went on a rare strike earlier this year over wage conditions, blaming rising gasoline expenses.
