Some retired citizens struggle with rising cost of living, lawmaker calls for support

The widening economic gap between Emiratis who retired before and after 2008 was the centre of discussion during a Federal National Council (FNC) session on Wednesday. Member Saeed Al Abedi raised concerns over the financial strain facing earlier retirees and highlighted the rising cost of living.

- Haneen Dajani

He urged the Ministry of Community Development to take stronger action to ensure all citizens can live with dignity. The FNC member also argued that low-income retired Emirati men should not be made to depend on their wives, even if the latter are employed.

In the UAE, a government policy excludes financial aid to low-income retired men if their wives are employed. Al Abedi argued this policy undermines traditional family roles and leaves retired husbands unsupported. “You will say I have a backward mentality?” Saeed Al Abedi said. “That’s fine. I'd rather be backwards with dignity than modern without dignity.”

Al Abedi argued that women should not be financially responsible for supporting the household, even if they work. He said that when they do contribute, they are doing the household a favour, not a duty. He criticised the policy for unfairly expecting women to take on this role. “It is not the woman's role to finance the household.”

According to him, the policy deprives men of support if their wives earn an income. He urged the Ministry of Community Development to raise the pensions of retired men who are paid less than their wives to maintain financial balance within families. “Do any of you accept to live off his wife?” he asked fellow members.