Smart Dubai launches ‘100% Paperless Stamp’

DUBAI / WAM

The Smart Dubai Department launched the ‘100% Paperless Stamp’ initiative as part of its contribution to the ‘Government Development Track’ – one of six tracks announced by Dubai Council, which was inaugurated at the beginning of 2020 by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.
The ‘Stamp’ is awarded to government entities that fully implemented Dubai Paperless Strategy as a symbol reflecting their complete tra- -nsition into entities that offer digital, paperless services.

The initiative recognises entities that made outstanding efforts to implement the strategy, offering their services via fully digital mediums backed by an efficient internal digital infrastructure.
Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bishr, Director-General, Smart Dubai, noted that “the ‘100% Paperless Stamp’ is one of a series of initiatives and projects that Smart Dubai has planned as its contribution to the Dubai Council’s ‘Government Development Track’. It is in line with Smart Dubai’s commitment to expedite the Dubai Government’s digital transformation and achieve the objectives of the Dubai Paperless Strategy, which consists of transferring all government transactions – internal and government-to-customer – to digital mediums, transforming the Dubai Government into a fully digital administration by December 2021.”
“The initiative also allows us to evaluate the efforts made by trailblazing entities that were instrumental in implementing the Dubai Paperless Strategy within all their respective departments,” Dr Aisha added. “These entities have shown a commitment to efficiency in their operations, embracing digital solutions, enhancing customer happiness, and cementing the emirate’s lead in the integrated digital government sector. This will undoubtedly encourage other government entities to implement the strategy, which, in turn, helps accomplish our ultimate goal to make Dubai the smartest and happiest city on Earth.”
The ‘100% Paperless Stamp’ initiative classifies government entities by order of their paper consumption into three categories: Large, Medium, and Small Entities. Results are set to be announced every six months, and the ‘Stamp’ is awarded to entities that have transferred 100% of their services and internal operations to digital mediums, as per the Dubai Paperless Strategy.
According to Smart Dubai’s statistics – which are based on reports from government departments – certain ‘Large Entities’, have registered an entity-wide digitization rate of more than 60 percent. These include the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, Dubai Police General Headquarters, the Roads and Transport Authority, and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai.
In ‘Medium Entities’ category, the Department of Land and Property in Dubai recorded a similar completion rate, while the Department of Economic Development, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and the Community Development Authority had similar results in the ‘Small Entities’ category.
Overall, 14 entities joined the strategy in its first and second phases and have so far registered tremendous progress in their digital transition.
Phase three of the strategy welcomed nine new entities, which are working to cut their paper consumption by half by April 2020.
Meanwhile, phase four is currently being launched with the Dubai Statistics Centre, Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation, Dubai Women Establishment, Security Industry Regulatory Agency, Mohammed bin Rashid Housing Establishment, Dubai Civil Defence, Dubai Sports Council, Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation, and the Dubai Air Navigation Services. The fifth and final phase of the initiative is scheduled to be launched in May 2020.
The Dubai Paperless Strategy would save 130,000 trees, allowing Dubai’s residents and visitors to economise 40 hours per person per year, as well as save more than AED900 million that would have otherwise been spent executing paper transactions.