As part of its ongoing efforts to foster partnership in community service and to develop a flagship Emirati paradigm for social responsibility, the Dubai Municipality has signed a partnership agreement with Dubai’s Community Development Authority (CDA) to launch a community initiative called ‘Kaseb’.

The new initiative aims to provide low-income citizens of Dubai and those registered with CDA with sustainable livelihood by offering investment opportunities for small projects. Beneficiaries will acquire skills for enhancing their livelihood and self-sufficiency without government aid.

H.E. Eng. Hussain Nasser Lootah, Director General of Dubai Municipality, explained that ‘Kaseb’ is a community initiative which aims to help address the concerns and relieve the difficulties of citizens. He said that the Dubai Municipality will be in charge of the program and cooperate with the CDA on implementation as well as the adoption of the appropriate standards and systems to ensure desired outcomes for the targeted groups.

The Dubai Municipality signed an agreement with a strategic partner playing a direct role in community service as part of its leading efforts to forge major partnerships with key parties.  ‘Kaseb’ is a quantum leap for its beneficiaries and is a pioneering initiative that is expected to significantly contribute to the development of the field of community service. 

The launch of ‘Kaseb’ coincides with a three-day job fair which starts today (May 16) at the Dubai World Trade Center. It affirms the Dubai Municipality’s full commitment towards fulfilling its responsibilities to the community. The initiative is intended to enforce the Municipality’s strategic goal of effectively participating in various community development efforts. 

‘Kaseb’ also reflects how the department places the welfare and satisfaction of society as a national priority, thus advancing sustainable development by consolidating the pillars of community participation and bringing about a bright and civilized future for citizens. 

The initiative highlights the positive role of government departments in supporting development projects and implementing plans that contribute to nation-building through assistance and sponsorship as well as the adoption of unique, pioneering and innovative projects that promote the UAE’s sustainable development. 

To meet the needs of low-income citizens of the Emirate of Dubai, the Municipality has developed in cooperation with the CDA an initiative for executing an effective intervention strategy that improves the financial situation of financially-challenged individuals, specifically those who are able to work and are listed among qualified financial beneficiaries.

Among the main features of ‘Kaseb’ is turning empty or unused land plots provided by the Dubai Municipality per agreed-upon standards into parking lots; developing the skills of Dubai’s citizens to take advantage of opportunities offered by the Dubai market, particularly in support of small projects; and maximizing the potentials of Dubai citizens to establish profitable and sustainable businesses. 

The project’s main goal is to ensure sustainable livelihood for Dubai’s low-income citizens. Its other objectives include the mitigation of economic risks faced by low-income citizens targeted by the initiative; the consolidation of individual potentials in founding feasible businesses so as to enhance living conditions and self-reliance; and the provision of additional parking lots to address the lack of parking spaces in some areas of Dubai.

In order to ensure the successful implementation of the initiative, the concerned parties shall adhere to appropriate conditions and standards as follows:
- Beneficiaries shall be UAE citizens with low-income who are registered with the CDA as financial beneficiaries.
- Beneficiaries shall be able to manage parking lots on their own and obtain commercial licenses under their names. They should not relinquish lands granted to them or transfer parking lot management to others.
- Beneficiaries shall obtain approvals and permits from the relevant authorities, and shall equip the land following conditions laid out by the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and in cooperation with the Dubai Municipality.
- Beneficiaries shall be in charge of project budget management in order to cover expenses and reinvest profit.

Positive results are expected at the end of the program period. The citizens of Dubai will be more empowered to implement ‘Kaseb’ through the acquisition of the necessary skills for managing small projects, and the resulting profits will be used for the community program’s continuity.  The Return of Investment (ROI) reflecting the number of parking lots leased under the program will be reported to the Dubai Municipality, and appropriate support will be given to further reduce parking lot shortages in some places in Dubai.

The CDA will follow up on the program’s progress and ensure that the beneficiaries implement the program’s plan in line with the relevant standards and conditions.