There can be no doubting that when the UAE government puts its mind down to action, things happen. Two years ago, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, challenged every government department across the country to become paperless within two years. And yes, there were doubters; bureaucracy in general is slow to change. But not in the UAE.
The message issued two years ago was clear: Implement new strategies and utilise new technologies to make government smarter and more efficient. And for those who stood in the way of this initiative, there would be a farewell party organised for them.
According to an official progress report on the two-year deadline set by Shaikh Mohammad, 96.3 per cent of transactions now utilise smart functionality and applications. That’s an impressive figure of success across 41 separate federal entities, ministries and departments — and those responsible for implementing and managing this change initiative should smile this morning with pride in the success of their efforts.
This project has very real consequences for each and every one living here. At the touch of a button or through a key stroke, the UAE’s government and its myriad of services are now accessible every hour of every day that makes up a year. That means that the government is working for all, all the time. And it means that the actions of government officials — across every department — are transparent and are harnessed with but one goal: Making government work for the people.
But the UAE is also a nation that does not rest on its laurels. Yes, the paperless goal set two years ago by Shaikh Mohammad has been successfully met by any measure. But there is more that can and must be done. The challenge now is to ensure that all of the separate smart services across the 41 federal entities are fully integrated and seamless. The quality too of smart apps needs to be improved and updated to keep pace with technological changes. But the hard work is over — and everyone in the country benefits.
