The United Arab Emirates has reportedly drafted plans to build a housing compound for thousands of displaced Palestinians in southern Gaza, in an area currently under Israeli military control, according to a map reviewed by Reuters and sources familiar with the initiative.
The map, labeled the “UAE Temporary Emirates Housing Complex,” indicates that the development would be located near Rafah, a city once home to around 250,000 people but now largely destroyed and depopulated following Israeli military operations.
Rafah, situated near the Egypt-Gaza border, has been identified as the starting point for reconstruction under U.S. President Donald Trump’s proposed plan for a durable peace in the densely populated coastal enclave, which has endured two years of devastating conflict.
Despite the plans, donors have shown hesitation in funding reconstruction, citing concerns that disagreements over the disarmament of Hamas militants could trigger a return to full-scale fighting.
Diplomats also question the political feasibility of the Emirati project, noting that many Palestinians may be reluctant to move into an Israeli-controlled zone while the majority of Gaza’s population remains under Hamas administration.
As part of Trump’s plan, a U.S.-led multinational mission for Gaza has been established in southern Israel. Emirati officials have reportedly briefed this mission on their intentions to provide temporary housing and basic services in Rafah, according to four diplomats familiar with the initiative.
The planning map shows that the proposed housing would be situated near the “yellow line” established under an October ceasefire, which demarcates Israeli- and Hamas-controlled areas.
An Emirati official, responding to questions about the project, said the country “remains committed to scaling up its humanitarian efforts to support Palestinians in Gaza,” without directly confirming or denying plans for the temporary housing site.
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