Sheikh Hamdan calls on government departments to step up paperless drive

The Crown Prince of Dubai is urging authorities to help the emirate reach its goal to deliver all services digitally by the end of 2021

Sheikh Hamdanbin Mohammed has paid homage to the nation's leaders on UAE Flag Day.

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed has issued a rallying cry to government departments to make their services paperless in the next two years.

The Crown Prince of Dubai hailed the efforts of authorities to meet the digital drive to save one billion pieces of paper every year — but believes more can still be done.

In a series of tweets on Monday, Sheikh Hamdan praised the successes of the Dubai Paperless Strategy.

Sheikh Hamdan urged all government departments to put their best foot forward in an initiative that aims to curb waste, and cease paper use completely by 2021.

The paperless drive, launched in 2018, aims to make life more convenient for residents, freeing up about 40 hours per year by cutting down the need to visit physical service centres.

So far, a total of 88 Dubai Government services across 15 separate entities are now being provided through the digital application, DubaiNow.

“I have been briefed on Dubai Paperless Strategy’s latest developments,” Sheikh Hamdan tweeted on Monday.

“Clear progress has been made in implementing Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid's vision and directives towards an overhaul in the way government entities work, to reach peak efficiency and world class customer satisfaction levels,” he said.

Dubai residents have been able to transact billions of dirhams in transactions on the application so far.

“I have directed all government entities to provide their consumer services through the DubaiNow app, which provides 88 government services and has already facilitated transactions worth Dh4 billion.

“Our aim: the Dubai government to become 100 per cent paperless by December 12, 2021.”

Sheikh Hamdan thanked the 15 entities who have supported the Dubai Paperless Strategy since its launch, including Dubai Land Department, The Roads and Transport Authority and Dubai Police.

Speaking about the progress of the initiative, Aisha bin Bishr, director general of Smart Dubai, said with the 88 government services being offered digitally via DubaiNow, it has saved 28 hours per user, in addition to also eliminating the need for 14 visits to government services centres.

In line with the Dubai Paperless Strategy, after 2021, government entities will no longer issue or request paper documents from customers for any transaction. Government employees will also stop issuing or processing paper in key or supporting internal operations.