Dh7b federal aid allotted for key projects

The UAE's Eastern region will get more infrastructure projects in 2016 and 2017 in the areas of healthcare, education, highways, sports and culture complexes from the federal government budgetary allocations.
His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, recently visited the eastern coast region, to review the progress of projects implemented by the Ministry of Infrastructure Development.
The projects are worth Dh7 billion and include residential support programmes, building new residential complexes, roads, schools, health centres and government buildings.
Shaikh Mohammed approved 17 new projects worth Dh1.5 billion, which will be implemented by the Ministry in 2016 and 2017.
He stressed that all UAE regions are top priority for the President, His Highness Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and development must be comprehensive and balanced.
The UAE's eastern region comprises Fujairah, Khor Fakkan, Kalba, Dibba Al Fujairah and Al Hosn. The funding amounted to 10.3 per cent to the total allocated expenditures across the country.
The projects set to be implemented during the current year include a Deportation Prison in Sharjah, buildings for the departments of Civil Defence, police stations and Special Forces buildings.
The projects also include building hospitals for Obstetrics and Gynecology and Children as well as expanding the emergency section of Al Qassimi Hospital Al Khezamia, Al Amal Psychiatric Hospital, Shaam Hospital Ras Al Khaimah, building Maternal and Child Care centres in addition to a number of health care centres throughout the eastern region.
The projects scheduled to be implemented by next year include Dubai- Fujairah highway, creating and raising the efficiency of Dibba-Massafi road (Phase II), extending Emirates Road (Phase II), extending the road between Al Aqran roundabout -Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah ring road, developing the road Massafi - Fujairah.
The upgrading of the road between Al Tawyeen roundabout - Emirates Road - Al Ittihad Road; developing Al Ittihad road (E88) Sharjah - Dhaid- Massafi; Maliha street from Shaikh Khalifa bin Zayed Street; and (E311) road from exit (119) to the intersection of Umm Al Quwain-Falaj Al Mualla; in addition to construction and completion of internal roads and links for residential complexes.
Projects scheduled for 2016 also include building and completing first phase of sport complexes in Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah.
Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs stressed the Ministry's commitment to adopt a strategy aimed at providing the necessary financing to improve the implementation of infrastructure projects within the UAE.
Projects to be implemented by 2017
 > Dubai- Fujairah highway
> Creating and raising the efficiency of Dibba- Massafi road (Phase II),
> Extending Emirates Road (Phase II), extending road between Al Aqran roundabout -Umm Al Quwain and Ras Al Khaimah ring road, developing the road Massafi - Fujairah
haseeb@khaleejtimes.com

• Abu Dhabi