The E-government program in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an initiative under the UAE Government Strategy (2010-2013) that aims to contribute toward achieving UAE Vision 2021. The UAE has invested in adopting and implementing information and communications technology (ICT) in its government and private sectors.
The contribution of the telecommunications sector to the UAE's economy rose from 4.1% in 2007 to 5.3% in 2010, as stated in UAE Telecommunications Sector Developments & Indicators (2007-2010), which was issued in May 2011 by the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA). The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development estimated that investments in the IT and Telecom sectors would likely reach 18.4 billion dirhams (US$5 billion) in 2011, up from 16.1 billion dirhams in 2010.
The UAE began launching E-services in the early 2000s with E-Dirham in 2001. This service, initiated by the Ministry of Finance, replaced traditional methods of paying and collecting fees for government services. Following this, the government gradually implemented a variety of E-services.
The official portal of the UAE Government is u.ae (formerly and ), which consolidates federal and local E-government services and information and serves as the central online platform for government digital services.
This portal consolidates all E-services provided by the UAE federal and local government bodies. It also offers information on accessing government services through mobile phones and other electronic devices, as well as through means such as ATMs and public payment machines.
The portal provides online access to federal and local E-government services and information for UAE residents, businesses, and visitors.
The official portal serves as a single entry point for users to access various federal and local government E-services. It also facilitates communication between users and government representatives, promoting E-participation through forums, blogs, surveys, polls, and social media. serves as the main portal, encompassing sub-portals for E-participation, E-services, m-services, and UAE Open Data.
The U.AE portal classifies electronic services into categories for individuals, businesses, and visitors to streamline online access.The portal includes a search facility to help users find services and a section on alternate means for accessing government services.
The portal provides information on services available through mobile applications. The portal provides information on mobile applications that enable access to government services.
The portal includes E-participation channels. The federal portal utilizes platforms such as forums, blogs, chats, surveys, polls, and social media tools like Facebook, Twitter, Flickr, and YouTube to engage the public in communication with the government regarding opinions and experiences on government services and policies.
Under Open Data, government data and information are available to the public. This includes access to economic data, population statistics, and other information. Open Data is used by students, economists, researchers, and the general public.
In May 2011, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority (TRA) reported high levels of mobile and internet penetration in the UAE, metrics often cited as indicators of E-government readiness. With 1,417,519 internet subscribers, the UAE had 196.3 mobile phone subscriptions and 62.4 internet users per 100 inhabitants.
E-Readiness or Networked Readiness Index (NRI) measures a country's preparedness to deliver government services and information online and the value it provides to the public. E-readiness, or the Readiness Index, involves a government's ability to use Information and Communication Technology (ICT) to improve socioeconomic conditions and public welfare.
According to the GITR 2010-2011, the UAE was ranked first among Arab countries and 24th among 138 countries reviewed in the NRI. The same report ranked Qatar at 25, Bahrain at 30, Saudi Arabia at 33, and Oman at 41.
According to the Networked Readiness Index (NRI), the UAE improved its ranking by six positions, from 29th among 127 countries reviewed in 2007âÂÂ2008 to 23rd among 133 countries reviewed in 2009âÂÂ2010.
The United Nations Public Administration Network (UNPAN) conducts a similar survey and publishes its report on E-government ranking. The UN E-government Survey report was published annually until 2005 and became a biennial publication thereafter.
The UAE's overall ranking in the UN E-government Survey has varied. The UAE's rank rose for two consecutive surveys, from 60th in 2004 to 42nd in 2005 and 32nd in 2008. However, its rank declined to 49th position in 2010. The UAE was ranked fourth in the region in the 2010 report.
Emirates E-government is responsible for developing, implementing, and maintaining the E-government program at the federal level in the UAE. This involves transforming the delivery of government services electronically through the deployment of Information and communication technologies (ICT).
Emirates E-government established the UAE's official portal www.government.ae, which is part of the E-transformation process in the UAE. This portal consolidates all E-services and information the UAE federal and local government bodies provide.
Emirates E-government provides services on G2G, G2B, and G2C levels. The UAE's official portal, www.government.ae falls under the G2B and G2C categories. Under G2G services, the entity provides cloud and Government Website Evaluation Index (GWEI) services.
Emirates E-government develops and implements policies, guidelines, and programs to expand and coordinate E-government services across federal agencies. It support the use of E-services and information and communication technology (ICT) tools by federal government entities and the public. Emirates E-government holds workshops for internal staff and federal government employees on E-government, cloud services like Morasalat and Malaxate, IT trends, and using ICT to achieve organizational goals.
Emirates E-government drafted guidelines for federal government entities in the UAE covering websites, social media usage, and web content. Emirates E-government also issued draft documents related to E-participation and open data. These guidelines provide recommendations on content style, design, layout, and accessibility features, aiming to align federal government websites with international standards laid down by the World Wide Web Consortium.
The Guidelines for Social Media Usage received the 2011 âÂÂSocial Media Initiative of the Yearâ award. The guidelines document was prepared in partnership with and with support from Dubai School of Government's Governance and Innovation Program and in collaboration with UAE Government entities. Advisors from Information Technology research firm Gartner Inc. and the United Nations E-government program also provided assistance and recommendations.
E-government initiatives operate at the local level in the UAE. The governments of six of the seven emiratesâÂÂAbu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, and FujairahâÂÂhave launched official portals.
These portals offer interactive and transactional services like bill payments and license renewals. The Abu Dhabi and Dubai government portals also provide information and guidance to residents, businesses, and visitors on topics like applying for health cards, obtaining driverâÂÂs licenses, or applying for visas.
The UAE Government has pursued an electronic transformation (E-transformation) of federal and local services to enhance service delivery and digital access. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, stated when launching the federal portal that "E-transformation in the UAE and the provision of federal and local services through one portal contributes to enhance the state's competitiveness and opens up broader prospects for direct communication with community groups and work to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of governmental work in the country."