Mohammed doubles free water quota for nationals

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, has given orders to Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) to double free water quotas allocated for low-income Emiratis in Dubai from 10,000 gallons/month to 20,000 gallons/month for houses and farms.

One and half fils will be charged for each gallon consumed above the set limit, according to the orders.

Sheikh Mohammed also gave orders to exempt Emiratis in Dubai from connection charges of electricity to their new houses with a maximum of Dh25,000 for each house as well as to give them a free quota of a maximum of 6,000 kWh a month for each house.

Sheikh Mohammed gave directives to Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, MD and CEO of Dewa to immediately carry out the orders and do everything possible to relieve low-income Emiratis.

"Water and electricity are national assets which have to be protected from wasting and therefore preserved for future generations," Sheikh Mohammed said.

"The UAE leadership puts all the available material assets at the service of nationals to provide them with a prosperous life and services at every house without having to bear additional burdens," he added.

Al Tayer said the orders have been immediately executed. Nationals should present documents to Dewa to prove eligibility to the exemptions. The exceptions, he added, need coordination between Dewa, Community Development Authority in order to determine the needy families and low-income individuals.

The free water quota is retrospectively effective 1 October, 2011, Al Tayer further said.