mohammed bin rashid: the harvest of seven years of diligence · jamal khalifa almulla...

1Issue 111 - January 2013

It has been seven years of an abundant harvest full of pioneering creativity that has made Dubai the cynosure of the world, providing its citizens and the coming generations with a high quality of life, God willing.

January 4th is the anniversary of the accession as Ruler of Dubai of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE. The pace of achievements has accelerated and the aspects of initiatives have varied to cover all walks of life in the emirate, making Dubai into a regional hub of the new economy and paving the way for a knowledge-based community.

Today, Your Highness, we appreciate the great changes made by a firm will and the relentless determination of wise sheikhs and rulers who founded the federation. Vowing to follow suit with the same determination, Your Highness encourages us to keep pace with your ideas and limitless ambitions. For over seven years you have borne the concerns of the nation and eased the lives of its citizens as your top priority.

During your field visits, you were also keen on extending the bridges of social communication with all. You have stopped on roads, in houses, at schools, at mosques, at worksites. You have wandered into residential quarters and city outskirts, while your majlis has always been open to the public so you can listen to their needs. In addition, you used all the Internet portals and social media to get familiar with the conditions of your people and bring a smile and relief to their faces. You have not forgotten orphans and mothers, to be honoured. This year, you honour the workers who provide basic services such as cleaners, gardeners, domestic workers etc. This category is rarely paid any attention, yet you appreciate their vital role and have requested all of us to appreciate and thank them.

***In 2000, a precedent came into being when His Highness

took the decision to launch an initiative that had no match before: Dubai eGovernment was created which was a vague concept at that time. Everybody asked what that virtual government was and how it would affect their lives. From the first moment, you clearly instructed us at Dubai eGovernment to set a strategic objective: establish a unified government digital infrastructure. You realized that this initiative, coupled by many technological projects that you launched, would push the rising emirate towards a knowledge-based economy; an economy where government services are available for all and government entities and departments are an electronically connected unit.

Your Highness, you were able to change the prevailing impression about government services, taking the emirate a further step towards a digital world that enhanced the economic indices and quality of life. Today Dubai is the home of technology with a solid infrastructure and great

human capabilities and a global hub for regeneration and innovation.

***Today, and after seven years of continuous contribution,

we would like to affirm that in Dubai eGovernment, as in the other government entities: there is a full record of the successes made by your citizens who were nurtured by your directives. Dubai’s experience has so far generated more than 2000 online services of various levels together with a number of advanced shared services whose importance is measured by their ability to be an artery that connects departments and organizations at the level of internal operations, systems and applications.

***Your Highness, we are proud of our bright records, quality

of life and reputed position. We are also proud of the rapid growth of our emirate which is taking confident steps under your prudent rule. We reiterate our loyalty to your leadership that changed hopes and dreams into a world of great achievements. We also reiterate our commitment to support the UAE’s strategic plan and enhance eTransformation by developing an integrated knowledge-based community that paves the way for citizens, resident and visitors to benefit from a vast array of IT-based government services as per the world’s highest quality standards. Please accept my congratulations on this occasion and may Allah guide you to what is best for the UAE and its citizens.

Director-General, Dubai eGovernment Department

Mohammed Bin Rashid: the harvest of seven years of diligence

e V i s i o n s

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The vision of Dubai eGovernment is to ease the lives of people and businesses interacting with the government and contribute to establishing Dubai as a leading economic hub.

Dubai eGovernment’s mission is to achieve a virtual government through the provision of high-quality customer focused eServices for individuals, businesses and government departments and to promote eServices adoption through customer management.

Dubai eGovernment promotes eServices through www.dubai.ae - the unified official portal for Dubai Government that provides all residents and businesses of the emirate with more than 2000 electronic services.

e4all is the official magazine of Dubai eGovernment, and helps in creating awareness of eServices to all segments of society and spreading an electronic culture for the well-being of all.

Executive EditorAhmad Bin Humaidan

[email protected]

Chief EditorAmer Al Hamayda

[email protected]

Magazine CoordinatorJamal Khalifa Almulla

[email protected]

English EditorGarth Mitchell

[email protected]

Arabic EditorYaqdhan Mustafa

[email protected]

Graphic Designers Fatima Ibrahim

Ayesha Al [email protected]

Contact e4allDubai eGovernment Department

Tel: 04-4056274 Fax: 04-3532988P.O.Box: 90300

e-mail: [email protected]

An electronic version can be viewed on www.dubai.aeThe articles in this publication reflect only the author’s opinions and not necessarily those of the eGovernment or its staff. Republishing of material in this publication is not permitted without attribution of this publication as the source.

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Our Vision

ContentEditorial

Support of small and medium businesses is a national priority

Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.. the ultimate model in eLeadership

Wages Protection System from MoL

“Tawseel”provides a full range of distribution and media logistics services

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Content


Under the Patronage of the UAE Ministry of Defense and with the official government support from Dubai eGovernment, Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and aeCERT, the Institute for Near East and Gulf Military Analysis (INEGMA) concluded the first edition of the Gulf International Cyber Security Symposium- GICS- on December 10, 2012 at The Jumeirah Beach Hotel, Dubai, UAE.

The UAE Cyber National SecurityHis Excellency Major General Mohammed Al Essa,

gave the keynote speech stating: “Under the leadership of our President & Supreme Commander HH. Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, HH. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the follow-up of HH. General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, we at the UAE Ministry of Defence and the three services of the Armed Forces have been working closely on enhancing the security of our advanced digital communication systems and rapidly-evolving information infrastructure which we have succeeded to establish over the past years, and how to sustain a high level of readiness to face any threat to our national and regional stability.” He added: “The UAE Armed Forces and security agencies have come a long way in the past couple of decades and have seen considerable progress on all fronts, especially in enhancing defensive capabilities in area of cyber space. The UAE firmly believes that cyber security can be achieved only through cooperation with the peace-loving countries. Hosting such a conference by the UAE adds a real value to the efforts that aim to address the cyber security threats and cybercrime in its various forms.”

Information security and the government services

His Excellency Humaid Mohammed Al Qutami, stated: “The United Arab Emirates, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al-Nahyan, President of the State, and his brother His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al-Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and their brothers, Their Highnesses Supreme Council Members and Rulers of the Emirates, has realized the importance of keeping pace with global technological development, and its necessity in continuing the process of development and prosperity..” He added: “The Ministry of Education is currently implementing a set of projects and initiatives in this regard, including the Mohammed bin Rashid Initiative for Smart Learning, which adopts a comprehensive methodology to develop the educational system, along other projects the Ministry seeks in order to provide citizens with tools that help them deal with high-tech advancements in a safer technical environment.”

Dubai’s modelHis Excellency Ahmed bin Humaidan, Director General

of Dubai eGovernment who discussed the growing role of eGovernance in the UAE as a wave of the future. Mr. Wesam Lootah, Assistant Director General at Dubai eGovernment presented a lecture on “The Experience of Dubai eGovernment: Evolution towards a Secure Collaborative Connected Government.”

Meanwhile HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council issued Resolution No 13 of 2012 related to information security in Dubai Government that aims at establishing an integrated and unified strategy for information security and the government’s information policy. The Resolution stated to form the Information Security Committee, which is responsible for implementing the Resolution among the government entities. It has completed the Information Security Regulation and will be released within a few weeks. •

eSecurity

The Gulf International

Cyber Security

Symposium – GICS is

held in DubaiWith the official government support

from Dubai eGovernment

Cover Story

4 Issue 111 - January 2012

eLeadership is a fundamental constituent of administrative and economic progress. This is because adoption of eTransformation in the government sector and the consequential comprehensive restructuring of the procedures and mechanisms that govern the government’s relationship with society, trade and the other aspects of life is an instrument that deeply affects the standing of the state, causes an internal revolution against routine and bureaucracy, enhances transparency and efficiency and minimizes corruption and favouritism.

On the seventh anniversary of his accession as Ruler of Dubai, we will focus on Sheikh Mohammed’s eLeadership qualities, which are just a part of the many facets of his prudent leadership that have been the catalyst for the progress and prosperity achieved by Dubai and the UAE.


Brief résumé of the leaderHH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice

President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is the third of four children of the late Sheikh Rashid Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, these being Sheikh Maktoum, Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikh Mohammed and Sheikh Ahmed.

HH Sheikh Mohammed was born in 1949 and was brought up in his family house located in Al Shindagha where he spent a happy childhood. In 1955 he was enrolled by his father in Al Ahmadiya School in Deira for primary education where he proved to be doing better than all his classmates. When he was 10 years old, he moved to Al Shaab School and after two years he joined Dubai Secondary School.

On September 9, 1958, Sheikh Saeed, Sheikh Mohammed’s grandfather, passed away and Sheikh Rashid took over as Ruler of Dubai. Sheikh Rashid realized that special attention should be paid towards grooming of his children. As early as October of the same year, Sheikh Rashid started training them in shouldering the responsibilities that would be assigned to them for managing Dubai Government’s affairs in future. HH Sheikh Mohammed used to accompany his father in all his meetings and this helped Sheikh Mohammed to sharpen his skills in governance.

At the same time, Sheikh Mohammed excelled in his high school which he completed after passing the school examination in the academic year 1964/65. Later, Sheikh Rashid decided that his son Sheikh Mohammed should resume his higher studies in the military sciences. As this major demanded mastery of English language, Sheikh Mohammed, accompanied by his cousin Sheikh Mohammed Bin Khalifa Al Maktoum, travelled to London in August 1966 where he joined Bell English Language School in

Cambridge, which was then regarded as the best language school in Europe.

When Sheikh Mohammed was 20 years old, he was fully knowledgeable about different types of literature and sports as well as political and military issues. This added a global dimension to his intuitive talent for poetry and literature.

Realizing his son’s amazing potential, Sheikh Rashid assigned many major missions to Sheikh Mohammed. Firstly, Sheikh Mohammed was appointed as Head of Dubai Police and Public Security on November 1, 1968, and Minister of Defence in December 1971. Following the death of his father, he was appointed as Dubai Crown Prince on January 4, 1995 and following the death of his brother, the late Sheikh Maktoum Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, he took over as Ruler of Dubai on January 4, 2006, and was appointed as Vice President and Prime Minister on February 11, 2006.

Key electronic milestonesHH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has a

magnificent record of eLeadership achievements which intensified after he took over as Ruler of Dubai. The most important among them are:• Launch of first Arab eGovernment:

HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum blazed a new trail by launching the first Arab eGovernment in 2000. He personally shouldered the responsibility of tracking this project, thereby ensuring its implementation and success in a record period of 18 months. Subsequently, Sheikh Mohammed launched the official portal of Dubai Government, which featured 14 eServices. He also continued his support and follow-up of the eTransformation initiative, as a result of which eTransformation has exceeded 90% in many government departments.


• ePay’s Role:ePay is the backbone of eTransformation enabling online

settlement of government bills, fees and fines. The key driver behind this was Sheikh Mohammed’s determination to make a success of Dubai Government’s ePay portal. He issued instructions that the additional charges on credit cards should be borne by the government. This encouraged customers to use the portal for their transactions and helped the portal achieve record transactions of AED 4 billion in the first half of 2012.

• Setting up Dubai School of GovernmentIn partnership with Harvard Kennedy School, HH Sheikh

Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum established Dubai School of Government (DSG) as a regional hub for spreading administrative knowledge and experience in public sector institutions. DSG represented the UAE in the initiative on good governance for the member countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development as an example of simplified government procedures on which the eGovernment initiative is based.

• Launching My Gov portal:The initiative of “My Gov” was launched to ease the

communication with Government of the UAE through the portal www.mygov.ae. This gateway is integrated with direct email accounts for the staff of the federal government entities and aimed at developing the government services and to enhance their operational efficiency as one of the main aspects in the strategy of 2011-2013. It is aimed at improving the quality of life of UAE nationals and residents on its territory, according to UAE Vision 2021.

Electronic doorsAs the young Sheikh Mohammed was used to seeing the

open doors in the courts of his grandfather and father, he applied the same method to rule the emirate. He opened the doors of his court to all people and when he felt that the traditional court was not enough to receive people and listen to their needs, he launched an array of online communication channels, thus becoming an epitome of a leader who communicates and consults with his people on major issues and decisions.

Sheikh Mohammed’s bouquet of electronic communication features a large number of websites and social networking websites, the most important of which are:

• Sheikh Mohammed’s personal website: sheikhmohammed.ae

This personal website is a condensed version of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid’s vision at the political and personal levels. There, users can experience the leader’s concerns over building the emirate as an international leader, making a mark in the world of literature, poetry and wisdom. They can also experience the fierce competition on the tracks of international endurance and equestrian races, in a warm family atmosphere, where the leader is seen is a father of all nationals who he loves in the same way he loves his children and who express loyalty to him in the same way they do to their fathers.

The website features a library of his poems, photos and videos, in addition to a comprehensive media centre on the UAE, Dubai and Sheikh Mohammed’s activities. You can directly communicate with HH Sheikh Mohammed without any intermediary.

• Prime Minister’s website: uaepm.aeIf anyone wants to visit HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin

Rashid in his office, this website is the ideal route. The website features the news of the Federal government and the Cabinet. Visitors can get acquainted with Sheikh Mohammed’s adroit skills in managing the affairs of the federal, decentralized government, which is unique across the Arab world, achieving at the same time the highest degree of development and prosperity for all UAE nationals.

Through the website you can contact HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum online without any obstacle.

• Sheikh Mohammed’s personal page on Facebook: facebook.com/HHSheikhMohammed

This page is a global barometer of Sheikh Mohammed’s popularity and people’s love for him. The number of fans from all over the world on this page has exceeded 360,000. The page was the subject of many press interviews through which HH Sheikh Mohammed communicated with the mass media and shared with the public his ideas and decisions on the emirate.

• Sheikh Mohammed’s account on Twitter: @HHSHKMOHD

Those interested in knowing HH Sheikh Mohammed’s activities can sign up to the social networking website Twitter and track the contributions of this unique leader who surprises all with his great interest and seriousness in dealing with online communication channels and social networking websites. Those who watch HH Sheikh Mohammed’s news feel as if they are his personal friends, listening to his news and reading the ideas that come to his mind.

• YouTube Channel: hhsmohammedbinrashidThose interested in knowing HH Sheikh Mohammed’s

activities can sign up to the social networking website Twitter and track the contributions of this unique leader who surprises all with his great interest and seriousness in dealing with online communication channels and social networking websites. Those who watch HH Sheikh Mohammed’s news feel as if they are his personal friends, listening to his news and reading the ideas that come to his mind. •


SMB

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, is a unique model in communication with the people and eLeadership. Through his presence on social networking, in particular through the Twitter, His Highness continues to attract followers and launch initiatives that always become the talk of the city.

Some important initiatives launched by HH Sheikh Mohammed via Twitter, as well as the most important eServices that enhance this initiative are listed here:

@HHShkMohd• Wehostedthe3rdAnnualGlobalEntrepreneurialSummit

yesterday receiving around 2000 guests. The aim is to support young entrepreneurs

• Webelieveintheyouth.Weknowthatbuildingthefuturecannot occur without strong entrepreneurs. Arab youth deserve a better future

• Entrepreneurship isnotnewto theArabregion,whereinman invented the alphabet, writing, algebra, arithmetic & built the first university

• Fromourregion,camepioneersinmedicine,astronomy,mathematics & chemistry. We must restore self-confidence to move forward

• Wewillhelptheyouthinbringingtheirdreamstoreality.We launched a fund to support their projects

• We also initiated a new policy making it mandatory forgov. entities to deal with them & we will create business incubators in universities

• We’ll build a city dedicated to support them in Dubai.I invite the creative Arab youth to join the march of innovation & entrepreneurship

SME.aeThe Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for

Young Business Leaders (Dubai SME) was established by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of

Dubai, with a vision to nurture business leadership through entrepreneurial spirit. Dubai SME is responsible for developing that entrepreneurship in Small and Medium Enterprises.

One of the major goals for Dubai SME is to implement strategies and plans to promote innovation and business leadership in accordance with the UAE Vision 2021. The Vision foresees an economy that encourages creativity and translates ideas into successful businesses.

Smeconnect.aeThe Goal of SME Connect is to provide a platform

for the connection between entrepreneurs to happen. Entrepreneurial needs to leverage knowledge, skills, and capabilities of other companies will be met. They will engage with other people who want to sincerely and authentically share knowledge and experience.

Entrepreneurship requires a catalyst, when starting up with an idea and you don’t know where to go. SME Connect eases the pains of being an entrepreneur by providing it all is one place, to allow you to start with negligible resources, connect with stakeholders like service providers, attend shows – events, listen to speakers, buy and sell services.

Tejar DubaiThe Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry on

Sunday announced the launch of Tejar Dubai, with the aim of supporting the youth in establishing their own small-to-medium-sized enterprises, or SMEs.

Tejar Dubai aims to find and train creative and commercially-minded youth to help them turn their business ideas into a reality. The initiative is the first in the UAE to offer a specialized programme and platform for the youth.

The initiative to support and encourage the next generation of entrepreneurs was launched under the patronage and support of Sheikh Majid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority. •

Support of small and medium

businesses is a national priority

Highlights from the tweets of the leader


As part of the celebrations held all over the UAE to mark the UAE’s 41st National Day, Dubai eGovernment (DeG) Department held a celebration in observance of this precious occasion at its headquarters in the HH Ruler’s Court on November 29. The ceremony, which was attended by all DeG employees and departmental directors, was held in the presence of H.E Mohammed Ibrahim Al Shaibani, Director-General of HH Ruler’s Court of Dubai, H.E. Ahmed Bin Humaidan, Deputy Director General of HH Ruler’s Court of Dubai and Director General of Dubai eGovernment, H.E. Abdulrahman Al Saleh, Director General of the Department of Finance, H.E. Yasser Amiri, Director General of the Department of Financial Control, and many executives directors and departmental directors in HH Ruler’s Court and participating departments.

Sumaia Bin Hammad, Director of Communications and Business Development Department at Dubai eGovernment, welcomed the attendees and guests participating in this joyous gathering, which connected heritage with contemporary life. This was followed by a videotape on the UAE’s achievements over 40 years, thanks to which the UAE made a quantum leap that was culminated with the economic and social progress experienced in its golden age.

As a reward for its employees and in order to add to the intimacy of the occasion, the Department announced the names of the five employees who won prizes for the best decorated desk competition, which was announced in anticipation of the National Day. This was followed by more prizes to those who gave correct answers to a number of heritage questions.

Later, the attendees were introduced to a number of sections in the lobby of the building where tents representing traditional crafts and falconry were pitched. This was followed by a call for lunch, after which the attendees were invited to watch a men’s traditional dance in the outdoor square. The celebration concluded with a cake-cutting ceremony where Bin Humaidan cut the cake in observance of the National Day. •

Celebrations included folkloric activities, videos and heritage gallery

Dubai eGovernment celebrates UAE’s 41st National Day

Celebrations

Dubai eGovernment honours GITEX team

Valuing the tremendous efforts of Dubai eGovernment teams, especially the team that was responsible for the department’s successful participation in the region’s largest technology event, GITEX Technology Week 2012 that was held in October, Dubai eGovernment, led by Director General H.E. Ahmed Bin Humaidan, recently honored the members of this team for their valuable contribution.

At the start of the ceremony, which took place at Dubai eGovernment’s headquarters at H.H. Dubai Ruler’s Court, H.E. Ahmed Bin Humaidan welcomed Dubai eGovernment's staff, and expressed his appreciation and gratitude for the efforts exerted by all teams that contributed to the overwhelming success of Dubai eGovernment’s GITEX stand, which hosted several Dubai Government entities.

Bin Hammad also added that Dubai eGovernment’s preparations for hosting partners from government entities had begun early this year by forming teams of organizers and technicians in charge of the stand construction, which eventually led to delivering the image of an integrated government. She underlined the fact that this would not have been possible without the daily supervision and support of the department's senior management during the preparation phase, spearheaded by the Director General and Deputy Director General, who ensured that every single detail was implemented with utmost smoothness and transparency.


eSolutions

“Tawseel”provides a

full range of distribution and

media logistics services

Dubai has become the hub for magazine publishing, newspapers and promotional publications. The UAE is one of the highest countries in the Arab advertising spending, as it is one of the essential components of trade. To achieve the success of the process of publishing and printing advertising an effective distribution network for magazines and publications must be available.

To fulfill this demand “Tawseel” a subsidiary of Dubai Media Incorporated was launched to provide distribution solutions and delivery for publications, commercial newspapers and magazines. It is empowered by sophisticated electronic systems to provide the finest eServices to its clients, and build an outstanding performance in the field of distribution and delivery with more than 500 experienced employees.

The following is a list of the most important distribution services provided by “connect”, detailing the electronic channels for these services:•Door-to-doordelivery•POSdistribution• Distribution and full management of publications’

subscriptions•Salesandlogistics•MarketingandmerchandisingservicesforPOS•Onlinesubscriptionsthroughthewebsite•Marketingandmediaservicesforpublishers(distributionof

flyers and free quantities and promotional samples)

Coverage all over UAEDelivery and distribution points in covers different emirates,

where up to more than 3,500 points of sale of newspapers and magazines, including major business centers and retail stores, direct distribution to the free-market shops. In addition, the expansion of delivery door-to-door to more than 616 thousand points, to ensure the arrival of daily, weekly, monthly and even seasonal publications and commercial to the subscribers and public as soon as the publications are released. Among the publications distributed exclusively by Tawseel are Al Bayan, Emirates Today newspaper, and Indian publications.

Navigation devices via satelliteTawseel was the first company to use equipment to

communicate wirelessly with fleet distributors, which includes more than 275 bicycle and 75 bus and 35 distribution saloon car, through the navigation system via satellite, allowing follow-up distribution teams working around the clock, seven days a week.

The use of handheld devices in the POSTawseel uses handheld devices in the distribution process,

starting from the delivery of publications for POS and receive returns that have not been sold, and even billing the client at the same time which is the process of receiving and delivery, with data entry into the financial system on the same day also; to guarantee for customers accuracy and transparency in service delivery, through follow-up recipients and returns management using special system for customers to follow their products through the website of the Tawseel. This process assure live and direct follow up for all movements on the distribution and sale and purchase that are made for their publications, as well as it provide the customer with reports instantly and quickly for publications sold, with analytical reports.

Shipping Services In addition to all the above, Tawseel makes the exercise of

the publishing and distributing of publications issued outside the country an easy and very comfortable process, supported by systems developed for customer service and follow-up requests and deliveries, while providing a variety of services to support customers as they do business on the go:•Deliverytohotelsandairlines•DistributionManagementfortheGulfCooperationCouncil•SupportservicesfortheMiddleEastandAfrica•clearingandforwardingthroughtheairport•MailingServicesDelivery• Support Services Delivery for exhibitions and special

events• Various printing solutions from “Masar” for printing, a

subsidiary of Dubai Media Incorporated. •


Site of the Month

The Roads & Transport Authority (RTA) provides many eServices for commuters and motorists. e4all reviews the new website of RTA www.rta.gov.ae which has been revamped to be totally customer-centric in approach.

Total screenThe first thing that draws one’s attention on opening the

website is that all information is present on one screen page with no need to scroll down. This feature was initially a major challenge for the design team since the RTA is such a large department with a great diversity of services and therefore a great deal of analysis and customer input was required.

Customer-centricAnother feature that drew our attention is the clean,

uncluttered look of the website. This has been achieved by removing large areas of official news and images which

are usually seen on most government websites. The RTA website is completely customer-focused as it should be and revolves around: easy and comfortable access.

Iconic screensAnother feature that has helped the team behind the RTA

website to reduce the vital website space is the use of a single integrated screen with icons instead of textual matter. Other than aesthetic beauty, the pages remain clean and easy on the eye. Highlighted services use the header banner which keeps changing to attract the customer’s attention.

eServices seekerWe published in an earlier issue of e4all, an article titled

“Seekers of eServices”. In that article we have talked about the dilemma of the Web search tools in the government portals to get eServices and how to they work. We came to the conclusion that the majority of governmental websites do not provide an engine dedicated to eServices search, separate from the results of news and general content that is not related directly to the customer.

In the new RTA portal a search engine is dedicated fully to show information about eServices on the site. This engine has been designed in an effective way titled: “How can I?” Which would pull attention and raises curiosity from the customer to try to deal with the question.

More importantly, the results are displayed by the search engine, which reflect collaboration between a great team, not only one person. Analysts and experts in the department of eServices and information provided by the Authority for clients, have been able to show direct information that helps the user to get the requirements smoothly and comfortably.

We conclude our review of RTA website with many thanks and appreciation to the eServices team for their obvious efforts in the website development and improvement to the new image; makes public access to their services more easily. •

RTA revamps its portal to provide customer-centric

services and content


DeG signs agreement with Tadweer for recycling

Dubai eGovernment has recently signed an agreement with Tadweer Waste Treatments (Tadweer), a leading provider of comprehensive waste and environmental services in the UAE, for the segregation and processing of waste being generated by Dubai eGovernment. This move is part of the Department’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) program under the theme “Together to protect the environment”.

In this regard, Dubai eGovernment has launched an internal initiative - placing two types of recycle bins within its premises, one for waste paper and the other for metal and plastics. As employees do their part by depositing waste in the right bin, the assigned division in Dubai eGovernment will collect the waste every week and send it to Tadweer.

To assess the effectiveness of the initiative over a period of time, Tadweer will be submitting a monthly report to Dubai eGovernment, indicating the waste quantities that have been recycled and processed for reuse.

Saeed Hussein Ahli, Director of Corporate Support Services, Dubai eGovernment, said: “Through this initiative, we look forward to raising greater employee awareness on environmental issues, as this should be a key evaluation criterion and prerequisite for both government and private sectors. The environmental component has become widely recognized and we are strongly committed to supporting the environmental policy adopted by our leaders in the UAE, while also creating a highly professional working atmosphere for our employees. This is in line with the Dubai Government Human Resources Management Law and will contribute to environmental protection and ultimately turn Dubai into a green community.”

Each ton of recycled paper can save up to 17 trees, 380 gallons of oil, three cubic meters of landfill space, 4,000 kilowatts of energy, and 7,000 gallons of water.

eGate for people with special needs introduced

Special needs residents and tourists will be able to breeze through all border checkpoints in the UAE without the need to present their passports, via a newly designed eGate that the General Directorate for Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) launched during Gitex.

Lieutenant Colonel Khalid Nasser Al Razouqi, Assistant Director-General of electronic services at GDRFA, told Gulf News: “People with special needs can simply flash their eGate pass to a barcode reader to go through immigration checks.”

“The new eGate has a multi-option design to suit special needs travellers as they can cross the eGate by using their fingerprint, iris scan or facial scan.

“The eGate has been installed in Dubai Terminal One and will include all UAE entry and exit points very soon,” he said. GDRFA has piloted the smart card system, allowing pre-registered travellers to electronically check in and bypass the need to physically stamp their passports. “Holding the eCard would make travelling through these international airports very easy.”

eMonitor

Dubai’s RTA kicks off real-time query via SMS

RTA’s Public Transport Agency has recently launched the real-time query service about bus & metro arrival time via SMS (M-Bus) at Burj Khalifa Station.

The service was launched in the presence of the CEO of Public Transport Agency, Essa Abdul Rahman Al Dossari with a number of Agency’s Directors including Adil Shakri, Director of Transport Systems; Ahmed Mohammed Al Hammadi, Director of Bus; Furat Ali Al Amri, Director of Franchising and Enforcement; Mohammed Abdullah Al Ali, Director of Planning and Business Development; and Mohammed Al Rowaished, Director of Drivers Affairs, in addition to the working team overseeing the implementation of the service at the Agency.

Al Dossari said: “By launching this service, we aim at applying the world’s best practices in mass transit industry, and raising customers’ satisfaction rating by providing quality services that contribute to improving the use of public transport means. The service is also intended to increase & strengthen the channels of communication between the RTA and customers to ensure smooth and direct access to information without the need to contact the Call Center.”

“In line with the recent developments taking place in the world of communications, the RTA aims, through this service, to ensure that passengers are kept informed on the accurate arrival timings of public buses and the metro. This will undoubtedly contribute to developing this vital service in line with Dubai’s standing as a global business and economic hub,” he added:

Adel Shakri, Director of Transport Systems, Public Transport Agency, said, “This is a five-fold service:• Firstly, it enables the user to know all public buses

routes passing through a certain bus station, which is requested by sending the letter (D), followed by a space and then the bus station No. shown on the board where the service recipient stands, to the number (5223).

• Secondly:knowthetimingsofacertainroute,which isrequested by sending the letter (D) followed by a space and then the required route No. shown on the board in place, to the number (5223).

• Thirdly,knowthepublicbustimingsafteracertainperiodof time, which is requested by sending the letter (D) followed by a space and then the required timing shown on the board where the service recipient stands to the number (5223).

• Fourthly:knowthepublicbustimingsofacertainroute,which is requested by sending the letter (D), followed by a space and then the bus station No, Route No. and the required bus timing, to the number (5223), using 24 hours format.

• Fifthly:knowingthetimingsofmetroofaspecificmetrostation by sending the letter (D) followed by a space followed and the Platform No., to the number (5223), for example: (Union Station of the Metro Red Line - Jebel Ali Platform).”


A survey conducted by the Economist Intelligence Unit revealed that the UAE is ranked number one as a living destination among the Arab countries and the 18th worldwide. One of the most important aspects measured by the report was the strength of the economy to provide jobs.

To learn more about protecting the labour force who are working in UAE, e4all had this interview with Mohammed Ahmed Al Matrooshi, Director of Governmental Communication in the Ministry of Labour.

What is Wages Protection System?Wages Protection System (WPS)

is an electronic salary transfer system that allows institutions to pay workers’ wages via banks, exchange houses, and financial institutions approved and authorized to provide the service.

The system, developed by the Central Bank of the UAE, allows the Ministry of Labour to create a database that records wage payments in the private sector to guarantee the timely and full payment of agreed-upon wages.

The WPS covers all institutions registered with the Ministry across all sectors and industries and will benefit different categories of labour.

What are the categories included in the WPS?

WPS targets the following parties from the Ministry partners:

• Workers: each and every individual who works in the private sector in return for agreed-upon wages and who has a labour card issued by the Ministry;

• Employers: whoever owns acompany or institution registered with the Ministry and hires one or more workers in return for agreed-upon wages;

• Banks:thefinancialinstitutionwhichthe employer has a bank account with, that is used to transfer the wages amount through WPS to the appointed agent to distribute to the workers.

• Agent: any bank, exchange house,or financial institution approved and authorized by the Central Bank of the UAE to offer wages payment

services via WPS. The Central Bank of the UAE will issue a regularly updated list showing names of approved and authorized agents.

How are wages paid through the system?

The mechanism to apply for WPS is as below:• The company shall open an account

with one of the banks operating in the country, in case it doesn’t have one upon joining the WPS system;

• Thecompanyshallenterintocontractwith a WPS agent that is approved and authorized by the Central Bank of the UAE to provide this service, be it a bank, exchange house, or a financial institution;

• Theemployershallissueinstructionsto its bank to transfer wages to workers. Instructions shall be accompanied by a detailed wages list and a copy of the list shall be sent to the agent.

• TheWPSwill sendworkers’detailsand wages as well as the salary transfer instructions electronically to the Central Bank of the UAE, who will then forward those details to the Ministry of Labour database in order to make sure that the details received correspond with those registered with the Ministry;

• The WPS will send the approvedinformation to the appointed agent in order to start paying the wages. •

eInitiatives

Mohammed Ahmed Al Matrooshi, Director of Governmental Communication, MoL

Wages Protection System from

Ministry of LabourAn eInitiative to protect

rights for the labour force


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Since Dubai eGovernment was the first eTransformation initiative in the region, the Policy, Advisory and Knowledge Services set the standards for providing eServices to customers. A typical example of this is the Government Websites Excellence Model (GWEM), which creates the standards and policies for government websites in Dubai. In this article, e4all reproduces the most important parts of GWEM so that readers beyond government circles can benefit from eTransformation policies. In this issue we will cover the part of the “Policies” guidelines.

Policies importanceInformation published or used on a

government website presents legitimate concerns for the entity and also for the users accessing the website. The government entities should address all issues related to data protection, accessibility and responsibility among others on their websites through clearly

and unambiguously stated policies for their users. Following are some guidelines to be addressed at a minimum on entity websites to ensure legal concerns and issues are addressed for the users of the website:

Guideline: Provide Information Regarding the Protection and Handling of Privacy in the Website

Government entities should explain on their website how they handle the privacy of their website users. The related website policy should be easily accessible and available throughout the website at a consistent location in the website footer.

The policy should address the below issues at minimum: • Collection&Useof information:the

website should address what user information is collected, and how this information is used and shared by the entity.

• IP Addresses & Cookies: thewebsite should address if users’ IP addresses are collected and how

they are used. If cookies are used, the policy must address the purpose of using them.

• ProtectionofInformation:thewebsiteshould address to whom and/or what entities users’ information will be available and the policy for sharing the information with third party(ies), if any.

• Securityof information: thewebsiteshould address what measures are taken to preserve the security of users’ information. It is mandatory to use a secure and encrypted method for transmission of personal data or conducting electronic financial transactions over the internet.

• Disputes:Stepsapersonshouldtakeif they have reasonable doubt that their privacy is being compromised.

• Third Party Website: if the entityhas links to other website(s), the website should address all concerns and issues related to these links, such as responsibility, accuracy of information, security, liability of information, etc.•

The Government Websites Excellence Model

Guidelines for Dubai Government Websites

eStandards


eHeritage

What is Mirsal 2?Mirsal 2 is a combination of IT

services and Dubai Customs processes and procedures provided through an electronic environment in an automated and paperless way. The system works as an engine which manages all operations including collecting Customs duties. Mirsal 2 also manages the risk management cycle, hence helps in serving and protecting the society from restricted and prohibited goods. Mirsal 2 also connects other administrations in the Dubai trade supply chain, providing electronic messages for inspection and clearance of goods.

Among Mirsal 2 beneficiaries are all divisions and people who complete Customs related operations as well as importers, exporters, Customs consignment and declaration clearing agents. Mirsal 2 gives them the opportunity to manage declarations immediately after they receive notification about the consignments’ movement.

What is Mirsal in local heritage?

The Mirsal is the messenger who delivers important messages. Either verbally or by carrying a letter. The message can be personal or about any public issue. The person who delivers the message should be fast, accurate and honest. He should deliver the message on time and to the right person.

The core function of Mirsal 2 system is to transfer messages and information about shipments from shipping companies to Dubai Customs. These messages are to be delivered to many partners and departments involved in the shipping and importing process. That’s why the system has been named Mirsal.

Why Mirsal?The reason this name was given

is that the information transfer between various parties is done through electronic connectivity, just like the messenger in the old days. One electronic messenger sends the information of the shipment from the shipper, customs clearance companies through to Dubai Customs with speed and accuracy. This shortens the time and effort for both Dubai Customs and the customers while providing a comfortable and smooth service without the necessity to queue or have paperwork errors in a manual process.

Mirsal 2 from Dubai Customs

Nations with a rich heritage find it easier to advance. One such nation is the UAE, which has served as a model for other countries in the region, due to its success and prosperity, as well as its heritage, value and culture. The link with the past

is retained by our innovative leaders, even in the eTransformation process, with some eServices having names that are linked to the past.

This page will list a number of services that carry traditional names or origins.


eServices Wizard

This service is available at the portal of Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department www.iacad.gov.ae

Embracing Islam for new MuslimsBy Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department

Fill in the information in the application. Make sure you fill the compulsory fields and to use accurate information about yourself. Then submit the application

A confirmation page will appear to inform you that your request had been accepted. You can find more information and services related to new Muslims in the same website.

For more information you can call the toll free number:

800DEEN8003336

From the home page you can select ISLAMIC AFFAIRS/Embracing Islam Form

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2

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eSurvey

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E4all SurveyDear e4all readers,We hope you can give us a little of your valuable time to fill in this survey, enabling us to respond to your

requirements for developing the magazine. Thank you. Please provide the following:

Sex: ……….....……. Age: ………..................…… Job Title: …………………..................................................

E4all Availability and Distribution Sites:How do you get your copy of e4all magazine?o Worksiteo Eppco Petrol Stationso Online through dubai.ae

Do you receive the magazine on time?o Yeso No

Do you read the magazine regularly?o Yeso No

Do you suggest any other sites to distribute the magazine? Please name them.…………………………………

Content and Editing Material:What are the chapters you prefer to read in the magazine?…………………………………

What are the subjects you feel are unnecessary in the magazine?…………………………………

Are there subjects that you believe to be essential in the magazine but are not published currently?…………………………………

Are the magazine’s articles long, short or convenient?o Longo Conveniento Short

Is the language correct and free of linguistic errors?o Yeso No

Do you believe the number of the magazine’s pages is convenient or should this be increased?o Conveniento Pages need to be increased

Look & Feel/Design:Do you believe that the magazine’s design is attractive?o Yeso No

Is the font size convenient for reading?o Conveniento Too smallo Too large

Do you feel that the content is distributed conveniently or too crammed?o Crammedo Convenient

Are you satisfied with the colours of the headlines and backgrounds or do they need to be changed?o Yeso No

Does the cover design reflect the magazine’s nature?o Yeso No

Printing and Paper:Do you believe that the printing of the magazine and the type of paper used are acceptable quality-wise? o Yeso No

Does the printing ink leave any stains/marks your hand while reading the magazine?o Yeso No

Online Version:Have you browsed the online version of the magazine?o Yeso No

Have you accessed the downloading page easily?o Yeso No

Do you find downloading the online version easy/ convenient?o Yeso No

Would you like the magazine’s articles to be published on Dubai eGovernment’s Facebook page?o Yeso No

Would you prefer to see a version of this magazine on smartphones?o Yeso No

If you wish to give a suggestion to improve the magazine, you can write it down here.

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The survey is to be faxed to 04-3532988, sent to P.O. Box 90300 Dubai or emailed to [email protected] to the •attention of e4all chief editor.You can fill in the online survey on the link: http://esurvey.dubai.ae/survey.asp?sid=20121223658547&lid=EN•

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mohammed bin rashid: the harvest of seven years of diligence · jamal khalifa almulla...

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