Sharjah Restricts Transactions and Transfers of Government-Allocated Homes

Sharjah has suspended all sales and transfers of government-provided homes after discovering that some citizens were selling their subsidized properties and breaking up their families. The move aims to protect social cohesion and prevent misuse of housing assistance programs.

Khalid bin Buti Al Muhairi, head of Sharjah's Housing Department, announced the immediate halt to all transactions involving homes granted to citizens through government programs. This includes both direct grants and subsidized loans provided by Sharjah's government.

The decision came after authorities identified cases where individuals sold their government-provided homes shortly after receiving ownership. These sales led to family displacement and weakened community bonds, according to Al Muhairi's statement on Sharjah Radio and Television's "Direct Line" program.

**Why this matters for housing policy**

This suspension reflects growing concerns across the Gulf about housing welfare abuse. Government housing programs typically aim to keep families stable in their communities and build long-term social networks. When recipients quickly flip these properties for profit, it defeats the program's core purpose.

The move also signals stricter oversight of public housing benefits. Many Gulf states have invested heavily in citizen housing programs, but effectiveness depends on ensuring homes actually serve their intended families rather than becoming quick profit opportunities.

For current applicants and recipients, this means much tighter restrictions on property transfers going forward. The government will likely implement waiting periods or permanent restrictions on sales to prevent similar situations.

The suspension affects both grant recipients who received homes at no cost and those who obtained subsidized loans with favorable terms. Both categories were seeing unauthorized resales that authorities say damaged the social fabric these programs were designed to strengthen.