Dubai: His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai issued Friday a number of new laws that further enhance the organisational structure and legislative framework of the Dubai Smart City project.
The new laws aim to speed up the progress of the Smart City initiative and encourage innovation in this sector by fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The new laws also complement the strategic vision of Shaikh Mohammad, which was announced two years ago with the aim of transforming Dubai into one of the world’s smartest cities and utilising technology for the benefit of people.
“Today we have completed the organisational structure and legal framework for transforming Dubai into the world’s smartest city and creating a new and unique model in developing and managing cities,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
“Managing global cities requires sustained efforts to provide fast and innovative services. We must utilise modern technology and available resources to achieve our objectives,” he added.
Shaikh Mohammad called on all entities and departments of Dubai government to work together to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world. “Work together as a single team and seek help from experts who can build the future of the UAE, particularly talented young people who want to serve their country,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, thanked the Higher Committee for the key steps taken to implement the Dubai Smart City project. Shaikh Hamdan said that the Dubai government is implementing the directives of Shaikh Mohammad following the launch of the Dubai Smart City strategy two years ago. He said that Shaikh Mohammad is keen to engage both the public and private sectors to bring about a state of the art infrastructure that integrates the city’s management systems.
“From the beginning, we have been working to realise the vision of Shaikh Mohammad and our objective is clear. We want Dubai to be the smartest city in the world. We call on everyone to collaborate to achieve this goal,” said Shaikh Hamdan.
The new laws include: Law No.29 of 2015 on the establishment of Dubai Smart City Office; Law No. 30 of 2015 on the setting up of Dubai Smart City Establishment; Decree No. 37 of 2015 on the formation of the Board of the Dubai Smart City Office; and Decree No.38 of 2015 appointing a Director General for the Office.
- Shaikh Hamdan issued the Executive Council’s Resolution No.57 of 2015 appointing the Deputy Director General of the Dubai Smart City Establishment.
- Law No. 29 of 2015 establishes the Dubai Smart City Office, a new body that will facilitate Dubai’s efforts to transform itself into a smart city. The responsibilities of the Office include: developing overall policies and strategic plans with regard to information technology and smart government; supervising and providing guidance for the smart transformation process and approving joint initiatives, projects and services that facilitate the smart transformation in coordination with the government entities concerned.
The law authorises the Dubai Smart City Office to enter into partnerships with any organisation within and outside the emirate to implement best practices in the field, approve relevant plans and budgets in coordination with the Department of Finance and other government departments and propose legislative amendments to encourage and empower the public and private sectors in the field of smart transformations.
The new law also authorises the Office to establish, develop and manage a central database of all information pertaining to smart transformation initiatives as well as to establish a portal for smart applications and smart transformation, outlining key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the implementation of relevant policies and procedures.
In collaboration with the government departments concerned, the Office is authorised to utlilise the emirate’s resources to support the smart transformation, create innovative e-services and develop the infrastructure necessary for this purpose.
Pursuant to the law, all government entities are required to cooperate with the Office to carry out its responsibilities. The Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, or a person authorised by him, may issue appropriate resolutions to activate the articles of this law. The law also disestablishes the Higher Committee for the implementation of the Dubai Smart City project formed under Resolution No. 2 of 2013, and the Executive Committee of Dubai Smart City formed under Resolution No. 1 of 2014. Furthermore, the new law annuls any other laws that challenge or contradict its articles.
Shaikh Mohammad also issued Law No.30 of 2015 forming the Dubai Smart City Establishment to provide smart and innovative e-services that meet international quality standards and best practices.
The law authorises the Establishment to conduct the following activities: proposing the general strategy for smart government and submitting it to the Office for approval and implementation; supervising smart transformation efforts in the government sector; proposing the organisational structure, policies and procedures to manage information technology-related operations in the government; providing smart services that meet international best practices; revising plans and budgets for the smart transformation, information technology operations and smart services proposed by various government departments; and proposing appropriate laws to facilitate smart transformation in coordination with relevant departments.
Dubai Smart City Establishment will provide integrated services in the areas of financial management systems, contracts, procurement, warehouses, human resources, project management, maintenance, email, digital communication, archiving, smart integration systems, decision-making and unified government information systems.
The Law authorises the Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council to issue a resolution to appoint the Director General of the Dubai Smart City Establishment. The Establishment substitutes Dubai Smart Government, the body established under Law No. 7 of 2009. The Director General of the Establishment is authorised to issue all the required resolutions to activate the articles of this law. The new law annuls any other laws that challenge or contradict its articles.
Shaikh Mohammad also issued Decree No.37 of 2015 appointing the members of the Board of the Dubai Smart City Office. Saeed Mohammad Al Tayer will serve as chairman, while Ahmad Mohammad Bin Humaidan will serve as Vice Chairman. Other members include Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Khalid Nasser Al Razzoqi, Yousuf Hamad Al Sheibani, Dr Aisha Butti Bin Bishr, Mohammad Abdullah Al Zaffen, Abdullah Ali Madani and Mansour Juma Bu Asiba. The Board has a renewable term of three years.
- Shaikh Mohammad also issued Decree No.38 2015 appointing Dr Aisha as Director-General of the Dubai Smart City Office.
- Law No.29 of 2015, Law No.30 of 2015, Decree No.37 of 2015 and Decree No.38 of 2015 are effective from November 26, 2015, and will be published in the Official Gazette.
Shaikh Hamdan approved the Executive Council’s Resolution No.57 of 2015 appointing Younis Abdul Aziz Mahmoud Al Ali as Deputy Director General of the Dubai Smart City Office. He also approved the Executive Council’s Resolution No.58 of 2015 appointing Wisam Al Abbas Hussain Nasser Lootah as CEO of the Office. Both resolutions are effective from December 1, 2015, and will be published in the Official Gazette.
