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.

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.

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.