Having pioneered e-services since 2001, Dubai Municipality introduced the concept of “zero visit” to the municipality centres way back in 2010.
The civic body has a record of moving over 80 per cent of its services to smart platforms.
Most DM transactions can be done online as well as with mobile apps. Millions of e-transactions are conducted through the municipality’s portal, www.dm.gov.ae, and other applications every year. Earlier, Dubai Municipality centres announced they will not accept cash and cheques from September 4.
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Customers can pay for services in cash only through Al Ansari Exchange branches.
Otherwise, customers must use any of the smart channels, such as e-Dirham and e-pay through DM’s website and mPay application of Dubai government.
On October 26
“This week, we will educate customers about [our] online services,” Abdullah Abdul Rahman, director of Dubai Municipality Centres Department told Gulf News.
Four municipality centres — Al Twar, Al Manara, Al Kifaf and Hatta — house customer care centres. “Around 5,000 to 6,000 customers visit these every day,” said Abdul Rahman.
On October 26, customers coming to DM centres will be urged to make all transactions online, he said.
However, services that are yet to be moved online will be available at the counters.
Ali Atiq Al Ketbi, senior marketing and communication specialist at the department said customers visiting municipality centres on that day will be assisted to make their payments online using their credit cards.
“We will promote mPay among the visiting customers. But we will help the senior citizens and people of determination transact the traditional way, as per their convenience.”
Commonly used DM apps for the public
DM 24/7: Enables customers to easily raise their notifications and smart customer experience without the need of calling the call centre.
Makani App: Official geographic addressing system adopted in the emirates of Dubai, Ajman, Umm Al Quwain, Fujairah and Ras Al Khaimah.
Kharetati App: Electronic system for issuing or renewing land maps.
Al Mawashi App: Online ordering of animal slaughtering and delivery.
Montaji App: Product registration app that enables consumers to identify fake consumer products.
Green Ticket App: Provides details of services at municipality centres and issues virtual tickets in advance or upon arrival at a centre.
Aleef App: App for all pet-related services; provision for notifying lost and found pets and pets for adoption.
Parks and Beaches App: All details about the locations, facilities, tickets about parks and beaches in Dubai.
Najm Suhail: Visualisation of weather data for Dubai; provides early weather warning and advance alerts about sand storms.
What app users say
Ahsan Ali, Pakistani, engineer
“I use may DM online services, especially those of the Building Department. We apply online and then we come here only if there is any need for any discussion and to submit documents. It saves time. In the Planning Department, everything is online. We submit the document online and once we get the NoC, we receive the payment voucher number online. We can make the payment also online. It is very convenient.”
Ebrahim Sayed, Egyptian, project manager
“I use 3-4 online services of DM. Generally, you will get the response after 30 minutes. Sometimes, I get response within 15 minutes. If the inspector on the field gets the mail about a plot visit, he can come directly to the site for inspection. If you submit a hardcopy, it will happen only the next day. Online services have made our lives easy.”
