‘A day without service centres’ launched in Dubai

Dubai / WAM

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, on Saturday approved ‘A Day without Service Centres’ initiative, which aims to encourage customers to turn to smart channels to obtain government services and complete transactions.
The Dubai Department of Finance (DoF), launched the initiative and started co-ordinating with all government entities in Dubai to close service centres across the emirate for a day, on
October, 26. This comes as part of the vital role DOF plays as an established central entity concerned with collecting public revenues for the Dubai government.
Speaking about the project, Abdulrahman Saleh Al Saleh, Director-General of DoF, said, “Instantly, all government entities across the Dubai government have started co-operating to make the initiative a success. This first-of-a-kind initiative comes in with the supreme directions of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to make Dubai the world’s happiest and smartest city. It is also made possible thanks to the support of H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, who is following up on the steps taken in this regard.
“DoF plays a key role towards achieving Dubai’s vision and strategy aiming to realise full smart transformation in the emirate. I call on all government service entities in Dubai to enhance such constructive co-operation to make ‘A Day without Service Centres’ initiative a success.
“Customer service centres will dedicate their efforts on October 26, to spread awareness among customers of the importance of transformation to smart channels to complete transactions, whether via smart apps or the web. On that day, all transactions requiring payments will be stopped for one day at the centres but will remain available through all smart channels.
Jamal Hamed Al Marri, Executive Director of the Central Accounts Sector at DoF, said that service transactions provided by many government entities in Dubai on October 26, will be available only via smart channels, including the ‘Dubai Now’ app and other government apps available on smartphones.
“There will also be the web-based channels via computers, and centres will resume normal operations after that date. ‘A Day without Service Centres’ initiative will be held annually and will see expansion.
On October 26, service counters at government centres in Dubai will stop receiving customers for the transactions that can be completed via alternative smart channels. However, transactions that require presence in person at the service centres will continue as usual.
ompleting government transactions via smart channels helps save time, effort and money by eliminating the need to use private or public means of transport and visit crowded roads and service centres. This, in turn, helps in preserving environmental resources, rationalising fuel consumption, and reducing carbon emissions.