Dubai’s government has become the first paperless government in the world. The announcement was made by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, crown prince of the emirate and chairman of Dubai’s Executive Council. The United Arab Emirates’ news agency WAM reported.
«Today marks the beginning of a new phase of digitalization of all aspects of Dubai’s life... We have completed the transition to a completely paperless government,» he said.
The Sheikh noted that from now on, all government operations and services to the public will be provided exclusively through electronic technology.
The Crown Prince recalled that the paperless government initiative was launched by the Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, four years ago. At the time, he promised that after 2021, neither the emirate’s executive branch employees nor clients of government services would need to print any documents.
«That promise is fulfilled today,» Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum said.
All internal and external paperwork in all government agencies in the emirate is now done only electronically through special information platforms.
According to the emirate’s authorities, more than 1,800 digital services and over 10,500 transactions are carried out through these services.
Dubai estimates that the transition to e-government and digitalization of documents has saved 336 million paper sheets across the emirate since the paperless strategy began in 2018, representing 14 million hours of human labor and $353.8 million in monetary terms.
Rejection of paper documentation has affected all sectors without exception — utilities, police, municipalities, courts, healthcare, religious, cultural and sports institutions, airports. Many retail and commercial entities have joined the initiative.
