In a move to reduce the number of unmarried women in the country, the UAE authorities have decided to grant housing allowance to Emirati men who have two wives.
The UAE Minister of Infrastructure Development, Dr Abdullah Belhaif Al Nuaimi, made the announcement at the Federal National Council session on Wednesday that the ministry has made the decision to grant housing allowance from The Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme for second wives, as with the first wives of Emirati men.
"The second wife should be provided with the same living arrangements as the first wife, " said the minister.
Members at the FNC session said housing allowance will help decrease the number of unmarried women in the UAE.
Members thus argued that by solving housing issues, authorities will also help solve weakening in social structure, as high housing costs make it difficult for men to marry more than one wife at a time.
The Minister of Infrastructure Development said that at first, it was suggested that a smaller "separate attachment to the main house" (of the first wife), will be provided as a home for the second wife.
However, he said the ministry later disapproved of this idea, because it would be deemed as unfair for the second wife.
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