UAE - WORLD PIONEERS IN DIGITAL ADMINISTRATION
Dubai, the pearl of the United Arab Emirates, in its bold quest for a digital and paperless era, is rising to the top of innovation in public administration. This constantly evolving metropolis has made history with its digital transformation and meteoric progress towards paperless administration.
A vision to serve the future
The direction is clear, the ambition is assumed:
To make Dubai the happiest city in the world, thanks to new technologies.
Alia Al Mur, Marketing Director of the "Smart Dubai" program, emphasizes that the use of technology as an enabler aims to improve the lives of all residents and visitors.
The U.A.E.'s ambitions are not new, since the move towards total digital transformation began as early as 2000 with the deployment of the "E Gov" and "Dubai Internet City" initiatives, which aimed to make all government operations entirely paperless.
Substantial savings and a positive environmental impact
The benefits of this technological prowess are palpable. Dubai's government programs have saved $1.2 billion over the past thirteen years, thanks to intelligent infrastructure and services shared by 50 government entities. By abandoning the use of paper, the city is taking another step towards a much-needed climate transition.
Automating administrative procedures has been a major initiative in streamlining and improving access to public services. Permanent residents and visitors alike can now
carry out a variety of transactions online, from paying healthcare bills to managing school enrolment, all using a single mobile application.
Unrivalled technological achievement
Dubai's technological prowess goes far beyond simple digital adoption. The innovative use of artificial intelligence, blockchain and the Internet of Things has resulted in unprecedented automation of government processes. The "Smart Dubai" teams have developed 43 artificial intelligence use cases touching on transport, healthcare, education and tourism. A striking example is the governmental virtual assistant "Rachid", capable of providing personalized information on a variety of subjects.
Digital Identity: The Heart of the Smart Dubai Project
One of the most striking innovations is the UAE Pass, a digital identity card for all permanent residents of the United Arab Emirates. This pass is gradually replacing the paper identity card, which also serves as a driver's license and passport for travelling and living in the Emirates. With the UAE Pass, residents can sign any official document and use it as a password to access government sites and the public hospital.
Smart Dubai" plans to extend the use of the UAE Pass to the banking sector, making it easier to manage accounts from opening to closing. By 2021, every permanent resident of the United Arab Emirates must have this new digital identity card.
A Model of Excellence Ahead of the West
Dubai is emerging as a model of excellence in the transition to paperless, digital government. Its significant lead over the West demonstrates its commitment to innovation and its ability to implement radical change at remarkable speed. Dubai is writing a new page in the history of modern governance, offering a shining example to those aspiring to rethink their administrative systems worldwide.
