Hamdan orders implementation of happiness index

Dubai: Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and General Supervisor of the project to transform Dubai into a smart city, issued directives to government departments to immediately prepare for the implementation of the happiness index.

The happiness index was launched on Saturday by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

Shaikh Hamdan stressed that Shaikh Mohammad’s vision to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the word is beginning to become a tangible reality, and will benefit Dubai’s residents and visitors. He said that the next few years will witness a rapid increase in the rate of implementing Shaikh Mohammad’s vision, adding that work is under way to develop a smart infrastructure for the emirate of Dubai which will elevate services to new levels.

Shaikh Hamdan emphasised the importance of collaborative efforts between all government work teams for the implementation of Shaikh Mohammad’s vision for the future of Dubai, and added that both the public and private sector must work arduously for the satisfaction and happiness of the people.

“Dubai is witnessing massive phases of transformation and Shaikh Mohammad wants all work teams to contribute to building a new reality for the emirate,” said Shaikh Hamdan.

The Higher Committee for the Smart City project, which includes representatives from the public and private sectors, has begun work for the immediate implementation of the happiness index by coordinating with relevant and specialised work teams in the governmental departments of Dubai.

Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, Chairman of the committee and Head of the Executive Office of Shaikh Mohammad, said that the immediate implementation of the happiness index initiative depends on the readiness of the infrastructure to ensure that the service is offered to residents, visitors and tourists in Dubai. He said that the index is expected to be put in place in different government service departments during the coming few months and will eventually be implemented in all other service departments one year from the launch of the initiative.

Al Gergawi said that the initiative is unique, and reflects how Shaikh Mohammad adopts a different approach in government management which links provision of all types of services with the happiness of the community. He added that the happiness report will be transparent, carried out on a daily basis and forwarded to all relevant department officials.

Al Gergawi said that Shaikh Mohammad and Shaikh Hamdan have asked for a special application on their phones so they can follow up on all service outlets and the public’s level of happiness and satisfaction with the services.

The happiness report will make use of unique data collected through a smart application that gives customers three options to rate the extent of their happiness with services. The application will be accessible at service outlets or through smart virtual platforms for services provided online.

The happiness index will be gradually implemented to include all government departments. During the second phase, the initiative will be implemented in selected sectors in the private sector, to enrich the experience of visitors and tourists and gauge satisfaction with their experience in Dubai.