The six Dubai Government entities participating in phase one of implementing the Dubai Paperless Strategy have successfully reduced their paper usage by 57%, announced Smart Dubai.
In line with the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and under directives from H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, the Strategy seeks to transfer all applicable government transactions to digital platforms by 12/12/2021. This first stage saw Smart Dubai work with Dubai Police, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Department of Economic Development (DED), Dubai Land Department (DLD), and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM).
In a press conference attended by Chief Technology Officers and Chief Information Officers from all six government partners, Smart Dubai revealed that in 2017, these entities consumed 64 million papers. As the first phase of the Dubai Paperless Strategy was completed at the end of 2018, paper consumption was cut by an average of 57%, saving 37 million papers in total.
DEWA and DTCM reduced its paper usage by 60%, while DED and Dubai Police by 58% and 57% respectively. RTA and the Dubai Land Department cut paper consumption by 55% and 53% respectively.
Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr, Director General of Smart Dubai, said: "We could not have accomplished this tremendous success without our partners across the participating government entities. I take this opportunity to express my gratitude for their efforts during this first phase of implementing the Dubai Paperless Strategy, where we are thankful to have witnessed savings of up to 60% – surpassing the 50% target we had set for 2018 – in less than a year from the Strategy’s launch in February."
"The full digital transformation and elimination of paper transactions by 2021 is now closer than ever. The results we’ve achieved so far demonstrate that the transition towards a paperless government will reflect positively on the government services offered to people in Dubai, improving their lives in the process. This, in turn, brings us even closer to achieving our objective of making Dubai the happiest and smartest city in the world," she added.
"We are delighted to be announcing this accomplishment right as we usher in a new phase of government operations – one that is rooted in Dubai’s principles of governance, as well as the annual action plan outlined in the Fifty-Year Charter. Dubai’s digital transformation and investment in advanced futuristic infrastructure is a common trait shared by all clauses within the Charter, as evidenced in the virtual free zone," Dr Aisha concluded, adding that the Dubai Paperless Strategy is an enabler for these ambitious strategic projects.
Smart Dubai is working to transfer 100% of the Dubai Government’s applicable internal transactions and public services to digital platforms by 12/12/2021.