UAE ministries and federal entities were ordered on Thursday to cut at least 2,000 procedures and reduce the time required for processing by half within a year.
The move aims to raise the competitiveness of economic sectors and enhance the community’s quality of life.
“The elimination of government bureaucracy and the rapid delivery of services are the two pillars of our future strategy,” said Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai, during a session of the ‘Zero Government Bureaucracy’ programme.
“Procedures are intended to serve people and make their lives easier,” he underscored, adding: “Bureaucracy is the main challenge facing any government seeking to develop its services.
Sheikh Mohammed said he will review the development by government entities and announce the results within a year.
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Significant shift in operations
More than 300 leaders from government and business sectors attended the session, which was aimed at creating a significant shift in government operations.
Mohammad bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said the programme “encompasses a classification system for federal entities focused on reducing bureaucracy, alongside an incentive and reward system for federal government employees.”
The best individual and team efforts in bureaucracy elimination at the national level will be recognised and honoured, he said.
Al Gergawi noted the UAE government “has adopted an approach focused on minimising government bureaucracy as part of continuously developing its services.” It began with the transition to electronic services that led to the creation of a smart government in 2013 and the adoption of a digital government in 2021.
During the Thursday session, 30 federal government entities showcased their achievements in developing 106 services within 90 days as part of the first cycle of the ‘Services 2.0’ initiative launched by the Emirates Programme for Excellence in Government Service.
The first cycle saw a 61 per cent improvement in government services within 90 days, a 50 per cent reduction in the number of steps in customer experience, and a saving of 28 million minutes in government service delivery time.