thank you khalifa - dsg.gov.ae · thank you khalifa because you are the leader of the development...

1Issue 124 - February 2014

It is an annual custom by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to replace the celebrations of his accession as Ruler of Dubai on January 4th, with a campaign to thank a significant segment of society.

This year, HH Sheikh Mohammed launched “Thank You Khalifa” for us to express thanks and gratitude to our UAE President HH Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for all he has done for the UAE, and for the UAE’s achievements under his prudent leadership.

***

These achievements are more evident to those close to HH Sheikh Khalifa. However, there is no closer person to Sheikh Khalifa than HH Sheikh Mohammed, who once said: “When we rush to do something for the benefit of the citizens, we find the President has done it before us.” That is HH Sheikh Khalifa, and we certify that his deeds precede his words and that his care for nationals and his keenness on following up their conditions and continuously meeting their needs is his main concern. For his citizens, he covers their healthcare, writes of liabilities, provides housing programmes and support, while his humanitarian efforts are boundless.

***

We proudly say “Thank You Khalifa” because you are our leader and the example we all should follow. You are the caliph who has shouldered the responsibility of maintaining the integrity of UAE and the unity of its people in tune with our founding fathers, proving your worthy succession time and again.

You care more for ordinary people than those of influence; more for the weak than the strong and more for the poor than the well-off. You have loved them and they have loved you, you have created an oasis of safety and security despite the worldwide economic recession. Under your reign, the UAE’s flag has been fluttering high.

Thank you Khalifa because you are the leader of the development of the UAE. Those old enough can compare and contrast the development before and after the federation. During our 42 years as a nation, we have accomplished much including being the country, economy and government most trusted by its people, according to New York based Edelman Trust Barometer 2014. Such evidence shows how close our leaders are to their people.

We certify that you have completed the same march initiated by our founding fathers and together we loudly and deeply proclaim “ Thank you Khalifa.”

Director-General, Dubai Smart Government Department

e V i s i o n s

Thank you Khalifa

...

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 Smart Government

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 Smart Government or its staff. Republishing of material in this publication is not permitted without attribution of this publication as the source.

Editorial

w w w. d s g . g o v . a e

The Official Magazine of Dubai Smart Government

Content

AED 5.6 billion generated by Dubai Smart Government’s ePay in 2013

Dubai Trade to finalize winners for the 6th ESEA

Issue 124 - February 2014

P. 8

P. 13

4From the happiest nation in the world: #Thank_you_Khalifa

P. 4

Dubai: the story of a city that has grown smartly

P. 10

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

Dubai Smart Government’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 Smart Government 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 1500 electronic services.

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

Our Vision


Dubai Smart Government (DSG) recently completed the upgrading of the Payroll System within the Government Resource Planning System (GRPS) while also integrating the rates approved by the Dubai Government Human Resources (DGHR) Department for selected job categories entitled to receive the ‘Nature of Work Allowance.’ The move is in line with the Executive Council’s Resolution No. 15 on the organization of ‘Nature of Work Allowance’ for Dubai Government employees issued by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.

Running basic operations of Dubai government entities while maintaining the privacy of each, DSG’s Government Resources Planning Department upgraded the Payroll System in record time. The enhancement will enable all the 42 government entities to grant employees their increment retroactively as of July 2013, inclusive of December salaries, by simply entering employees’ names into the system in a seamless, professional and error-free manner. A specialized team from the Payroll Division of the Government Resources Planning Department updated the payroll system to support government entities in paying allowances to employees in an automated manner while taking into account all relevant conditions and excluded holidays.

H.E. Ahmed Bin Humaidan, Director General of Dubai Smart Government commended the achievement and the unparalleled support of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan

to all government organizations and employees. He emphasized the positive impact the allowance will have on all employees by enabling government entities to attract more competencies and talents in line with the vision to promoting the welfare of society and UAE Nationals in particular.

Composed of 25 streams to provide efficient management of basic resources, the GRPS offer a solid foundation to achieve integration among government entities in Dubai. It also provides a unified platform for reliable data that matches the highest standards of quality and performance. These systems cover Financial Management, HR, Payroll, Purchasing, Inventory, Enterprise Management, and Assets Management, in addition to eJob and iProcurement. The systems integrate with more than 50 major government systems to help them run their internal operations efficiently and allow them to concentrate on their core functions. The systems also service a number of vital government departments such as Dubai Municipality, Dubai Police, Road and Transport Authority, and Dubai Health Authority.

eMonitor

DSG automates provision of ‘Nature-of-Work Allowance’ for 42 government entities

MoI launches 169 eServices and 30 smartphone servicesThe Ministry of Interior has launched 169 electronic

services through its website, and 30 smart services via mobile phones. This initiative is in pursuance of the directives of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and is implemented under the constant supervision of Lt. General HH Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior.

The Ministry of Interior’s Smartphone platform was launched for all types of smart phone operating systems: Apple, Android, Blackberry and Windows. It provides many direct services to link users electronically to a number of service providers in the country, such as vehicle inspection and insurance companies. The platform also provides an integrated comprehensive link to the ministry’s website through the Unified Login mechanism (username and password) to obtain services from any channel of electronic communication. Users can register once using the Single Sign-On property directly on the website or through smart phones, and gain access to all the available ministry’s services.

The services offered in the first phase would help save time and effort and time for citizens and residents alike. They include vehicle registration renewal, payment of fines through mobile phones and the Ministry of Interior’s

website without having to visit the relevant service center. Work is currently underway to add the passport renewal service for mobile phones in the coming days, in addition to the 30 days and 90 days visit visas service, the domestic workers card and entry permit and other security services benefiting users in the state.

The Ministry of Interior provides a number of channels of electronic communication, including the Interactive voice response (IVR) service on the number (8005000), the Interactive Messaging service on the number (*152#), the interactive Kiosk devices set up in commercial centers, mobile phones platforms and the Ministry of Interior’s website: www.moi.gov.ae.

Work is underway to put in place technical solutions to provide services to the public in their preferred locations without the need to visit the service center. In addition, the ministry is endeavoring to provide other interactive services such the GIS Mapping and the Mobile optional and automatic Tracking System which allows people to inform the Ministry of Interior of their location and whereabouts, if need be. The Ministry of Interior is in the process of carrying out a total revamp in the way it delivers services to the public. It is also working on re-engineering procedures to keep pace with the requirements of smart services.

4 Issue 124 - February 2014

Cover StoryCover story

“Thank you Khalifa” is a massive campaign of loyalty & gratitude started by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai; to thank UAE President, His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan for everything he has done for the UAE and its people beginning with the first days of his presidency. HH Sheikh Khalifa has followed

in the footsteps of his late father, Sheikh Zayed and his brother, Sheikh Rashid and other esteemed sheikhs who founded the Union.

We too would like to join this faithful campaign to thank HH Sheikh Khalifa for his achievements especially in the field of eTransformation. From all of us, we loudly proclaim ‘Thank you Sheikh Khalifa.’

#Thank_you_Khalifa

From the happiest nation in the world:


BiographyHis Highness Sheikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan became

the President of the UAE after the death of his iconic father, Sheikh Zayed who passed away in 2004. Sheikh Khalifa succeeded his father after he was elected as UAE President by the Federal Supreme Council on November 3, 2004.

HH Sheikh Khalifa was born in 1948 in the eastern region of Abu Dhabi. He received his school education in Al-Ain, and spent most of his childhood there, lovingly brought up by his mother, HH Sheikha Hessa Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan. HH Sheikh Khalifa traces his royal lineage back to the original Bani Yas tribe which was the origin for most tribes in the UAE.

HH Sheikh Khalifa undertook his first official position as Representative of the Ruler in the Eastern Region and Head of the Courts Department in 1966. During that time in Al-Ain City, Sheikh Khalifa assumed his leadership role effortlessly, enjoying the opportunities he had to interact with citizens on a daily basis, reviewing their living conditions to become aware of their hopes and aspirations.

HH Sheikh Khalifa was appointed as the Crown Prince for Abu Dhabi in February 1969 and was also assigned leadership of Abu Dhabi Civil Defense Department. Sheikh Khalifa played a major role as Head of the Civil Defense Force which oversaw its transformation from a small force of individual guards into a multi task force supplied with modern equipment.

On 1st of July 1971, HH Sheikh Khalifa became the Prime Minister and Head of the first local Cabinet for the Emirate of Abu Dhabi, prior to the establishment of the UAE Federation, for which he assumed the portfolios for Defense and Finance.

In addition to his domestic responsibilities and following the declaration of the Federal State, Sheikh Khalifa assumed the post of Deputy Prime Minister in the Federal Cabinet which was formed in December 1973. In February 1974, and after the abolishment of the local Cabinet, Sheikh Khalifa became the first Chairman of the Executive Council which replaced the Cabinet in its entire domain in the UAE. Moreover, during his Chairmanship of the Executive Council, Sheikh Khalifa supervised and followed up modernization and development of projects transforming the UAE.

In continuation of his role as the head of the Executive Council, in 1976 Sheikh Khalifa chaired the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority which supervises the management of financial investments in the UAE, operating within a strategic vision of developing financial resources and maintaining stable sources of income for the coming generations. Among the most outstanding development initiatives in his profession, Sheikh Khalifa created a deep social influence, by the establishment of a social services and commercial buildings department which became known as The “Sheikh Khalifa Committee”.

Sheikh Khalifa then became the Deputy for the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces. This followed the historical decision taken by the Federal Supreme Council in 1976 to merge local defense forces in each emirate in the federation under the unified banner of the federation. Following the assumption of the Presidency, HH Sheikh Khalifa then reformed the Federal National Council (FNC) to allow elections and appointments, making the FNC much more representative.


The evolution of the UAE into eGovernment

The UAE has made a remarkable achievement worldwide in the field of eGovernment according to the UN eGovernment Survey 2012. This report, issued every two years, is the most comprehensive and accurate study that monitors the level of progress in the path of eGovernment in different countries. The report focuses on the role of eGovernment in creating sustainable development.

From 99 in 2010, to 7 in 2012, the rank of UAE jumped in the eGovernment services index that measures the extent of electronic development services, quality and channels variety, and the use of these public services.

The report also shows the huge improvement in eParticipation, which measures the extent of government’s use of the Internet. This feature is used by the UAE in creating a direct communication with the public, and involving them in policy formulation and services development. The report in this field proves the standard and level achieved by the country, improving its rank from 86 in 2010, to 6 in 2012, which is a very distinguished change in a small period of time.

UAE the eCountry Thanks to the support of HH Sheikh

Khalifa bin Zayed, eTransformation goes on through the UAE. All local governments have a program for eGovernment and provide services through their integrated portals, in order to reach the dream of an eCountry. The following are the official websites of the UAE and their respective emirates:

UAE eGovernment: Government.ae•Abudhabi.ae•Dubai.ae•Sharjah.ae•Ajman.ae•Rak.ae•Fujairah.ae•uaq.gov.ae•

Launching the Federal eServices network

The launching of a network for federal electronic services was announced in order to establish integrated eServices in the country. The first phase will include linking five ministries, in addition to Abu Dhabi eGovernment and Dubai Smart

Government. This will be accomplished through the first six months of 2014. By achieving this goal, it will be the first federal network for smart e-services in the UAE. After the first phase, more details will be announced about the timeframe of the other phases.

This network allows government organizations to exchange information and develop applications, new solutions and eServices, by using the technological infrastructure of this network. Moreover, the project will establish a unified data centre replacing the variety of data centres being used currently.

Launching into spaceIn order to guarantee that the UAE

is at the forefront of ICT, the UAE is pioneering in the satellite field, with Yahsat a major success story. As a result the first satellite was launched successfully in 2011, the second followed one year later.

Technology to cost 26 billions dirhams in the UAE

Technology expenses increased in the UAE at the beginning of 2013 by 12.9 percent to reach AED26.69 billion, compared to AED 22.75 billion in the year 2012, according to the annual report of the Global Foundation IDC, specialized in communications research and information technology.

The statistics of The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) showed that the number of mobile phone users in the country reached 13.77 million subscribers by the end of 2012, while the number of fixed telephone users reached 1.94 million subscribers, in

addition to 945,000 and subscribers in Internet service and 916 thousand subscribers in broadband service. So the services are expanding by 11.3% per 100 individuals. Furthermore, UAE recorded the highest users of Facebook, among Arab countries with over 3.3 million in 2012.

Establishing the National Electronic Security Authority

In line with its continuous efforts to boost the confidence between the government and users of internet and other information technology services, and in order to ensure the safe usage of information available on the internet, regulations were issued to establish the National Electronic Security Authority (NESA).

The Authority guarantees many functions, such as:- Suggest policies in the field of

information security and implementing them after getting approval.

- Develop the standards of protection in coordination with the concerned authorities, in which plans are designed to face any dangers, threats or attacks on national security.

- Supervises other governmental bodies in the country to ensure implementing security requirements issued by them.

- Prepare and finance all studies and researches needed to improve information security, in coordination with the concerned authorities.

- Authorize the import, export and use of hardware and software encryption

- Combat e-crimes, and propose legislation relating to secure systems, and raise awareness of its importance in coordination with the concerned parties, by organizing conferences and seminars, and cooperation with regional and international organizations.

His Highness Sheikh Khalifa, may God save and bless him, gives care to all aspect of the country and has pledged his life and all efforts to enhance the cultural and community life of his people. Our ‘Thank You Khalifa’ campaign expresses our love and appreciation for our remarkable leader. •


Smart learning: evaluating the

educational indicators through

smart curricula One of the most significant elements of the success

of any country is its educational system. If the system is powerful and developed, the country will achieve faster and more brilliant success, since education is considered responsible for preparing human resources that will serve the country in the future. For this and several other reasons, all civilized countries seek to revamp its educational system to keep pace with modern economic, political, and social changes.

The UAE was one of the earliest countries that adopted “Smart learning” in order to achieve a brighter future for its people. For many people, smart learning definition is associated with the type of learning process that uses latest technology and smart devices, while the actual definition exceeds this limited understanding to a bigger and more comprehensive concept.

What is smart learning?Experts define smart learning as an educational system

that restructures the learning process using modern methods based on scientific methods to restructure the practical concepts in the student’s mind. The main concept is achieved by connecting information analysis and critical thinking using technology tools in order to build research skills beginning since childhood. In addition, it depends on changing the traditional methods of delivering information, after realizing the importance of working as a team.

Is smart learning committed to general educational indicators?

According to the World Education Indicators (WEI), determined by UNESCO, there are four basic criteria any educational system should adhered to whether it is traditional or smart system. These criteria are: 1. The multiplicity of educational activities: multiple

activities that involve particular forms of communication and aims to achieve learning.

2. Learning by practice: knowledge and understanding of attitudes, values, skills and behavior should be acquired through practical experience, practice and study.

3. Purposeful system: educational system should have implicit and explicit goals achieved by an educational institution (school, university or institute) that provide a suitable learning environment for learners. Educational task entrusted to a teacher or coach who is responsible of directing students’ knowledge and skills either directly

or indirectly through Radio, TV, programs, films, records, internet, or any other form of technology.

4. Sustainable system: Learning experience should be sustainable and continuous, and achieved over a specific period to acquire knowledge. This period ends after achieving the goals of the experiment.

It is noteworthy that these criteria of the educational systems are very flexible and can accommodate any updates to enhance performance, including smart education. This flexibility seemed evident in the third criterion which stated that education can be achieved using modern communications technology, and this is one of the attributes of smart learning. For the first criterion, there is no doubt that the smart learning system involves many activities that activate the mind of the learner and urge him to research and think critically, unlike a lot of traditional routine educational systems. As for the second criterion, studying the UAE’s experience in smart education shows that this system is based on several objectives, implicit and explicit, and they were applied practically.

Each one of these criteria has a different reflection on reality, and we’ll see that clearly in the study of UAE’s experience with “Smart Learning program”.

UAE case study The experimental phase of the application of the “Smart

Learning Program” has proved the wise vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, when he launched the Initiative of “Smart Learning Program” all over UAE. Over the past two years, the program has been applied in some schools that were provided with latest technological devices, and the results of this experience were illuminating.

A field study, published in Gulf News has proved that a student who is studying on the Smart Learning Program outperformed by 70% those students in traditional education systems. The statistics also confirmed that the UAE occupies the 29th rank globally in applying Internet and information technology in its schools, and the first in the Arab region.

The results of the experimental phase encouraged the UAE to continue the project, so it began early this year to launch the applied phase of Mohammed Bin Rashid Program for Smart Learning in 123 public schools in the UAE, including 11402 students, 9963 of them from seventh grade, and 1439 of eighth graders. In addition, 1343 teachers have been trained since the beginning of the current academic year in order to prepare them to deal with the smart learning program.

There is no doubt that this step is considered a historical shift in the history of UAE, and we will see its impacts in the next two decades after the graduation of the first generation of smart learners. •

Smart Learning


Dubai Smart Government’s (DSG) recent statistics revealed that the ePay portal, a medium for instant payment of Dubai government fees through the internet or mobile phones, continued to grow in 2013 with a 27 percent increase in collections over 2012. This is accompanied by a 37 percent increase in the number of completed transactions through the ePay system which enables users to electronically pay for various government services in a secure environment.

Large incrementA total of AED 5.6 billion was collected from 4,547,829

transactions through DSG’s ePay gateway for the benefit of 25 participating local government and non-government entities by the end of December 2013; compared with AED 4.4 billion from 3,318,572 transactions in 2012. Accordingly, ePay has been offering huge benefits in terms of reducing government expenses through investment in DSG’s technical infrastructure which is offered to all Dubai-based government entities and departments on one hand, and to individual and corporate users on the other.

Adopting electronic servicesCommenting on the remarkable increase in the use of

eServices, H.E. Ahmed Bin Humaidan, Director General of Dubai Smart Government, said: “These results are a clear indication of the growing pace of eTransformation in Dubai; further reflected by the growing demand on the adoption of ePay to complete government transactions. It also expresses the strong confidence of our customers in this highly efficient and secure solution. ePay contributes to the national economy and helps create a sustainable green environment, since it reduces traffic movement and congestion, by avoiding unnecessary visits to government

counters, thereby reducing wastage of assets and enhancing the green economy of the nation. We have come a long way in providing our clients with cutting-edge smart government applications in various fields, specifically in financial dealing which is the most sensitive for both individual and corporate users.”

“We, at Dubai Smart Government, were able to successfully boost user confidence through constant improvements to the portal such as enhancing the online payment system through the 3D Secure System and offering multiple payment options for our customers. The ePay portal allows both individuals and corporate users to pay online for more than 250 eServices, either through the second generation eDirham, credit cards or debit cards from five leading banks: Commercial Bank of Dubai, Dubai Islamic Bank, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, Abu Dhabi Islamic Bank and Union National Bank,” Bin Humaidan concluded.

Smart ePayePay and mPay are part of the Dubai Smart Government’s

initiative which aims at providing government services through innovative channels in order to ease the lives of people and businesses interacting with the Government in Dubai. The Dubai Smart Government offers online government services through electronic channels for the public and the business community to have an efficient and comfortable mechanism for instant payment of government fees, thereby saving time and effort on personal visits to banks or the departments concerned. The ePay portal has a smart feature that allows it to be linked with all the eServices of government departments, irrespective of the technologies and software used by these entities. It is also distinguished for its compatibility with all means of electronic payment including the internet, kiosks, IVR, major credit cards and direct debit. •

ePay

AED 5.6 billion generated by Dubai Smart Government’s ePay in 2013Up by 27% over last year


Dubai Smart Government’s mPay amounts have increased by 265% in 2013, demonstrating the rise of mobile app payments in the region. The mPay app was launched by Dubai Smart Government in part implementation of the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for the transition to a smart government. The iPhone and Android mPay app combines payments from Dubai Police, DEWA, RTA and Etisalat, as well as donations towards Dubai Cares and Al Jalila Foundation.

Rapid adoption by usersFrom 5,720 downloads in 2012, the number of downloads

for iPhone and Android phones rose to 13,606, up by 138 percent, while the number of transactions rose from 38,886 to 95,867 in the same period, up by 147 percent. This helped the amounts generated through mPay to jump from around AED 8.7 million by the end of 2012 to around AED 31.8 million by the end of 2013, up by 265 percent.

Smart phones are the futureCommenting on these results, H.E. Ahmed Bin Humaidan,

Director General of Dubai Smart Government, said: “Great importance is attached to our mobile apps, as we consider them an effective channel for enabling customers to access government services on the move. Upon launching and subsequently developing this app, Dubai Smart Government was keen on its connected smart government principles, so it tied up with its major partners to offer a convenient app in one place. This meets the needs and aspirations in implementation of the initiative of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for easing access to all government transactions from one place and through a mobile device.”

Bin Humaidan added: “By downloading the free app under the name “mPay”, from the App Stores for iPhone users and from Google Play Store for Android users, customers can benefit from a package of commonly used services including: payment of traffic fines, settlement of electricity and water bills, recharge of Salik & Nol, and settlement of Etisalat bills.”

Smart payment featuresThe app allows individual and corporate customers to

inquire and pay for the services of the entities participating in it as well as donate to Dubai Cares and Al Jalila Foundation’s projects through the auto-payment feature, which allows regular payment (daily, weekly, monthly or at a specific date given by the customers). The feature also allows control over the minimum balance and the maximum payment/recharge. Moreover, users can optimize the “multiple accounts” feature by phasing several payments at selected dates. The service settings can be configured to support multiple accounts for one government service. For example, a customer can recharge the Salik account of his/her car and that of another car.

To make use of these facilities, users must register first with their credit card details in mPay. More details about the service and its updates can be obtained from the unified contact centre AskDubai on 7000 40000 round the clock, or by downloading the app on Apple and Android smartphones.•

DSG mPay app achieves 265

percent rise in collections in 2013

mPay


Smart City

Dubai: the story of a city that has grown smartly

HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Crown Prince of Dubai is fully cognizant with the dynamic changes taking place in Dubai and wishes to digitally preserve these changes for future generations.

Towards this goal, with #MyDubai hashtag, he launched a unique experiment that in no time expanded from thousands of images and stories into a full-fledged digital museum. Within a week’s time more than 75,000 film and image were posted under the hashtag #MyDubai, along with 27,000 mentions on Twitter. Google showed over 126,000 search results for the hashtag as a result of this social experiment.

The popularity of #MyDubai leads to a virtual museum

Based on the success achieved by #MyDubai, launched by HH Sheikh Hamdan, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing has now turned this project into an online museum to house all the best submissions. It’s not only a hashtag, it’s a permanent home on Twitter and Instagram under the #MyDubai handle. The Department has already selected 25 photos from the 75,000 submitted; ten new photos will be added every week to the e-museum.

The response of #MyDubai from residents and visitors during the first week has been remarkable. The submissions have shown the passion that people have for our emirate,

and the diversity of pathways that people utilize to experience the city through the lives they lead. These participations will combine to create the world’s first autobiography of the city.

Towards building the virtual Dubai museum#MyDubai hashtag relies on unlimited ideas towards

building a vivid memory of Dubai and its past. Some more resources which can be tapped are: - Audio records of Dubai’s elderly population who talk about

their experiences before oil could be discovered. - Government photo archives in many government agencies,

most notably the library at Dubai Municipality.- Photo archives from early photographers in the UAE, some

of whom have invaluable troves of images which show our historical origins and modest beginnings.

- The archives of Dubai TV and Emirates News AgencySuch archives must be tapped into to make a comprehensive

Dubai virtual museum accessible to all, beginning from the emergence of Dubai to modern times.

The emergence of DubaiSince the eighteenth century, Dubai was inhabited by the

Bani Yas and Al Maktoum tribes, under the leadership of the late Sheikh Maktoum Bin Butti, the founder of Dubai. Sheikh Maktoum showed his ability to manage large tribes, and efficiency in the organization and leadership, leading to more tribes moving to Dubai.


Thanks to the wise leadership of Sheikh Maktoum, Dubai’s population began to double gradually, and this led to the revival of fishing and diving in particular, and trade in general. Due to the strategic location of the city, Dubai became the largest trade centre in the region. The natural port of “Al Khor” attracted pearl divers, fishermen and traders leading to much business.

However, Dubai lacked road infrastructure as can be seen from early photographs which show sandy tracks for camels/donkeys and narrow canals for boats. However, this did not prevent Dubai from continuing its business with lots of Western visitors remarking on its trade potential and its promising future.

Some highlights from Dubai’s timelineDubai did not happen overnight and much evolution has

taken place before it became a global icon. Here are some highlights:

1966: The discovery of oil in Dubai •1971: The formation of the UAE union, the joining of the •Arab League, and the opening of Dubai International Airport.1979: The opening of Jebel Ali port, and Dubai World •Trade Centre. 1985: The establishment of Emirates Airlines, and the •opening of the free zone in Jebel Ali1996: Organizing the Dubai World Cup, and launching of •Dubai Shopping Festival, both for the first time in Dubai1999: Opening of “Burj Al Arab”, the only seven-star hotel •in the list of most expensive hotels in the world.2002: Opening of Dubai Media and Dubai Internet City, •followed by the issuance of a new law allowing full ownership of free zone companies. 2003: Starting a number of ambitious projects, including the •world’s tallest tower and two hundred artificial islands.2006: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, •takes the reins of power as the ruler of Dubai and Vice President of the United Arab Emirates.2009: The opening of Terminal 3 of the Emirates Airways •in Dubai International Airport, and the metro system, in order to accommodate the increasing movement of air and road transport. 2010: The opening of “Burj Khalifa” to be the tallest tower •on earth, reaching 828 meters.2013: HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum •announced the project of transforming to Dubai Smart City.

Development leadersIn fact, every day is a turning point in the journey of Dubai

one way or another, thanks to HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and his wise leadership.

Behind every great city, a smart governor manages its affairs wisely for his nation’s sake and this can exactly describe the rulers of Dubai. We had the chance to witness such improvement and achievements by Dubai, only because of its wise leaders and their smart strategies. Those leaders are:

HH Sheikh Rashid, ruler of Dubai from 1958 to1990, was the eighth ruler from the Al Maktoum family. Well-loved and greatly respected by the residents of Dubai, Sheikh Rashid ruled the emirate with compassion and with a clear vision of what was required in order to transform Dubai into a modern city, the way it is today.

HH Sheikh Maktoum, ruled Dubai between November 1990 and January 2006. His leadership has resulted in major infrastructure and tourism projects, including internationally renowned sporting facilities, an impressive road network, modern parks and gardens, and public libraries.

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. Through generosity and dedication, HH Sheikh Mohammed has achieved notable success while shouldering the great responsibility of leading Dubai and the Federal Government, winning the bid to host World Expo 2020 as evidence of his vision.

Contemporary Dubai.. in numbersThere are no words that can fairly describe the development

of Dubai over the years, though some numbers can back this up.

For example in the beginning of this year, Dubai was ranked number 23 on a list of “the 52 most worthy places to visit in 2014” by The New York Times. It achieved number 17 in a list of “the best 27 international cities” according to “Conde Nast Traveler” magazine for 2014. Furthermore, it reached the third place on the list of “the best holiday destinations” by “The Telegraph”, beating other leading international destinations such as Cape Town, Miami, and Tenerife.

Dubai’s past and present show our bright future thanks to our leaders and their vision. What will the future hold for us in the smart city of Dubai? We don’t know yet, but on the above evidence, we are confident that Dubai will continue to inspire us and we might even see this line more often: ‘Made in Dubai.’ •


Smart Roads

Smart roads: services beyond

speed

From the time HH, Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced the transformation of Dubai into a smart city; many novel ideas and concepts have been explored including intelligent systems for Dubai as a smart city. Here we explore the smart roads concept.

Prospects for smart roads systemsThere is no doubt that adoption of smartphones is

increasing, as can be seen through latest research and statistics. Therefore it is quite natural that a smart city would want to leverage on smart phone apps to enhance government services and increase standards of living. One definite area is in transportation, which due to the constant challenges of safety and productivity is always looking at optimizing this through innovation to reduce traffic, and increase safety; which in time saves time and money and encourages investment and tourism.

Comprehensive traffic management systemsTraffic management therefore is an important sector

that can be made ‘smarter’ using traffic management data and technology to ensure dynamic responses to traffic and roadblocks. Typical systems work on coordinating between the different traffic lights control systems, and the general public transport operations to balance the traffic in proportion with the capacity of the streets. Also, the system provides the feature of immediate response for emergent cases on the roads resulting from accidents or roads constructions, or even from bad weather conditions. It is remarkable how this feature integrates the use of internet-connected and GPS-connected smart phones to sense the presence of emergency incidents, resulting in improving the response time for these incidents and to providing high efficiency intervention procedures. In addition to this role, traffic management systems can provide data that can be deployed in managing emergency communications and vehicles, as it features applications for immediate and automatic reporting of collisions. The applications can also manage the movement of emergency vehicles based on available data from mobile devices through directing them to the correct

paths and shortcuts, giving these emergency vehicles preference on signals. This role the traffic systems play is a vital one in improving the level of safety and minimizing the effects of accidents through the rapid organized response.

Using smartphones to enhance trafficThe widespread use of smartphones can then become

an efficient tool to collect information and employ these in traffic analysis. Monitoring various means of transportation and users’ patterns is related to many areas, including: population demand on specific means of transportation and their preference for one over the others, which affects urban planning of cities and improvement of transportation routes. Such information can also be beneficial for insurance companies, and for the police to check simulation of accidents or assess how dangerous some places are. These systems can then relay to commuters vital information on their destinations, best choice of transportation, best times to move, and best routes before leaving.

Smart codes and colours for roadsThere is also a need to have smart roads. Roads which

change colour depending on their status like change in weather or curves have been tested, while some countries are also experimenting with new environmentally friendly material for roads. Instead of conventional energy, solar or other renewable energy is being used, with the captured energy being deployed at night to ensure sustainable and smarter roads for travel and transportation. •


Dubai Trade, the premier cross-border trade facilitator under Dubai World, has announced the winners’ list for the 6th E-Services Excellence Award (ESEA) after closing the competition by the last day of 2013. The winners of this prominent award have been announced and rewarded in a high-profile ceremony that was held in February 2014 under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Maktoum Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and with the presence of senior government officials and private sector as well as senior management of Dubai World. The event took place at the Ritz Carlton Hotel, DIFC in Dubai.

eTransformation appreciationUnder the theme of “Appreciating

e-Transformation in Trade & Logistics”, ESEA winners were selected based on precise criteria that reflected their preserved growth in e-Services adoption on the Dubai Trade Portal during the year of 2013. The primary selection criteria evaluated factors such as company’s overall online adoption to have been at the minimum of 80% in 2013, followed by the total number and volume of e-transactions through the portal.

Commenting on the award, H.E. Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, Chairman of Dubai Trade, said “The E-Services

Excellence Award has become an institution that is truly driving widespread adoption of environment-friendly and cost-efficient electronic services by national trading and logistics companies and we are delighted to witness the high level of enthusiasm the award generates in the trading community.”

Motivating approachFor this award, Dubai Trade

acknowledged nine of the highest adopters of various key e-Services. The categories are: Importer of the Year, Exporter of the Year, Re-Exporter of the Year, Shipping Agent of the Year – Containerized Cargo, Shipping Agent of the Year – General Cargo, Freight Forwarder of the Year, Clearing Agent

of the Year, Haulier of the Year and Free Zone Company of the Year.

Inviting more usersEng. Mahmood Al Bastaki, CEO of

Dubai Trade, added “Since we initiated the ESEA Award in 2008, the ranks of our loyal customers have expanded and the transactions conducted through our portal have hit record levels. In addition, we have exerted our ultimate efforts to provide our clients with innovative and user-friendly e-Services to meet their requirements. We at Dubai Trade believe that the E-Services Excellence Award is a way to celebrate the success of our partnership with our clients and reward our users for their e-Services usage throughout the year”.

ESEA Award aims at recognizing best e-Services adopters in trade and logistics activities. It also aims at encouraging e-transformation and building customer loyalty by rewarding the most active companies that use Dubai Trade online services as well as spreading awareness about Dubai Trade portal as a single window for trade facilitation in Dubai.

The 6th ESEA, which gathered a stronger and wider support from government entities and trade and Logistics agencies, was sponsored by Al Futtaim Logistics as Gold Sponsor. •

eExcellence

Dubai Trade rewarded the winners for the 6th ESEA

Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, Chairman of Dubai Trade


A tour of the Emirates Identity

Authority Website

The UAE is witnessing a constant increase in population. According to the National Bureau of Statistics, the population increased from 5 million in 2005 to 8.3 million in 2013, an increase of 66% in seven years. With this significant increase, a Federal Regulation Authority became necessary to carry out population functions including the registration of data and the issuance of identity cards.

Therefore, Emirates Identity Authority was established under the Federal Law of 2004, which has empowered this Authority with ultimate powers required for the execution of Population Registration and ID card program. Since then, the Authority has proven itself through continuous transformation to smart government, providing its services smoothly over the website: www.id.gov.ae.

Website structure and designThe most obvious part of this site www.id.gov.ae that

draws visitors’ attention from the first glance is the consistent elegant design; even though many icons and links exist. This is because of the light grey background with adequate transparency, so that users can browse smoothly.

On the right side there’s an image display bar that shows landmarks and landscapes of the United Arab Emirates, forming an important addition to the visual identity. On the other hand, surfing between tabs and sections is also simple for everyone, providing the “zoom in & out” feature beside the other features listed on the side of Home page, giving attention to visually impaired visitors.

Beside the zoom icon referred to by the letter “A”, there’s another speaker shaped icon which when clicked text to voice audio which is useful for the hearing impaired.

Website messageThe website focuses more on the written content rather

than images to show its message, since the broader message that the Authority is trying to deliver is evident in its logo at the top of the page: “Working for you.. Happy to serve you..”

At the top of the main page, we find the most important quotations from our leaders, selected carefully to give the visitor a chance to read all of them and be inspired.

Website primary sectionsThe site contains 8 major sections or tabs, each of which

has sub-sections:1- About Emirates ID: this section contains 8 sub-sections

which present the authority’s functions, Chairman’s message, its strategy, laws and legislation, in addition to quotes about the Authority.

2- Identity Card: this section contains 5 sub-sections, all about the ID, its functions, benefits, and FAQS.

3- Services: This section includes complete information about the services provided by the Authority for individuals and institutions.

4- Service Center: This section includes an option to search for service and printing centers, through a search engine linked to Google maps, to make it easier for visitors to find the closest center.

5- Media Center: a specialized section to provide news, pictures and written reports about the Authority, its events and advertisements, in addition to its weekly newsletters.

6- E-participation: This section differs from the previous sections because it creates a direct dialogue between visitors and the Authority staff. It also allows people to contact the Director General, as well as links to social media

7- Open Data: This displays site visitor’s statistics and a direct link to the main page.

8- Corporate social responsibility: this section contains a variety of articles explaining how Emirates ID aims to participate in developing the UAE society through various activities in order to address the different environmental, economic and humanitarian challenges.

Best Government Website Excellence Award The Authority announced at the beginning of this year that

its website had won ‘Summit International Creative Award’ for the Best Government Website Excellence in Leadership and Development of Strategies for Digital Content and Cognitive Information. 1000 agencies from 9 countries across the globe competed for the award. This award of appreciation came to assure the Authority’s efforts in developing its website according to international standards for the design, and its structure, in addition to providing a number of interactive channels that enable visitors to participate and ask about the services by communicating with the staff. •

Site of the month


The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs is seeking to provide clients, whether individuals or businesses, with smooth and direct government services in line with the high demand on smart electronic transformation witnessed by Dubai.

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai began to implement its comprehensive plan to transform many of its services to smart services through the best electronic practices available. This came in line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, to transform Dubai into a smart city, in order to accomplish all government transactions using the smart applications and electronic portals available. Colonel Ibrahim Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director for Ports Affairs and responsible for smart transformation in GDRFA, explained that the objective of this transformation is to save time and efforts and facilitate customers’ transactions, aiming to achieve their satisfaction.

GDRFA applicationColonel Ibrahim Hussein explained

that the iOS application, for iPhones and iPads was was developed and presented since the beginning of electronic transformation

in Dubai, however, the application is currently still limited to the minimum services that do not require routine approvals. The application presents a “transaction guide” that is useful to help the user know procedures, locations of service centres, documents required for

all transactions and the fees required. He added that through this application every sponsor can check the number of dependents under his/her visa and the expiry dates of their visas. The application can then be configured to send the user a notification message, after being connected with the phone calendar, before the visas expire so that the sponsor can renew them on time avoiding fines that may result.

Smart queue at GDRFAThe concept of “smart queue” has

been suggested after receiving a number of complaints by the queries department and e4all magazine. Accordingly, the first service to be developed as part of the new program is to book the waiting token using the smart phone without even being there. Colonel Ibrahim clarified that the application will allow the clients to book their token in advance and to

check the documents required before even coming to the directorate through the information guide in the app. Then, the client can visit the directorate only when it’s time to pay the needed fees or fill the needed forms manually. This innovative solution is designed to simplify the procedures and make it easier for clients, in addition to reducing overcrowding in the directorate buildings. This all is meant to supports the government’s efforts in achieving the smart transformation that will eventually benefit the interests of the country and enhance Dubai’s reputation regionally and globally.

Amer eServices at GDRFAThe Amer eService call centre is a

leading service of GDRFA. It includes the mobile car which can take the service to the customer’s door as part of the mobile government concept. The touch screen services at GDRFA, at the airports and other centres can process enquiries and services automatically and reduce queues at GDRFA.

Public awarenessColonel Hussain Ibrahim mentioned

that demand for using GDRFA services on smart phones was yet to take off completely and this could be because it was necessary for people to register with authentic credentials to ensure visa services. Also some of the services are for business clients, so some individuals might not benefit from it, except for finding necessary information. A number of measures would be taken to increase awareness and customize the app, depending on feedback from users. •

GDRFA becomes even

smarter with services

Smart queues

Colonel Ibrahim Ahmed Hussein, Deputy Director for Ports Affairs


eServices Wizard

Enter any stop or landmark in from fieldorselectmy location as default for current location. Then enter any specifictimeanddateintimefield.

2

3

1

How to use Wojhati app on your smartphone

Then enter any specifictimeanddateintimefield.

Finally choose your desired plan from the list of options provided.

For more information, contact:

8009090

You will see a list of routes in real time. Then select either show on map, or show next stops, or show timetable.

thank you khalifa - dsg.gov.ae · thank you khalifa because you are the leader of the development...

Documents