Her Excellency Dr Aisha bint Butti bin Bishr, Director-General of Smart Dubai Office (Image from Dubai Government media office)
On May 15, the Smart Dubai Office launched an electronic platform called “Dubai Now” which is intended to serve as a one-stop shop for all government services in the Emirate of Dubai.
The platform is targeted at all members of the public, the business sector, and visitors. Dubai Now provides more than 55 services from 24 government departments, as well as semi-governmental and private entities in Dubai. It compiles and integrates government services to provide easy and smooth round-the-clock access. The services are classified into 11 categories: security and justice, public transport, payments and bills, visas and residence, driving, health, business and employment, education, housing, Islam, and miscellaneous.
Examples of smart services provided through Dubai Now include locating the nearest car registration centre and payment of traffic violations, water and electricity bills. User can pay their and Etisalat and Du (telecom companies) fees and top up Salik (Dubai’s automatic road toll collection system through attachment of a tag to vehicle windshield) and Nol cards (smart card that enables payment on Dubai's Metro, Buses, Water Buses,Dubai Tram and Paid Parking).
Dubai Customs accounts, as well as services such as “Ajari” (tenancy Contract), “Makani” (official addressing system) and “Criminal Case Look-up” can be accessed through the platform. The platform also allows users to donate to Dubai Cares, Al Jalila Foundation, and others.
The platform complements the Dubai Now application, the integrated platform for the city’s services that cater to individuals, which was launched by Smart Dubai in 2015. All services available on the application will be integrated into the Dubai Now website.
Dubai Now will also facilitate easier development of services by participating government entities. The entities can choose their designs using a smart library with extensive insight into service design and development. Developers will be able to offer services via the platform, as long as they abide by previously set standards. New services will be added to the platform after approval by the Smart Dubai Government.
H.E Wesam Lootah, CEO of Smart Dubai Government, commented, “By launching Dubai Now, Smart Dubai will work to consolidate and harness efforts among all government entities. We will spare no effort to provide cutting-edge smart services for users. At the same time, we will encourage government entities to strengthen cooperation and provide a unified centre for services in Dubai, one that caters to companies and individuals alike, allowing for government entities to add or upgrade their services directly.”
The press release stated that the platform will soon be open to private companies, strengthening the cooperation between the public and private sectors in the city.
Her Excellency Dr Aisha bint Butti bin Bishr, Director-General of the Smart Dubai Office said at the launch, “The Dubai Now platform highlights the importance of close cooperation between government and private entities to offer smart services for Dubai residents. Building smart cities requires consolidation of efforts among all relevant organisations, to offer best-in-class services. This will ensure top-of-the-line experiences for all users, which helps achieve the Happiness Agenda set by Smart Dubai.”
The state-of-the-art platform is the latest in Smart Dubai’s range of smart services. In April 2017, the Smart Dubai 2021 initiative was announced, representing the next step in Dubai’s smart and sustainable development. The five-year strategy covering the 2017-2021 period seeks the intelligent use of ICT to transform the city’s core components, including the government, companies, society, individuals, resources, and infrastructure. It includes plans to digitise 100%of government services.
Read the press release here.
