Fast-paced Internet spread in UAE boosts Dubai e-Government drive to achieve objectives

Poised at a stage where key government services are partly available online with e-payment facilities, Dubai e-Government is constantly evaluating its offering and introducing value additions to make the UAE a model of a wired community fully attuned to the world of computers and online interaction.

Market research figures indicate that the UAE has Internet penetration of over 28 per cent, the highest among GCC countries, making it the ideal country to be run on online platforms. Another report has placed Dubai Government on part with leading European Union states, including the UK. Last year, a United Nations benchmarking study placed the UAE among 36 countries in the top-rung 'high e-Government Capacity' bracket.

'Reports that the UAE is recording runaway growth in Internet penetration has made us more confident in raising the bar a little higher through more advanced systems and more innovative solutions,' said Salem Al Shair, Director e-Services, Dubai e-Government. 'A computer savvy society, showing an inclination for learning new systems, is the pillar of any e-Government. The UAE has shown a progressive approach to e-Government, and we are fully geared to leverage their strengths to offer solutions that will make Dubai a model e-Government in the region.'

The UAE has been witnessing a dramatic rise in Internet users, with the figure having crossed the one million mark in 2002. The UAE's Internet penetration of 28 per cent is remarkable considering the region's late entry into the online world. This figure is higher than Europe, which has Internet spread of 24 per cent, though much lower than North America where it has reached 57 per cent.

'The honours bestowed on Dubai e-Government and the community's desire to adopt new systems are fuelling the team's resolve to move rapidly to the next state of development,' said Al Shair. 'We have put in place an ambitious plan that will see Dubai e-Government working very closely with all involved departments to provide advanced online services to consumers, complete with e-payment and single sign in facilities and inter-departmental integration.'

'We are on course to achieve the target of offering most Government services online by the year 2005. What is more significant is the world's best technology being used to bring in this e-revolution that is changing the face of bureaucracy and simplifying the routine modes of availing public services. The success of any e-Government is dependent on the people's response to the initiatives. It is heartening that the UAE people are at the forefront of this revolution and making it easy for us to accelerate the pace of e-Governance.'

The UAE's success in introducing online services across various sectors have been lauded by the UN benchmarking study, which categorized the 190 member countries in three stages: informational, interactive and transactional. The UAE is now poised to enter the transactional stage, which involves online payment through a single entry portal. The index gave placed the UAE higher than Japan, Ireland, Austria and Russia.

'Dubai e-Government will be conducting various community outreach programmes as we realize that it is crucial to win the support and involvement of the community, specially considering the cosmopolitan nature of the populace,' said Al Shair. 'We certainly have a lot of work to do ahead of us, but it helps to know that the people are ready and computer literate to accept and adopt modern means of public-to-government interaction.'

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