Over 23,600 free Wi-Fi spots are available in Dubai, authorities announced Wednesday. These spots are located across a diverse array of facilities and encompass the “majority of Dubai's metropolitan expanse”.
Residents and visitors get free Internet in parks, beaches, malls and other public spaces.
Dubai Digital Authority announced a new strategy to drive the emirate's digital ambitions.
The authority revealed just how far the emirate has come in its digital journey that began more than two decades ago, when it launched its e-government initiative in 2000. This was followed by the Smart Government initiative in 2013, and a comprehensive digital programme that will eliminate paper transactions by the end of 2021.
The city now aims to become the global capital of digital technology. These statistics highlight the country's digital penetration:
Government services have reached a digitisation rate of 99.5 per cent
Paperless government objective has been achieved 100 per cent.
Digital transactions currently account for 87 per cent of total government service transactions.
More than 120 government smartphone applications have been developed
Government entities have recorded a compliance rate of over 80 per cent with cybersecurity indicators and 100 per cent compliance with the Dubai Data Law.
Communities with digital capabilities
Using the Dubai Now app, residents can access more than 170 public and commercial services from more than 35 organizations. These include paying for parking, applying for a visa, filing a police report, recycling waste and reporting a traffic accident.
It has registered over 23 million transactions worth more than Dh12 billion since its inception. The app processed about 2.6 million transactions in the first half of 2023 alone, up from 2.1 million in the same period in 2022, a 24 percent increase.
Detailed roadmap
By harnessing data, innovation, and smart solutions, Dubai Digital Authority aims to enhance the quality of life of its citizens and residents and create a digitally-enabled economy and society. The roadmap focuses on seven pillars: Digital City, Data and Statistics, Cybersecurity, Digital Competitiveness, Digital Economy, Digital Talent, and Digital Infrastructure.
Governance of digital technology
In his remarks, Ahmad Obaid Al Mansoori, director-general of Digital Dubai, said: "Dubai is advancing toward an advanced digital future... Powered by the vision of our leadership, we are building a dynamic digital economy that is based on agility, ingenuity and innovative use of digital technologies. With its new digital strategy, Dubai creates a model for digital governance for cities of the future and lays the foundation for a comprehensive digital life.."
Performance metrics and strategic indicators are being used to monitor the implementation of these goals. The Dubai Transaction Index serves as a real-time barometer of government efficiency. The index not only furnishes the leadership with a panoramic understanding of service performance across government entities but also allows customers to monitor the services rendered to them.
“Using such metrics, we hope to expand the digital economy by 200 percent, improve the quality of the digital experience by a minimum of 90 percent, raise Dubai's ranking in the United Nations' Local Online Services Index (LOSI), and create 50 seamless, interconnected, high-impact digital city experiences," Al Mansoori added.
Developing digital skills
In order to accelerate Dubai's digital transformation, Emirati talent needs to be upskilled.
"Digital Dubai is committed to constantly nurturing local professionals to ensure we maintain the highest level of technological competence. Our strategy aims to train and qualify more than 50,000 Emiratis in advanced digital skills,” said Al Mansoori.
Building a strong infrastructure
Dubai Crown Prince Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum launched the Dubai Digital Cloud project in July in order to transform the government into a smart, unified ecosystem. Through a collaboration between Digital Dubai, government agencies, and key industry leaders like Moro Hub and Microsoft, the initiative creates an integrated platform that provides government entities access to cloud computing, storage, and networking services.