THE UAE has allocated an additional Dh20 billion ($5.5 billion) towards approved development projects.

It has also launched a new scheme to build 10,000 houses for UAE citizens, according to the state news agency WAM.

UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who announced the extra funds, said he had decided to nearly double the funds allocated to the housing of UAE citizens, WAM reported. In September, the government of Abu Dhabi approved Dh15.8 billion ($4.3 billion) worth of spending on infrastructure and social welfare projects.

The emirate has also allocated Dh7.4 billion ($2 billion) to develop roads linking the city of Abu Dhabi with Saudi Arabia and Dubai, while a total of Dh4.3 billion ($1.17 billion) will go towards building a hospital in the city of Al Ain.