H H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, has approved the Government of Dubai's general budget for the fiscal cycle of 2022-2024, with a total expenditure of AED181bn.

H H Sheikh Mohammed has also approved Law No (28) for the General Budget for the fiscal Year 2022, with AED59.95bn expenditure.

The budget cycle will support Dubai’s efforts to stimulate the macroeconomy and the objectives of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2030. 

The new general budget reflects the emirate’s determination to accelerate post-pandemic economic recovery and achieve the leadership’s broader goals to stimulate entrepreneurship, enhance society’s happiness and consolidate Dubai’s position as a land of opportunities and innovation.

H H Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai, said, "The Dubai government continues to consolidate the emirate's position as a leading global commercial hub and raise its international competitiveness by creating new growth opportunities for vital sectors in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to enhance sustainable development and government performance. Dubai’s general budget for the fiscal cycle of 2022-2024, which reflects the fundamental strengths and stable base of the emirate’s economy, supports the realisation of its future economic aspirations, in addition to placing the emirate at the forefront of worldwide efforts to promote recovery."

The three-year budget cycle focuses on increasing economic growth rates by activating the public-private partnership ecosystem and supporting the private sector to drive economic growth. It also addresses the social aspects of healthcare and education, as well as digital infrastructure development and financial sustainability programmes.

Through its 2022 budget, Dubai continues to place a high emphasis on developing social services, and its healthcare, education and cultural sectors. The budget also pays attention to citizens’ housing sector by raising the value of the housing loan to AED1mn and allocating more than 4,000 plots and houses with a total value of AED5.2bn in the first phase of the housing programme for citizens in Dubai within a broader 20-year programme of AED65bn.

The budget also focuses on developing the Social Benefits Fund by supporting families and people of determination, which is set to consolidate Dubai's position as one of the best cities in the world to live and work in.

Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh, director general of Dubai’s Department of Finance (DoF), affirmed the government’s commitment to continue its development efforts through the general budget cycle for the fiscal years 2022-2024, further raising financial sustainability and stimulating the growth of entrepreneurship in Dubai.

"Dubai government is eager to develop its financial plan annually to provide economic incentives that will have an impact on attracting more investments, improve the emirate's competitive position and achieve the goals of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2030.

The 2022 budget strengthens recovery efforts and acts as a starting point within an integrated scheme of the 2030 plan. It also seeks to achieve the vision of H H Sheikh Hamdan, who has issued directives to increase government support for families and people of determination, develop government work and increase institutional agility," said Al Saleh.

He also affirmed the Dubai government’s commitment to the directives of H H Sheikh Maktoum, in terms of adopting disciplined financial policies, leading to an operating surplus of AED1.8bn, which represents three per cent of the expected total revenue. This will contribute to the development of the emirate's infrastructure programmes and consolidate the emirate's financial sustainability policy.

Arif Abdulrahman Ahli, executive director of planning and budget sector at DoF, said, "The Dubai government’s medium-term financial planning methodology and the announcement of a three-year financial plan exemplifies the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, and the directives of H H the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council, and H H the Deputy Ruler of Dubai."

"The 2022 budget responds to the requirements of the Dubai Strategic Plan 2030 and is a transparent expression of the emirate's stable financial position. It also reflects disciplined financial policies based on international best practices. Achieving an operating surplus of three per cent of total government revenues is an indication of the financial sustainability that the department is keen to ensure," Ahli explained.

Projected government revenues for 2022 

The 2022 budget expects to achieve revenues estimated at AED57.55bn, an increase of ten per cent over the expected revenues of the previous budget of the fiscal year 2021, as a result of the rapid recovery of Dubai and the effective measures taken to curb the pandemic. Dubai is one of the first cities in the world to achieve a rapid recovery due to the economic stimulus measures approved by the government that reduced some government fees for businesses and put a freeze on fee increases until 2023.

These revenues are based on ongoing operations in the emirate and do not rely on oil revenues. Oil revenues account for six per cent of the total projected revenues for the fiscal year 2022, which creates the conditions for enhanced financial sustainability.

Non-tax revenues, which come from fees, account for 57 per cent of the total expected revenues, while tax revenues account for 31 per cent, and government investment revenues represent six per cent of the total expected revenues.

Jamal Hamid Al Marri, executive director, central accounts sector at DoF pointed to the department’s efforts to consolidate development and innovation through the development of financial programmes and financial data platforms. "These tools make a clear contribution to making financial statements available to the government, companies and individuals, which will help further raise Dubai's competitiveness. DoF is constantly creating programmes to develop the public finance landscape and achieve financial excellence, in addition to implementing International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS), which will have the greatest impact in showing the fruits of budget implementation and developing new ways to enhance government performance."

Projected government expenditure for 2022 Salary and wage allowances of the 2022 budget account for 34 per cent of total government spending, in accordance with the requirements of the new human resources law. Grant and social support expenditure accounts for 21 per cent of all expenditure, to meet the requirements of human and community development and provide public services to the residents of the emirate.

The government has allocated an amount of AED5.2bn for construction projects, despite the completion of Expo-related projects, the activation of the Public-Private Partnership Law and the development of project financing mechanisms in the Dubai government through long-term financing.

The government has also allocated nine per cent of the total expenditure to maintain the volume of investments in infrastructure, in line with Dubai's aspirations to be the world’s most preferred destination to live in.

Two per cent of the total expenditure is allocated to the private reserve to support emergency preparedness programmes, while public debt accounts for six per cent of the total expenditure, to follow a disciplined fiscal policy that ensures the budget fulfills all obligations.

Sectoral distribution of government expenditure The budget of the fiscal year 2022 reflects the government's commitment to the people. Government spending on the social development sector in areas of health, education, housing and women and children's care, as well as developing reading and coding initiatives and supporting athletes and people of determination, represents 30 per cent of the total expenditure.

The government's concern for security, justice and safety sees 23 per cent of the total expenditure being allocated to promote enhanced efficiency in the sector.

Dubai's keenness to develop its infrastructure and transportation, apart from hosting Expo 2020 Dubai, has led to an allocation of 42 per cent of total spending to the sector. This reflects its pledge to deal with future commitments, support entrepreneurship and create an environment conducive for incubating micro ventures.

The emirate has also been keen to support the sectors of government excellence, creativity, innovation and scientific research by allocating five per cent of the total government expenditure to develop performance and instill a culture of excellence.

Source: WAM