New e-government projects take shape
(Dubai | By A Staff Reporter | 01/01/2003)

Dubai e-Government recently rolled out a plan that will see the region's most dynamic e-initiative launching the advanced phases of projects that began in 2002, as well as unveiling a series of services, including new channels, to diversify the range of its offering.

The launch of the advanced phase of e-pay, an interactive facility that allows people to carry out multi-transactions through a single sign-in system (e-jawaz), which identifies registered users before providing access to various utilities and services in March 2003 will see a host of government departments integrating their web offering with the Dubai e-Government portal www.dubai.ae.

This will enable customers to pay their bills and fines online, as well as seek out information on any government services. E-Pay which is already linked to Dubai Police, Dubai Municip-ality, Comtrust, Ministry of Finance and Industry and others, will enable the people to have the various utility bills and fines to be paid through a choice of modes of payment at one go through e-jawaz. The next stage will entail inter-bank links for epayment, notification by email, post and direct debit (from bank to bank).

Other highlights of the coming months include the launch of the advanced version of e-Job, a unified platform for job seekers and recruiting departments, a sophisticated call centre, an emergency team available round the clock for trouble-shooting, services through mobile devices such as SMS and e-4all, a training programme to facilitate the enhanced benefits of Dubai e-Government.

Salem Al Shair, director, e-Services, Dubai e-Government, said, "The year 2002 laid the real foundation of Dubai e-Government and provided glimpses of the first hands-on application of interactive online services. Some of the notable achievements were the launch of a more advanced content management system and the unveiling of e-jawaz and e-pay.

"Our greatest achievement included the complete integration of the Department of Health and Medical Services (DOHMS) website within the e-Government portal www. dubai.ae, thus becoming the first department to join the integrated platform, hosted by Dubai e-Government and display the advanced online applications. In the coming year, Dubai e-Government will migrate to a more dynamic stage where the people will be able to get the real feel of the online platform to carry out several transactions through a single sign-in facility."