Dubai authorities have settled Dh3.5 million in rental-related liabilities to secure the release of 54 inmates ahead of Eid Al Adha, in a humanitarian initiative led by the Dubai Rental Disputes Centre (RDC) and the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charitable Establishment (per Gulf News).
What was announced
The programme, branded Eid Reunion or Lammat Eid, was organised by the RDC,s Yad Al Khair Committee and is specifically aimed at detainees held in connection with rental-related civil cases, The National reported (per The National). By clearing those outstanding amounts, the partners enabled the men to leave detention in time to spend the religious holiday with their families.
According to Gulf Business, the Dh3.5 million covered a mix of unpaid rent, eviction-related judgments and ancillary fees that had accumulated against individual tenants in Dubai, and the cases were vetted by the RDC before any payments were made (per Gulf Business). All 54 beneficiaries had been held under enforceable court rulings.
How the scheme works
The Yad Al Khair Committee was established to channel charitable funds toward families facing eviction or financial distress arising from rental disputes. Working with judicial authorities, the committee identifies cases where settlement, rather than continued enforcement, can produce a humanitarian outcome without undermining the rights of landlords (per Emirates 24/7).
The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Charitable Establishment provided the funds, while the RDC handled the legal and administrative side of clearing each file. Officials said the scheme is designed to balance creditor rights with social stability, an approach that Dubai has used in previous Eid-linked releases involving debt and minor offences.
Why it matters
The initiative fits a broader pattern in the UAE during Eid Al Adha, when rulers and charitable bodies routinely fund the release of inmates whose detention stems from civil debts rather than criminal acts. Dubai has separately allocated a Dh1 million relief fund for tenants in rental distress earlier this year (per Gulf News).
Officials at the RDC said the Eid Reunion campaign would be reviewed for future holiday seasons. The 54 men released this week will now return to their homes ahead of the first day of Eid, with follow-up support from social workers where families remain at risk of further disputes.
