Emirates plan for 17,000 new homes

A plan for 17,000 new homes in the UAE has been confirmed by a government official.

The scheme will see the new villas and apartments constructed for Emirati nationals in Abu Dhabi, Al Gharbia and Al Ain, Gulf News reports.

The plan was confirmed to the paper by the director-general of the Abu Dhabi Centre for Housing and Service Facilities Development Khamis Sultan Al Suwaidi.

He stated: "The villas are currently under construction. Many big construction companies are working on the project, one of them is Aldar Properties."

While the project will not provide any new homes for Britons or other foreigners, it may be a positive sign for the market across the UAE that new construction is taking place.

International property firm Colliers International recently noted that the number of transactions in the second quarter of 2009 was 50 per cent higher than in the opening three months of the year.