Housing plots earmarked for citizens cover an area of 40 million square feet DUBAI: Dubai’s ruler, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, has approved a number of housing projects for 2024 as part of the Dubai Social Agenda 33, Emirates News Agency reported on Sunday. The approved projects include the distribution of 3,500 plots of land to Emirati citizens in Dubai, as well as 2,300 ready-to-move-in houses valued at AED5.5 billion ($1.5 billion). Sheikh Mohammed said citizens, their families, and social stability were at the heart of all government plans and initiatives. He stated that Dubai’s continued success is the result of prioritizing public welfare and leveraging available resources to ensure the best conditions for work and creativity, adding that good housing, welfare measures, a sense of reassurance and hope for the future all contribute to the emirate’s social cohesion. Latifa City, the newly designated area for citizen housing, honors the memory of Sheikh Mohammed’s mother, Sheikha Latifa bint Hamdan bin Zayed Al-Nahyan. The housing plots earmarked for citizens cover an area of 40 million square feet, with eligible Dubai residents receiving ownership in February. These include 2,700 plots in Latifa City and 800 plots in Al-Yalayis 5 community. The 2,300 new houses for citizens are spread throughout Al-Khawaneej 2, Al-Aweer, Wadi Al-Amardi, and Hatta. Earlier in January, Sheikh Mohammed launched the AED208 billion Dubai Social Agenda program, with one of its primary goals being to double the number of Emirati families in the emirate within a decade. He also outlined plans to improve housing, health care, and citizens’ overall quality of life.