The United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to fund “Gaza’s first planned community” on the damaged outskirts of Rafah, Gaza’s southernmost city. Palestinian residents will get basic services like education, healthcare, and running water. But they must undergo biometric data collection and security vetting, according to planning documents and insiders at the US-led Civil Military Coordination Center (CMCC) in Israel. This will be the UAE’s first investment in Gaza’s post-war reconstruction in the area controlled by Israel. Since October 7, 2023, the UAE has donated over $1.8 billion in humanitarian aid to Gaza, making it the largest donor. Blueprints shared with European donors show the project details. Israeli military planners have approved the plans. The community will test new measures to stop Hamas influence, like electronic shekel wallets and UAE-supplied school curricula instead of Hamas-based ones. Residents can enter and exit freely but only after security checks to block weapons or hostile persons. The project will be built on rubble left by Israel’s two-year war in Gaza, which killed over 70,000 Palestinians and destroyed most of Gaza’s infrastructure. Rebuilding Gaza could cost $70 billion and take up to 80 years, says the UN. Under a US-brokered peace plan led by Donald Trump, Gaza is split into two parts: a “green zone” controlled by Israel and a “red zone” run by Hamas. Reconstruction will start only in the Israeli-held green zone. Jared Kushner and others from the Board of Peace, which now oversees reconstruction efforts, support the project. The new city, called "New Rafah," will have 100,000 homes, 200 schools, and 75 medical centers in its early phase. Israel is clearing land for the project but says it will not help build or run it. Instead, the International Stabilization Force, a proposed neutral body, will provide security once construction starts. Security checks and biometric data use raise concerns about privacy and control. Experts warn the surveillance could deepen oppression and push Palestinians out of key areas. Palestinians will need to cross Israeli checkpoints and get approved before moving in. Some say the plan could help Israel label part of Gaza as a “happy area” separated from the rest. Yet, it remains unclear how reconstruction will truly proceed since many aid groups were blocked from Gaza. The project timeline shows site reviews started in October, with months of prep before building begins. Overall, the UAE-backed Rafah community marks a key step in Gaza’s complex and contested rebuilding efforts, blending aid with strict security and political layers.