The UAE has been spared the protests that have affected some of its neighbors, but has joined other Gulf states in offering concessions in a bid to stem the tide of unrest washing over the Arab world.

The order reflects “the keenness” of Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, who is also the UAE President, to provide a “dignified and stable life for all Emiratis and his commitment to provide suitable housing for each family,” WAM said on its website http://www.wam.org.ae. The 1,235 plots will be given to nationals in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the western region, the agency said. It was not immediately clear who the plots would be given to.

Nearly 2 million Emiratis live in the Abu Dhabi emirate, which accounts for around 70 percent of UAE fiscal spending.

Abu Dhabi, which sits on around 7 percent of the world’s oil reserves and accounts for 55 percent of the UAE economy, said in June it would spend 7 billion dirhams ($1.9 billion) on housing loans for Emiratis.

Since early this year, the UAE has raised military pensions and introduced bread and rice subsidies. It pledged to invest $1.6 billion to improve infrastructure in less developed northern emirates.

The world’s No.3 oil exporter has also increased the number of eligible voters for September election to the government’s advisory council and asked retailers to slash the cost of basic commodities during Ramadan.