UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum has launched the "Mobile Government" (m-government) initiative marking a significant breakthrough in the delivery of government services to the public through their mobile phones, anywhere and round-the-clock.
The following is an edited translation of the His Highness speech:
In the Name of Allah, the most gracious and most Merciful
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
Today, we are launching a new era. I am glad to find representatives of the federal and local governments before me, and we should all cooperate and work hand in hand throughout this phase. There are no obstacles that we can’t overcome. You successfully completed the first phase, and this is a new phase. As you know, time is changing, and it is accompanied by many challenges.
Allow me to recount to you a true story. Going back 13 years, I gathered Dubai government officials in a hotel in Jumeirah. They were present as you are today, and we started discussing the future of the eGovernment, and how it will efficiently serve the people. As you know, our elders do not like formalities, they are honest and straightforward. So, Mr. Saif bin Ghurair stood up and said: “Mohammed, we are not comfortable with this new government. We want it to remain as it was in the past: we come to you, and you come to us”. That day, I knew that some were hesitant. When I found them reluctant to adapt to change, I told them: “I promise that those who will not adapt to this transformation will be given a farewell party within a year.”
Our main target is to make our citizens content. However, we can’t do this without taking the necessary steps to empower them and serve their interests. We have around 420 federal service centers. How can we increase this quantity to accommodate everyone? Allow me to tell you how.
Most of you today have two mobile phones, am I right? If you were asked to function without your phone, you’d realize that you cannot be detached from it for even two days. People need their phones to follow the news day and night. Thus, people have gotten used to this lifestyle.
Going back to Mr. Saif bin Ghurair’s story, I replied: “Saif, in the past caravans were used as the main mode of transportation. Today, people have the metro. If asked which do you prefer, caravan or metro, what would you choose?” To which he replied: “The metro is faster, of course.” Then I asked him which class would he ride in? 1st, 2nd or 3rd and so on. A few days later he came back to me convinced; yet he complained that his children are now constantly demanding pricy computers and technological devices.
Together, we all need to cooperate to fulfill this new phase, and everyone should realize that time is changing. Those who can’t adapt to this change will not be able to achieve their targets. There are indeed some who were bid farewell for this reason exactly. I do hope that you do not lag behind in this regard.
Today, we would like to launch the "Mobile Government". Hence, the government services would reach the people rather than the people reaching out for the government. The government of the future will function 24/7 and 365 days a year. How will that be achieved? All the services will be available on your mobile phones. We must start now and not lag behind. With directions from His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, and the rest of the leadership, we are happy to announce this initiative. Thus, services will be accessible through the mobile phone at all times.
I wish to see a constant move forward among federal and local governments. I would like those seated in the 3rd row function as if in the1st, and those seated in the 1st row to be among the distinguished. This is what I wish to see.
Within two years, I would like the transformation into the new phase to be complete. Thank you.
