Adoption of 6 transformational projects to enhance the digital competitiveness of the UAE government

During its seventh meeting, chaired by Minister of State for Government Development and the Future, Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi, the Supreme Committee for Government Digital Transformation approved 6 transformation projects with the aim of enhancing the digital transformation of the UAE government and increasing the quality and efficiency of digital government services and systems.

The new projects include the Government Technology Package, the Government Software Platform, the Digital Asset Registry, and the Digital Projects Directory, and reviewed the UAE Government's Digital Investments Report 2022, and approved the organization of the Digital Readiness Retreat for Government Leaders in June.

The Supreme Committee for Government Digital Transformation was briefed on a number of pioneering digital government projects from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, and the Ministry of Justice, in the presence of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation for Human Resources Affairs Khalil Ibrahim Khoury, the Assistant Undersecretary for Consular Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Faisal Issa Lutfi, and the Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services Sector at the Ministry of Justice Abdulaziz Al Raisi.

Ohood bint Khalfan Al Roumi stressed that the first package of government digital transformation projects represents an important step in achieving the objectives of the "We are the UAE 2031" vision that the UAE is among the top 5 countries globally in the digital competitiveness index, smart government, and enhancing its position among the top 3 countries in digital government services, noting that the committee is working to raise the readiness and efficiency of digital government services and operations, and prepares proactive policies and standards for digital transformation in the UAE government.

She said: "The Supreme Committee for Government Digital Transformation works to develop the digital system of the federal government, enhance digital readiness and competitiveness, harmonize projects and digital systems in federal government entities to raise the efficiency of infrastructure and digital assets, and accelerate and maximize the impact of comprehensive digital transformation in government institutions."

She pointed out that the new projects enhance the UAE's readiness to play a pivotal role in promising future sectors, ensuring a secure digital transformation in line with future aspirations and trends.

The Government Technology Package project provides a set of tools, services and shared digital infrastructure to digitally empower government entities and motivate them to work together by connecting digital projects, increasing the security of government systems, and saving the cost of implementing digital projects.

The Government Software Platform aims to develop a unified programming platform that includes all government software developed by ministries and federal entities, and enhances cooperation to develop software in a participatory manner.

The Digital Projects Standards Manual sets out an integrated checklist of standards that government entities must adhere to when developing and implementing government digital transformation projects in order to increase the efficiency, effectiveness and interdependence of digital government systems.

The Digital Asset Registry project focuses on inventorying the UAE government's digital assets, their validity and ownership, and measuring the extent to which they are used to enhance their return and increase utilization. The Digital Asset Registry is the first registry launched by the federal government for tangible and intangible digital assets.

For his part, TDRA Director General, Eng. Majid Sultan Al Mesmar, said: "In the context of its responsibility for digital transformation and in close cooperation with the Supreme Committee for Government Digital Transformation, TDRA has succeeded in completing two strategic projects to support government entities in implementing their digital strategies. DEWA has completed and implemented the UAE Government's Digital Projects Standards Project, as well as the Government Technology Package that allows various entities to build on existing projects and services to ensure the rationalization of government spending, save resources and enhance the possibility of achieving outstanding results. DEWA is continuing to implement our strategy as a body responsible for digital transformation, and we are working in coordination with all parties to consolidate the UAE's leadership in this field, based on the vision of 'We are the UAE 2031', which constitutes our compass for the next stage."

Acting Director General of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources Laila Obaid Al Suwaidi stressed the importance of the Digital Readiness Retreat for Leaders in the Federal Government, which brought together more than 250 government officials, leaders and decision-makers in more than 50 ministries and federal entities.

She explained that the retreat aims to inform government officials about the most important key projects in digital transformation, exchange views and propose projects and initiatives that accelerate government digital transformation, as well as learn about the latest future trends in digital transformation globally.

The Assistant Undersecretary of the Government Financial Management Sector at the Ministry of Finance, Maryam Mohammed Al Amiri, affirmed the ministry's commitment to completing the tasks entrusted to it in an optimal manner, as the Ministry of Finance has completed the implementation of the digital asset register project and the digital investments report, which has been completed by 100%.

Maryam Al Amiri said: "The Ministry of Finance was keen to complete the implementation of the Digital Assets Register project and the Digital Investments Report within the specified timetable, due to its importance in inventorying all tangible and intangible assets, foremost of which is the tangible assets and intangible assets standard in the Federal Government Accounting Standards Manual, the Financial Policies and Procedures Manual for Tangible Assets and Intangible Assets, and the Guide to Inventory, Inventory and Evaluation of Tangible Assets and Intangible Assets, in addition to all approved and updated guides, attached to the Ministry's website. Foreign finance.

The Ministry has identified and updated the necessary accounting items in the Federal Government Accounts Structure Manual for tangible and intangible assets and attached the guide to the Ministry's website, with the completion of the preparation of the consolidated financial statements of the Federal Government, which contain among its detailed explanations a summary table showing the main classifications of both tangible and intangible assets, including digital assets, based on the final financial statements of all federal entities."

In the same context, Saqr bin Ghaleb, Executive Director of the Office of Artificial Intelligence, Digital Economy and Remote Work Applications, stressed that the development of the digital system of the UAE government contributes to enhancing readiness for the future and raising the level of government performance, to provide the best services based on modern technology and artificial intelligence applications, pointing to the efforts of the Supreme Committee for Government Digital Transformation in enriching the digital system of government services, and work methodologies, based on the digital foundations of federal entities, which enhances integration, readiness and upgrade. Digital services.

Saqr bin Ghalib said: "The launch of the "Government Software Platform" initiative in the UAE as part of the transformational projects of the Supreme Committee for Government Digital Transformation will enhance the frameworks of cooperation and participation between various federal government entities to develop a unified software platform that includes all government software that is developed internally, raising the level of performance and facing various challenges in government applications quickly and efficiently.

He added that the committee seeks, through the initiative, to formulate new and innovative policies and standards for the comprehensive digital transformation of the federal government, and to expand the extent of reliance on open source software that will enhance flexibility, increase security, reliability, follow-up, save cost, stimulate community cooperation and share ideas in the programming community in the UAE, to shape the future of the country in the digital field, and in the field of developing technological systems.