Bill Gates visits Dubai School of Government

Cooperation between the two establishments was the main topic of discussion during the meeting, in an effort to utilize Microsoft's expertise in the practical implementation of e-government in the UAE and the Arab world in general, as well as enhancing private-public partnerships.

The Dubai School of Government also organized a meeting between Bill Gates and a delegation of Director Generals from the Dubai Government to discuss the Dubai Strategic Plan.

Commenting on the strategy pillars of the plan, Gates highlighted the role of information and communications technology (ICT) in enhancing the quality of government services and operations. He pointed out that technology benefits are not limited to the public sector.

Rather, they affect all vital sectors, including healthcare, where it is now possible for physicians to review the medical history of their patients before diagnosing a sickness, no matter wherever they are.

Gates also emphasized the impact of technology on education, stressing that ICT strengthens students' learning abilities and facilitates access to information through new interactive media.

Mr. Nabil Ali Alyousuf, Executive President of the Dubai School of Government, welcomed the visit of Bill Gates to Dubai, noting that Gates' visit is in line with the Dubai School of Government's efforts to foster cooperation with global leaders in research and technology.

Discussions also touched on regional studies undertaken by the Dubai School of Government in the framework of the e-Government initiative it launched in collaboration with leading non-governmental and private sector institutions, including Microsoft.

Microsoft and the Dubai School of Government announced the launch of the e-government portal in support of development and modernization programs in Arab countries.

Through this portal, the Dubai School of Government seeks to facilitate the exchange of e-government information and expertise, disseminate best practices, and implement e-government programs and solutions common to Arab governments.

Mr. Nabil Ali Alyousuf said, "Thanks to our cooperation with Microsoft, we will provide training programs and software which will help us get better results. In fact, Microsoft has repeatedly shown its commitment to support government plans in the region by providing capacity building activities and technical solutions. We firmly believe that Microsoft is the ideal partner for this project."