Sheikh Khalifa increases UAE budget by Dh1.97 billion

President Sheikh Khalifa announced a Dh1.97 billion budget increase for the current financial year.

Sheikh Khalifa’s decree allocates the additional funds from the country’s general reserves, state news agency Wam reported.

The decree, which was published in the latest issue of the Federal Gazette, includes an additional budget of Dh21 million for the Office of the Minister of Tolerance, a Dh6.82m increase for the General Sports Authority, an extra Dh3.91m for the National Media Council and a Dh3.5m boost for the Emirates Space Agency.

The injection of funds was welcomed by a leading figure in the UAE’s space initiatives.

Sheikha Al Maskari, chief innovation officer at the UAE Space Agency, said the outlay would give the organisation more opportunity to invest in space projects, and that it was a reflection of the faith shown in its work by the government.

“The boost is a reflection of the trust that the leadership has of the space agency, and all the space projects that are running in the UAE,” she said.

Ms Al Maskari said space projects were always evolving and the industry was changing fast, with many objectives to be achieved. So the increase was a sign that the government regarded the space agency as a vital player in the country’s development.