Emirati families on social support can seek assistance for crisis-related home damage, including furniture, appliances and essential fittings.
UAE families already receiving social support can now apply for up to Dh350,000 if their homes are damaged in a qualifying crisis or disaster, under new Cabinet rules that took effect on August 15.
The financial assistance is designed to cover verified losses to homes and essential household contents. The rules apply when external factors cause material damage to five or fewer homes, which is the threshold used in the resolution’s definition of a crisis or disaster.
Cabinet Resolution No. 135 of 2026 replaces the UAE’s previous disaster-relief framework established under Cabinet Resolution No. 22 of 2008.
Who can apply for the assistance?
Under the resolution published on the UAE Legislation website, the assistance is available to UAE nationals who are permanent residents and already receive federal social support or assistance through local government programmes.
The damaged property must be located in the UAE, and applicants must provide an official damage report issued by the relevant emergency, civil-defence or government authority.
Damage resulting from negligence, trespassing, default or deliberate acts is not covered. Applicants must also submit accurate documentation and cannot receive duplicate emergency assistance from another UAE entity for the same loss.
What does the support cover?
The scheme covers damage to homes and essential household contents, including:
- Furniture
- Domestic electrical appliances
- Essential interior and exterior finishes
- Fixtures and fittings
The final amount will be based on the official damage assessment, with a separate ministerial schedule determining the value assigned to different types of losses. No individual case can receive more than Dh350,000.
Several items are excluded, including cars, cash, business or professional assets, boats, animals, crops, jewellery, antiques and swimming pools.
What families need to know
Families have 30 days from the date of the crisis or disaster to submit an application to the Ministry of Community Empowerment, along with the required documents.
The Ministry must decide on a complete application within seven working days. If no decision is issued within that period, the application is considered rejected.
Applicants who are denied assistance or receive less than the amount requested can file a grievance within 15 days of being notified. The relevant committee then has 30 days to issue its decision, which is final.
If another UAE entity has already provided compensation for the same damage but the amount is lower than the support assessed under the new rules, the Ministry may cover the difference. Applicants must disclose any compensation they have already received or are entitled to receive.
Payments will generally be made in the affected homeowner’s name. For rented properties, assistance is limited to the tenant’s verified losses to their belongings and property. The Ministry can recover the full amount if it determines that assistance was obtained using inaccurate information, without prejudice to any applicable civil or criminal action.
