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ABU DHABI / WAM
The value of social aid provided to Abu Dhabi citizens in 2017 amounted to AED885 million, which reflects the keenness of the emirate and the UAE to support eligible community members, through government and non-profit organisations.
The number of non-profit organisations in Abu Dhabi reached 65 in 2017, an increase of five compared to 2016, which include three general services and cultural organisations and two humanitarian services organisations, according to statistics from the Statistics Centre Abu Dhabi, SCAD.
The Emirate of Abu Dhabi and the UAE has an integrated social support system, which is managed by relevant local government authorities that are supervised by the Ministry of Community Development.
Many authorities were established to provide social support, especially to children, the youth, the elderly, people of determination and other needy categories.
Statistics show that elderly citizens have benefitted most from social aid amounting to AED312 million, which constitutes 35.3 percent of the total value of aid in 2017.
The value of the aid allocated to health disability in 2017 amounted to AED122mn, or 13.8% of total, while aid allocated to divorced amounted to AED106mn, or 12%, and around AED98mn, or 11%, was allocated to people of determination, and the rest supported the financial needs of widows and women marrying foreigners.
Social support in the UAE is different from other countries, as it is not limited to providing social support, but it also includes psychological and educational support for all categories of people.