H. H. Sheikh Hamdan: Dubai becomes world's first paperless government

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai’s Executive Council, announced that the emirate has become the world’s first paperless government.

The announcement comes after the emirate set objectives for the Dubai Paperless Strategy launched in 2018 to establish itself as a leading digital capital.

“Today marks the beginning of a new stage in Dubai’s journey to digitise life in all its aspects – a journey rooted in innovation, creativity, and a focus on the future,” said Sheikh Hamdan.

The Dubai Crown Prince praised the teams working across all participating government entities in the emirate, whose efforts have further strengthened Dubai’s position as a global role model for integrated and sustainable smart cities.

“We mark this achievement with our sights set firmly on the future, and we look forward to providing a fully digital life for residents of the emirate,” His Highness said, adding that the next stage will see more significant changes to create and enhance digital life over the next five decades.

“All internal and external transactions and procedures in the Government of Dubai are now 100 per cent digital and managed from a comprehensive digital government services platforms,” said Hamad Al Mansoori, Director General of Digital Dubai.

With the Dubai Paperless Strategy fully implemented, no employee or customer of the Dubai Government will be required to print any paper documents or transactions.

This achievement consolidates Dubai's global position as a pioneer and role model in developing integrated digital services that enhance the customer experience.

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 11, 2021

The Strategy

The Dubai Paperless Strategy was implemented in five consecutive phases, each of which enlisted a different group of Dubai Government entities.

The strategy has been fully implemented across all 45 government entities in the emirate. These entities provide more than 1,800 digital services and over 10,500 key transactions.

Consumption was cut by more than 336 million papers which saved more than AED1.3 billion and over 14 million man-hours across the Dubai Government.

We are proud to announce that as of today, the government of Dubai has become the world's first paperless government. pic.twitter.com/d1aDHEDgOC

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 11, 2021

The Phases

The Dubai Paperless Strategy was launched with six entities, including the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Police, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Department of Economic Development, Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing, and the Department of Land and Property.

Stage one helped cut paper usage by more than 72.5 million sheets.

The second phase followed in 2019, with eight additional entities joining, namely, Dubai Courts, Dubai Municipality, Dubai Public Prosecution, Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai Health Authority, Community Development Authority, Dubai Customs, and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.

This phase helped reduce paper usage by saving more than 229.5 million sheets.

At the end of 2019, the third phase of the strategy was announced with a new group of nine entities, including the Dubai Corporation for Ambulance Services, Islamic Affairs & Charitable Activities Department, Dubai Media Incorporated, Department of Finance, Dubai Government Human Resources Department, Dubai Culture, Dubai Civil Aviation Authority, Al Jalila Cultural Centre for Children, and the Government of Dubai Legal Affairs Department.

The group collectively cut paper consumption by more than 12.9 million sheets.

Phase four began in March 2020, with a new group of 10 entities joining the effort to implement the strategy.

This included the Dubai Statistics Center; Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation; Dubai Women Establishment; Security Industry Regulatory Agency (SIRA); Mohammed Bin Rashid Housing Establishment; Dubai Sports Council; Ports, Customs, and Free Zone Corporation - Trakhees; Dubai Maritime City Authority; Dubai Air Navigation Services; and Dubai Airports.

They succeeded in reducing paper consumption by more than 11.9 million sheets of paper.

The fifth and final phase of implementing the strategy began in June 2020, with nine new entities joining the effort, including the Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre, Dubai Aviation Engineering Projects, Dubai Future Foundation, Supreme Legislation Committee, Nedaa Professional Communication Corporation, Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation, Dubai Government Workshop, and the Directorate General of Civil Defense Dubai.

This group saved more than 8.2 million sheets of paper in total.

Two more government entities recently joined the Dubai Paperless Strategy - The Financial Audit Authority Dubai and Dubai Chamber.

The two entities saved more than 938,000 sheets of paper.

The digitalisation drive aims to redirect residents through the DubaiNow application, allowing access to more than 130 city services.

“Four years ago, HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, had a vision that no Dubai Government employee or customer would need to print any paper document after 2021,” said His Highness Sheikh Hamdan.

“Today, that promise has been fulfilled,” he added.

.@HHShkMohd’s vision to achieve a paperless journey for every customer in Dubai government has been realized.

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) December 11, 2021