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Held at the Holy Quran Academy in Sharjah, the session brought together members of Al Asala Club, representatives from Sharjah Charity International, and Sharjah City for Humanitarian Services. Participants stressed the importance of establishing unified frameworks for effective social and humanitarian collaboration to benefit all community groups.
They recommended electronic coordination between institutions to streamline case identification and enhance awareness of available services and programmes, as well as appointing a liaison to strengthen cooperation across entities.
Alia Al Zaabi, Director of the Social Assistance Department, underscored the department’s crucial role in supporting over 18 community categories, with 11,470 beneficiaries currently receiving assistance. She emphasised the department’s ongoing efforts to update beneficiary data and improve services through comprehensive social studies.
Maryam Al Marzouqi, Head of the Social Studies Section, explained that the department, established in 1984, provides social and financial support to eligible groups including widows, orphans, the elderly, people of determination, and low-income families — all under regulations issued by the Sharjah Executive Council.
She outlined the main types of assistance: household head support, aid for bedridden seniors and people with disabilities, monthly social aid for citizens, support for dependent elderly persons, supplementary grants for Sharjah retirees, and living allowances for widowed mothers.
Eligibility criteria include UAE nationality (Sharjah registration except for children of female citizens), permanent residence in Sharjah, and verification of need through social research. Family income must not exceed the threshold set by Executive Council Resolution No. 3 of 2018, with full disclosure of all household income required.
Aisha Ahmed, Head of the Social Research Section, outlined the eligibility requirements for the Head of Household Assistance. Applicants must be UAE nationals registered in Sharjah, residing there permanently, and fully responsible for their household. They must either support a family or, if single, be aged 45 or above.
If the head of household is married and the spouse is employed, her income from work or pension is excluded from calculations, while other income sources are considered. Assistance ranges from AED 1,000 to AED 3,000, ensuring that the total income does not exceed AED 10,280. Applicants must demonstrate eligibility through a social case study and either own or rent their residence, except for widows living in inherited family homes.
Eligibility for Bedridden Assistance requires UAE nationality with Sharjah registration, permanent residence in the emirate or a licensed care facility, and being aged 60 or above. A medical report from an authorised government entity must confirm the bedridden condition. Total income must not exceed the eligibility threshold (minimum AED 1,000), and recipients must not already benefit from home nursing services from any other source.
For Dependent Senior Citizen Assistance, the recipient must be a UAE national registered in Sharjah, residing permanently with relatives, aged 60 or above, and financially dependent on them. They must have no dependents other than a spouse, and their income should be equal to or below the set threshold, with a minimum of AED 1,000.
Supplementary Assistance is available to Sharjah citizens with dependents who are UAE nationals or children of Emirati mothers. Eligibility is determined through a social assessment, with families of two or more members earning less than AED 17,500 per month qualifying. Applicants must not be pensioners with any national retirement fund.
Aisha Ahmed also highlighted Supplementary Grants for Empowerment through Production, dedicated to Sharjah citizens who are active participants in the “Production Centre” programme. Applicants must be registered social aid beneficiaries aged 18 or above, earning AED 3,000 or less, and have maintained active membership for at least one year.
The session also addressed emergency assistance cases, urgent aid, income thresholds, and the importance of regularly updating beneficiary information to ensure accuracy and fairness in social support delivery.
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