Replacement of Housing with Another Housing

The Housing Exchange Service allows UAE nationals to request the exchange of the location of a previously granted government housing unit within the Emirate, either with other beneficiaries or with housing units available through the Authority. This service aims to support family proximity while ensuring transparency and fairness through specific terms and conditions and by prohibiting any form of financial benefit.

Key Points and Conditions:
First: Scope of the Housing Exchange Service
•    Exchange of a previously granted government housing unit within the Emirate.
•    Exchange may take place with other UAE nationals or with government housing units available through the Authority.
•    Both housing units subject to exchange must be government grants.

Second: General Eligibility Conditions:
1.    The applicant must be a UAE national holding a Family Book (Khulasat Al Qaid) issued by one of the Emirates.
2.    The housing units to be exchanged must be built on land designated for residential use.
3.    The housing unit to be exchanged must not be subdivided.
4.    The housing unit must be free from legal impediments or third-party rights, such as mortgages.
5.    The difference in construction age between the two housing units must not exceed ten years.
6.    Written approval for the exchange must be obtained from the wife/wives or from a divorced woman who has an established right to housing by agreement or court judgment.
7.    The housing units must be located within the same geographical scope, as follows:
•    Abu Dhabi Island, including its affiliated islands
•    Other areas within the Abu Dhabi region
•    Al Ain Region
•    Al Dhafra Region
8.    Applications for jointly owned housing units may be accepted if submitted by all partners and if all general and specific conditions are met.
9.    Applications submitted by widows may be accepted to exchange a government housing unit inherited from a deceased husband, subject to inheritance documentation and heirs’ approvals.

Third: Special Conditions for Exchange Requests:
Exchange Between UAE Nationals:
•    The difference in land area between the two properties must not exceed 30%, and the difference in built-up area must not exceed 10%.
•    Both housing units must be suitable for occupancy.
•    The purpose of the exchange must be family proximity.
•    No financial or material benefit of any kind is permitted for any party.
The applicant must submit a written undertaking committing to:
•    Completing municipality procedures, paying applicable fees, and following ownership transfer requirements.
•    Not requesting any increase in the alternative housing area or any form of compensation.
•    Not submitting another request to exchange housing units again.
•    Declaring that no financial consideration or compensation of any kind has been paid or received other than the alternative housing unit.

Exchange with Government Housing Units:
•    The applicant must not fully own a residential property within the same geographical scope specified in the general conditions.
•    The purpose of the exchange must be family proximity.
The applicant must submit a written undertaking committing to:
•    Handing over the housing unit to be exchanged.
•    Not requesting any increase in the alternative housing area or any form of compensation.
•    Completing municipality procedures, paying applicable fees, and following ownership transfer requirements.
•    Not requesting another exchange with a government housing unit in the future.

Fourth: Utilization Regulations:
•    An exchange request between UAE nationals will not be accepted if either party has previously exchanged a housing unit with another national, except where a prior exchange was with a government housing unit.
•    An application to exchange a government housing unit will not be accepted if the applicant obtained that unit through a previous exchange with another government housing unit or with a housing unit owned by another national.
•    Exchange approval shall be cancelled if any party is found to have obtained a financial or material benefit of any kind, without prejudice to criminal, civil, or administrative liability.
•    The applicant may not withdraw from a government housing exchange request after approval has been issued.
•    Exchange approval between nationals shall be cancelled if either party or their heirs fail to pay the required fees or complete ownership transfer procedures.

Text issued by the competent authorities

Replacement of Housing with Another Housing:
It allows a UAE national to apply for replacement of a housing previously granted to him/her in any district in the emirate either with another housing granted to another beneficiary or with another housing available with Abu Dhabi Housing Authority.
 

General Conditions for Eligibility for Replacement of Housing with Another Housing:
1.    The applicant shall be a UAE national and shall hold a civil entry certificate from one of the UAE's emirates.
2.    Each of the two housings to be replaced with each other shall be a grant.
3.    Each of the two plots of land on which the two housings to be replaced with each other are built shall be residential.
4.    The housing to be replaced shall not be subdivided.
5.    The plot of land to be replaced shall be free of legal impediments and third-party rights, such as mortgage rights, that would prevent the replacement process.
6.    The difference in construction age between the two housings to be replaced with each other shall not exceed ten years.
7.    A consent in writing for replacement from the wife/wives, or the divorced woman who has a proven right to reside in the housing by virtue of an agreement or a ruling.
8.    The two housings to be replaced with each other shall be located within the same geographical area of the following districts:
•    Abu Dhabi Island, including its affiliated islands.
•    Other areas affiliated to Abu Dhabi.
•    Al Ain.
•    Al Dhafra
9.    An application for replacement of jointly possessed housings may be accepted in the event that the application is submitted by all partners and they meet all the general and special conditions, as appropriate.
10.    A UAE widow's application for replacement of a government-owned housing she inherited from her deceased husband may be accepted in the event that she and her minor children are the only heirs of the deceased husband. In the event that either she has adult children or she and her minor children are not the only heirs of the deceased husband, the consent of the other heirs is required, as per the determination of heirs' certificate.

Special Conditions for Eligibility for Replacement of Housing with Another Housing:

Application for Replacement of Housing Previously Granted to a Beneficiary with Another Housing Granted to Another Beneficiary:
1.    The difference in area between the two residential plots of land on which the two housings to be replaced are built shall not exceed 30%, and the difference in the built-up area shall not exceed 10%.
2.    . The two housings to be replaced with each other shall be suitable for occupancy.
3.    . The purpose of one or both parties to the replacement agreement shall be to have a housing closer to where his/her parents reside.
4.    . There shall be no direct or indirect material benefit of any form to one or both parties to the replacement agreement.
5.    . The applicant for replacement of a housing previously granted to him/her with a housing granted to another beneficiary shall submit an undertaking in writing including the following:
•    Commitment to follow up with the relevant municipality, pay the prescribed fees, and complete the ownership transfer procedures.
•    Refraining from claiming any increase in the area of the replacing housing or any other form of compensation for the replacement.
•    Refraining from applying for replacement of the housing with a housing granted to another beneficiary again.
•    Acknowledging that he/she has not paid or received any financial compensation or any other form of compensation for replacement of the housing.

Application for Replacement of Housing with Government-owned Housing:
1.    . The applicant shall not solely own a housing in the area in which the housing to be replaced, within the geographical area specified in Clause (8) of the General Conditions.
2.    . The purpose of the replacement shall be to have a housing closer to where the applicant’s parents reside.
3.    . The applicant for replacement of a housing previously granted to him/her with a government-owned housing shall submit an undertaking in writing including the following:
•    Handing over the housing to be replaced.
•    Refraining from claiming any increase in the area of the replacing housing or any other form of compensation for the replacement.
•    Commitment to follow up with the relevant municipality, pay the prescribed fees, and complete the ownership transfer procedures.
•    Refraining from applying for replacement of the housing with a government-owned housing again.

Controls for Beneficiaries of Replacement of Housing with Another Housing Service:
•    Application for replacement of housing previously granted to a beneficiary with a housing granted to another beneficiary shall not be accepted in the event that one of the two beneficiaries has previously replaced his/her housing with a housing granted to another beneficiary. However, the application may be accepted in the event that he/she has previously replaced his/her housing with a government-owned housing.
•    Application for replacement of a housing previously granted to a beneficiary with a government-owned housing shall not be accepted in the event that he/she has received this housing as a result of a previous replacement with either a government-owned housing or a housing granted to another beneficiary.
•    The approval for replacement of a housing with another housing shall be cancelled in the event that it is proven that one or both parties to the replacement agreement has obtained a material benefit of any kind, without prejudice to criminal, civil, or administrative liability.
•    The applicant shall have no right to cancel his/her application for replacement of a housing previously granted to him/her with a government-owned housing after the approval is issued.
•    The approval on replacement of a housing previously granted to a beneficiary with a housing granted to another beneficiary shall be cancelled in the event that one of the two parties to the replacement agreement or their heirs refrain from paying the prescribed fees and complete the ownership transfer procedures.

Reference: https://www.iskan.abudhabi/en/Our-Services/Replacement-of-Housing-with-Another-Housing