Dubai officials hope to offer at least two fully-integrated e-government services by October 10, including business license and visa processing, according to a report by Gulf News.
Project handlers, including technical consultants from A.T. Kierney based in the Dubai Internet City, hope to offer 14 services by January 31.
Officials said on Wednesday that they would now begin implementation of the first phase of the project, the gathering of content from the 24 departments which will feature on the site.
But their presentation also became a venue for the e-government team to allay some of the concerns voiced by department staff, said the Gulf News.
Salem Al Shair, director of Dubai e-government, explained that the idea behind the portal was to offer a single sign-on solution to online queries.
There are certain transactions that require action by several departments, he said. The e-government website will eliminate the need to physically go to these departments.
He said it would simplify what many have called a tedious process by providing an online linkage system.
"We have created a single point of entry, a single point of contact, where you can conduct all your transactions," Shair said.
The portal will link all departments, so a request involving two or more bodies will be processed with greater ease on the part of the user, and greater efficiency by the government.
Another advantage he cited was "a common look and feel to all government websites, which are cheaper and easier to manage if run from one central point."
Cost is reduced as software and hardware can be bought in bulk, the officials added – Albawaba.com
