DUBAI’S SERVICES WEDDED TO SMART GOVERNMENT
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid hails latest strides towards 2020 goals
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid yesterday shared a video on Twitter showing how far services have come in Dubai’s plans to become the world’s smartest city, and for paperless governance by 2020.
In it, the Vice President and Ruler of Dubai witnesses an “extraordinary marriage” between two members of his team – online.
The groom, Omar Al Olama, sits in a booth at the Service 1 centre in Emirates Towers surrounded by Sheikh Mohammed, Sheikh Ahmed bin Mohammed, Chairman of the Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future, and other witnesses.
The groom sits before a screen where a lawyer from Dubai Courts has him recite the words necessary to wed his bride, Amal bin Shabib.
Mr Al Olama signs the contract and receives the notarised marriage licence from a roaming robot and, just like that, he is the first to be married at the centre, which was opened yesterday.
The package called Mabrook Ma Dabart, which translates to “congratulations on your marriage”, allows customers to complete marriage contracts according to Sharia and legal procedures.
Emirati couples can also apply for a housing loan or apply to be included in a mass wedding.
It is one of many Smart Government functions offered at the new Service 1 centre, which consolidates and provides government services to customers with the help of a single employee, using artificial intelligence technology developed by IBM Watson and Cognit Mubadala.
“We want the customer to perceive a different feel or environment in service centres, one that is welcoming, relaxing, flexible and uses advanced techniques,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“The centre will also be a laboratory to test suggestions made by the public. It includes a platform to bring the public together with the Government to discuss these ideas on a daily basis.”
Suggestions can be submitted in the “instant communication corner”, which allows customers to file audio-visual recorded recommendations to the Government.
Other customer queries can be addressed in Arabic and English through a giant touchscreen, the largest in the Middle East, the state news agency Wam reported.
About 100 services are on offer at the centre from the ministries of Interior, Human Resources and Emiratisation, Culture and Knowledge Development, Foreign Affairs and Finance.
There are also services for the Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, Emirates Identity Authority, Dubai Courts, Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment and Telecommunications Regulatory Authority.
A second phase of services is expected to be rolled out at Service 1 soon.
Mabrook Ma Yak, which translates to “congratulations on your newborn”, includes services linked to registering a child’s birth, applying for an Emirati passport, Emirati family book and an identification card.
The service is available for citizens and residents, who can apply for a residency visa and Emirates ID upon the birth of their child.
Four services are offered under Al Tawdeef, or “employment”.
They target private companies that employ fewer than 50 staff members.
Eligible companies can finalise employment procedures during a single visit to the centre by providing all documentation and paying all fees in one go.
“The centre will be followed by more centres, and strides followed by more strides, and creativity will bring creations,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
“We will not stop, because our goal is the best in the world in government services by 2020.”