Smart Dubai has organized a workshop for government entities participating in the Dubai Paperless Strategy 2021, providing a platform where agencies that participated in phase one of the Strategy can share insight and expertise with the entities joining phase two. The workshop serves to support Smart Dubai's efforts to foster cooperation among all government entities in the emirate to achieve the objectives of the Strategy, which seeks to transform the Dubai Government into a paper-free, fully digital administration by 2021. Wesam Lootah, CEO at the Smart Dubai Government Establishment, attended the workshop along with representatives from the government entities participating in phase one of the Strategy, namely: Dubai Police, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Department of Economic Development, Dubai Land Department, and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM). The workshop was also attended by representatives of the government entities involved in the implementation of phase two of the Dubai Paperless Strategy: The Community Development Authority; Dubai Courts; Dubai Municipality; Knowledge and Human Development Authority; Dubai Customs; Dubai Health Authority; and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs Dubai. The second phase of the strategy aims to cut paper consumption at the entities joining the program in its second phase by 50% by the end of 2019. Lootah reiterated Smart Dubai's commitment to collaborating with its strategic government partners to rally efforts and move forward with implementing the Dubai Paperless Strategy, launched in 2018 by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, to use advanced technology to build an integrated infrastructure and establish a 100% digital and paperless city of the future. "Implementing the first phase of the Strategy has led to remarkable achievements in reducing the use of paper, on one hand, and providing exceptional services that spread happiness among people, on the other," he said. "The strategy successfully cut paper consumption by 57% at six Dubai government entities. Additionally, two fully digital journeys were launched on the DubaiNow application, the first of which revolves around driving a vehicle in Dubai, while the second focuses on relocating to a new house in the emirate." "This second phase of the Strategy will see us work together with different government agencies to reduce their paper consumption by half – another step towards our plans to implement the Strategy and completely digitize transactions by December 12, 2021," Lootah noted. The workshop discussed the efforts of the government departments that took part in the first phase of the Dubai Paperless Strategy, where each of the six entities showcased their role and the tactics they applied. The goal is to achieve 100% digital transition by the end of 2021, saving hundreds of hours for both the customers and the government, and saving 130,000 trees per year, increasing Dubai's competitiveness and boosting economic growth. — SG
