Digital boost for Abu Dhabi business with smart platform project

Abu Dhabi considers digital smart platform to bolster business in the emirate

Abu Dhabi’s Department of Economic Development yesterday unveiled its smart platform project aimed at boosting business activity in the emirate through digital channels. The proposed undertaking comes amid the government’s efforts to transform itself into a knowledge-based economy and forge an entrepreneurial spirit.

Mohammed Omar Abdullah, undersecretary of the DED, told a gathering of state officials and journalists yesterday that the Government was keen to introduce tech applications in the business sector as part of Abu Dhabi's 2030 economic plan that seeks to reduce the emirate's reliance on hydrocarbons as a source of revenue. He said the smart project was still in the feasibility study stage.

“We hope that the smart platform will be a window for the outside world and that it will contribute to the consolidation of the efforts of all entities in the emirate of Abu Dhabi for achieving the common goal of promoting communications and building one of the most important and effective tools and means of modern knowledge economy,” Mr Abdullah said.

Online government initiatives and smart city plans will increase public spending in the information communication technology sector by more than 11.4 per cent to US$8.27 billion this year across the Middle East and Africa, up from $7.43bn last year, according to recent industry research.

The International Data Corporation predicts that more governments in Africa will go online by launching electronic-government (e-government) portals, while those in the Middle East will focus on expanding their mobile-government (m-government) offerings.

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