Dubai eGovernment is gearing up to highlight its multi-channel approach at the upcoming GITEX 2006 to be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from November 18 – 22. Dubai eGovernment’s presence in the event will be marked by the participation of 24 government departments and organizations under the eGovernment umbrella.
The multi-channel approach of Dubai eGovernment encompasses four broad elements – the web portal, www.dubai.ae; the mobile portal, http://mobile.dubai.ae; mDubai, the mobile channel for communication with government departments via SMS, and the bilingual call centre AskDubai. Dubai eGovernment will look to leverage GITEX 2006 platform to create more awareness about the services it offers and to boost the use of electronic services in the emirate.
“Dubai eGovernment has played a pioneering role in driving the eGovernance initiative in the region as we prepare for a robust digital society. Events such as GITEX provide us with an ideal platform to promote the host of electronic services we offer to the public,” said Salem Al Shair, eServices Director, Dubai eGovernment. “This GITEX, our focus will be on our multi-channeled approach towards achieving eGovernance, whereby we showcase our web and mobile portal offerings, in addition to the capabilities of our contact centre.”
Through Dubai eGovernment’s comprehensive web portal, citizens, residents, visitors and business enterprises can access more than 2,000 electronic services, including payment of traffic fines, payment of Municipality fees, applying for visas for friends and relatives, renewing health cards, company registration, among others.
Dubai eGovernment launched its mobile portal last year primarily to assist those always on the move. The portal helps users conduct business, get financial quotes, obtain visa information, book flight tickets, and make traffic fine enquiries and payment.
AskDubai, Dubai eGovernment’s bilingual contact centre for comments, inquiries, complaints and feedback on government departments, handled a total of 405,554 calls - 344,328 inbound calls and 61,226 outbound calls - between August 2003 and July 2006. In addition, the service handled 8,740 e-mails, 251 faxes and 2,582 online chats.
At GITEX 2006, Dubai eGovernment will also highlight its mDubai service, which is a mobile channel used for communication between customers and government departments via SMS. Customers can avail a range of information from departments such as Dubai Civil Aviation, Dubai Police and Dubai Economic Department by typing in the keyword and entering the specific parameter, before sending an SMS to 4488.
This year too, most government departments and organizations will be participating in GITEX 2006 under the eGovernment umbrella. These include Dubai Police, Al-Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Naturalisation and Residency Department, Dubai Land Department, Department of Civil Aviation, Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dubai Airport and Free Zone Authority, Islamic Affairs and Charitable Activities Department, Department of Economic Development, Dubai Civil Defence, Dubai Courts, Dubai Government Workshop, Tanmia, Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS), Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM), Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Media Incorporated, Dubai Trade, Public Prosecution, Dubai Real Estate Department, Roads & Transport Authority (RTA), National Elections Committee and Dubai University College.
“Our stand will see a confluence of government services, giving visitors an opportunity to gather information and make enquiries regarding any of the government organizations from a single stand. We look forward to another successful participation in this edition of GITEX as we continue with our focus on furthering the scope of eServices in Dubai,” concluded Al Shair.
During GITEX 2006, Dubai eGovernment will occupy Stand B 10-1 in the Sheikh Maktoum Hall.
Dubai eGovernment is a pioneering initiative in the region to provide online services across the spectrum of corporate and community life in the emirate. It also has a vision to integrateindividually automated government departments under the single umbrella of the eGovernment initiative, thus empowering employees across lines of businesses and levels of government, besides facilitating the lives of citizens and customers of the government. Dubai has taken a lead in the region in deploying eGovernment applications and is among the first few governments in the world to provide such integrated services to its citizens. The eGovernment portal (http://mobile.dubai.ae) is a single contact point masking the complexity of the bureaucratic procedures, and guiding access to all services in the easiest possible way. In addition, the eGovernment initiative seeks to improve and enhance procedures by maximizing the benefit from technology, so that users from all walks of life will be able to utilize the portal for their specific needs with considerable ease.
