UAE Marriage Fund sets age and means testing, announces cuts in administrative costs - Khaleej Times

The recommendations were aimed at reducing the number of applications for funds and to cover for deserving applicants, said Jamal Al Bah, the Fund’s Director General.

Age:

He said that the Fund proposed a minimum age of 21 for the bridegroom and 18 for the bride to be eligible for the grant. “Apart from reducing the financial burden, the Fund has aimed at giving priority to older couples to help them set up families over younger ones.”

Means:

“Applicants whose salaries were above Dh16,000 should not be given a full grant,” he said. “The recommendation sought to authorise the Fund to study the financial status of applicants individually and determine the grant amount if the salary was more than Dh16,000. The grant for people whose salaries were above the criteria should be proportionately less.”

Al Bah said the applicants’ financial status should be studied individually as many applicants had been meeting the maximum salary condition, but were having some private business and trade licences.

Emphasis added.

Closing branches:

The Fund has also recommended the need to limit the number of committees to one by dissolving its branch committees set up in different emirates, he said.

These announced changes parallel the kinds of steps other countries have taken to reform their welfare programs and tax codes. I look forward to following news on their implementation.

As we know it. I am reminded of what Bill Clinton famously said about welfare. The text of that speech is here. A liberal's perspective is here.