UAE – Mubasher: The UAE’s ministry of finance (MoF) revealed that the federal government has spent nearly AED 6.22 billion on general public services during the first quarter of the year, representing 35.37% of total spending for the quarter, which totalled AED 17.584 billion.

Spending on education reached AED 2.47 billion or 14.05% of total spending, said a report by MoF, adding that the health sector accounted for 8.04% of spending or AED 1.41 billion.

The government spent AED 1.231 billion on social protection, representing 7% of the federal government’s total spending in Q1, while AED 274.3 million were spent on the housing and utilities sector, the report showed.

Spending on the defense sector accounted for 8.9% of total spending, and amounted to AED 1.576 billion during the period.

Environmental protection received significant interest from the government, which spent AED 113.8 million on the matter, whereas the entertainment, culture and religion sector saw spending of AED 78.0 million.