DUBAI// Advances in food inspection and building licensing have helped the municipality pick up four Hamdan bin Mohammed Smart Government Awards.
“We were surprised when it was announced, even though it was expected, as we were ranked as the fifth place holder globally in easy procedures for a building licence according to a study by the World Bank,” said Marwan Al Mohamed, acting director of the Building Department.
He headed the team that won the award for Best Government Joint Service for the department's building licensing initiative.
“Before, we were in 13th position with 61 per cent of advancement in technology,” he said. “Though our aim was to reach to this position in 2017, our team could achieve it before the time which is considered an outstanding achievement.”
The service allows people to apply for building licences electronically, among other things.
The licensing process by Dubai Municipality, according to the World Bank, includes all the steps and procedures needed to create a comprehensive building.
These include finding a plot map, submitting plans, getting permits, certificates, work requirements and supervision, and receiving a final connection for services.
"A joint committee has been formed with the participation of all relevant authorities, such as Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Civil Defence, Economic Development Department, the Roads and Transport Authority, Civil Aviation, Etisalat and du," said Mr Al Mohamed.
Another winner was the food control department, which was awarded for service improvement.
“We improved one of the most complicated and difficult services related to the food examining, when it arrives from other countries, and reduced the time of actual examination from 12 working days to nine working days which is not at all easy, especially when dealing with 10 million tons of food imported to Dubai annually,” said Khalid Mohammed Al Awadhi, the department director.
Anas Abdul Rahem Khalifa, the Consumables Inspector Officer at the Consumer Products Safety Section of the Public Health and Safety Department, and Zubeir Ahmed Sheikh Faras, the Senior Food Trade Hygiene Officer at the Food Control Department, both won the Best Service Star Award.
malkhan@thenational.ae
