More than 7,000 homes will be built for Emirati families across the UAE in one of the largest social housing projects in the country. Details were revealed as Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, the Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, approved the Dh7.2 billion budget for the three year house-building programme. In total 7,270 homes will be delivered by 2021. Chairing a cabinet meeting on Sunday at the Presidential Palace, Sheikh Mohammed said: "His Highness Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan set the cornerstone and established an integrated housing system in the UAE at the service of the citizens which has been contributing the well-being and prosperity of our people." He said about 80 per cent of Emiratis own their homes, one of the highest levels globally. "Under the directives of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, we have implemented housing projects in various emirates with the highest standards of quality and sustainability and with careful consideration of the social style of the Emirati family," Sheikh Mohammed said. "We have directed the concerned authorities responsible for housing projects in the UAE to provide the residential neighbourhoods with the best infrastructure services to meets the aspirations of our people." The locations of the new communities have not yet been set out. In November, another housing project was set out, the largest single new community in Abu Dhabi to date, housing 200,000 people. Named Riyadh City, it will be located between southern Shamkha and North Al Wathba and comprise 45 per cent of Abu Dhabi's residential land. On Sunday, the Cabinet also issued a decision approving a national strategy to establish and strengthen research between the health sector and academic institutions across the country. The strategy aims to create health research centres that contribute to finding solutions to current health concerns. The Cabinet also issued a resolution on community green spaces planned for educational institutions, residential complexes and government buildings. The Cabinet also passed a resolution on the cultivation of local plants and nature conservation in order to preserve the natural habitat and increase the natural vegetation in the UAE. _____________ <strong>Read more:</strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/largest-abu-dhabi-housing-project-to-be-named-riyadh-city-1.679373">Largest Abu Dhabi housing project to be named Riyadh City</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/government/sheikh-mohammed-bin-rashid-approves-dh7bn-for-northern-emirates-projects-1.224722">Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid approves Dh7 billion for Northern Emirates projects</a></strong> <strong><a href="https://www.thenational.ae/uae/progress-uae-dh16bn-northern-emirates-development-on-track-1.481023">Progress UAE: Dh16 billion Northern Emirates project on track</a></strong>