All you need to know about the Smart Dubai Initiative

(Aisha Bin Bishr, Director General of Smart Dubai / Image Credit: The National)

Smart Dubai envisions to make Dubai the happiest and smartest city in the world through technology innovation. It is an initiative that focuses on the wellbeing for all. This is an advanced project under the lawmaking of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum. The project is attaining new heights and ambitions of the administration to work towards an eco-friendly environment.

The project is a collaboration between the private sector and government partners to empower and promote a safe and impactful city experience for the residents and visitors of Dubai. Smart Dubai enables accessibility of data between government and non-government sectors to deliver a seamless experience in the city. As the world’s most comprehensive data initiative of its kind, Smart Dubai boosts collaboration and innovation in the city and regulates data sharing related to the government, culture and life within the Emirate.

What is Smart Dubai?

Under the Dubai Data Law created under the decree of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed, the new law designates the Smart Dubai office as the Smart Dubai department of 2020. This puts Dubai as one of the smartest players in facilitating digital transformation and battling climate change. To achieve this, Smart Dubai has the authority to formulate plans, strategies and launch initiatives with any sector of the government.

Through data transparency, Smart Dubai is looking to increase governmental service efficiency and foster collaboration and partnerships with private sectors.

The Initiatives

One of the visions of the Smart Dubai Initiative is the aim to make Dubai a paperless city by 2021. The aim ensures that all government transactions are 100% digitized, making various public services and processes done online. These transactions cover processes such as application for a copyright or trademark registration for businesses, request for police clearances and even registration of documents at the Dubai Land Department. The Emirate has come up with the Smart Dubai Initiative which will also add value in the real estate sector.

UAE Pass

The UAE Pass app is the national digital identity and signature solution for all in the UAE. It streamlines various government services and provides access to any government entity through one application. The UAE Pass will soon also legalize digital signatures so there will be no more service center visits to process any request which means less paperwork. This will allow you to register your property online and even pay the municipality tax over the internet. This app can also assist in buying or renting a property in Dubai for quick identification and complete legal transactions.

Dubai Now

The DubaiNow app is also a powerful tool that offers access to over 85 city services which include paying bills online, Nol Card and fuel top-ops, finding a property and more.

Happiness Meter

If you haven’t noticed it yet, the Happiness Meter serves as the survey at the end of every transaction in most public service domains. The happiness meter is the first emotion-measuring engine that works on a large scale that factors in the city’s population and their emotions towards a service to gain results.

At present, almost 14 major city entities have ventured to achieve a complete paperless infrastructure. Some of these government entities are as follows: RTA, Dubai Police, DEWA, Ministry of Economy, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Department of Land and Property, Dubai Courts, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Public Prosecution, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai Health Authority, Community Development Authority and many more are following suit. Now, that just adds happiness to our meter.