bu Dhabi — The Red Crescent Authority (RCA) and the Ministry of Economy of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) are set to launch a wide-ranging survey on poverty levels, the Gulf News reported Friday.
The survey, which could last more than one year, is aimed at determining poverty levels among both its nationals and residents across the UAE, the report said.
“Measuring poverty is so important because it helps us determine who needs most help,” an RCA official was quoted as saying, adding “We are particularly interested in looking closely at salaries, to help determine minimum wages for UAE nationals as well as residents.”
“We are doing our best with the Ministry of Economy to finalise the details as quickly as possible. This will be a huge study and we hope that it will serve both vulnerable people and the government,” the RCA official said.
According to the RCA, the data will be gathered by field researchers, who will inquire about the income and spending habits, education, profession and lifestyle of families and individuals.
The results will then be used to identify vulnerable families and individuals in need of humanitarian assistance.