New laws to boost Dubai's Smart City project

Dubai - The new laws aim to encourage innovation in this area by fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors.

In his capacity as Ruler of Dubai, Vice President and Prime Minister of the United Arab Emirates, His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has issued a number of new laws that further enhance the organisational structure and legislative framework for the Dubai Smart City project.
The new laws aim to enhance the progress of the Smart City initiative and encourage innovation in this area by fostering collaboration between the public and private sectors.
The new laws also complement the strategic vision of Shaikh Mohammed that was announced two years ago with the aim of transforming Dubai into one of the world's smartest cities and utilising technology for the benefit of people. "Today we have completed the organisational structure and legal framework for transforming Dubai into the world's smartest city and creating a new and unique model in developing and managing cities," said Shaikh Mohammed.
Asserting that the use of technology and resources is vital to achieving the objectives, Shaikh Mohammed said: "Managing global cities requires sustained efforts to provide fast and innovative services. We must utilise modern technology and available resources to achieve our objectives."
He called on all of Dubai Government's entities and departments to work together to transform Dubai into the smartest city in the world. "Work together as a single team and seek help from experts who can build the future of the UAE, particularly talented young people who want to serve their country," said Shaikh Mohammed.
Dubai Crown Prince and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, thanked the Higher Committee for the key steps taken to implement the Dubai Smart City project. Shaikh Hamdan said that the Dubai Government is implementing the directives of Shaikh Mohammed following the launch of the Dubai Smart City strategy two years ago.
Shaikh Hamdan said that Shaikh Mohammed is keen to engage both the public and private sectors to introduce a state of the art infrastructure that integrates the city's management systems.
Shaikh Hamdan said: "From the beginning, we have been working to realise the vision of His Highness Shaikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and our objective is clear. We want Dubai to be the smartest city in the world. We call on everyone to collaborate to achieve this goal".
The new laws include Law No (29) of 2015 on the establishment of Dubai Smart City Office; Law No. (30) of 2015 on the establishment of Dubai Smart City Establishment; Decree No. (37) of 2015 on the formation of the Board of the Dubai Smart City Office; and Decree No (38) of 2015 appointing a Director General for the Office.
Further, Shaikh Hamdan issued the Executive Council's Resolution No (57) of 2015 appointing the Deputy Director General of the Dubai Smart City Establishment.
Law No (29) of 2015 establishes the Dubai Smart City Office, a new body that will facilitate Dubai's efforts to transform itself into a smart city.
The responsibilities of the Office include: developing overall policies and strategic plans with regard to information technology and smart government; supervising and providing guidance for the smart transformation process and approving joint initiatives, projects and services that facilitate the smart transformation in coordination with the concerned government entities.
The Law authorises the Dubai Smart City Office to enter into partnerships with any organisation within and outside the emirate to implement best practices in the field, approve relevant plans and budgets in coordination with the Department of Finance and other government departments and propose legislative amendments to encourage and empower the public and private sectors in the field of smart transformations.
The new Law also authorises the Dubai Smart City Office to establish, develop and manage a central database of all the information pertaining to smart transformation initiatives as well as to establish a portal for smart applications and smart transformation and outlining key performance indicators (KPIs) to assess the implementation of relevant policies and procedures.
In collaboration with the concerned government departments, the office is authorised to utlilise the emirate's resources to support the smart transformation, create innovative e-services and develop the infrastructure necessary for this purpose.
Pursuant to the Law, all government entities are required to cooperate with the office to carry out its responsibilities. The Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, or a person authorised by him, may issue appropriate resolutions to activate the articles of this law.
The law also disestablishes the Higher Committee for the implementation of the Dubai Smart City project formed under Resolution No (2) of 2013, and the Executive Committee of Dubai Smart City formed under Resolution No (1) of 2014. Further, the new Law annuls any other laws that challenge or contradict its articles.
Shaikh Mohammed also issued Law No (30) of 2015 forming the Dubai Smart City Establishment to provide smart and innovative e-services that meet international quality standards and best practices.
The Law authorises the establishment to conduct the following activities: proposing the general strategy for smart government and submitting it to the office for approval and implementation; supervising smart transformation efforts in the government sector; proposing the organisational structure, policies and procedures to manage information technology-related operations in the government; providing smart services that meet international best practices; revising plans and budgets for the smart transformation, information technology operations and smart services proposed by various government departments; and proposing appropriate laws to facilitate smart transformation in coordination with relevant departments.
Dubai Smart City Establishment will provide integrated services in the areas of financial management systems, contracts, procurement, warehouses, human resources, project management, maintenance, email, digital communication, archiving, smart integration systems, decision-making and unified government information systems.
The law authorises the Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council to issue a resolution to appoint the Director-General of the Dubai Smart City Establishment.
The Dubai Smart City Establishment substitutes Dubai Smart Government, the body established under Law No (7) of 2009. The Director-General of Dubai Smart City Establishment is authorised to issue all the required resolutions to activate the articles of this law. The new law annuls any other laws that challenge or contradict its articles.
Shaikh Mohammed also issued Decree No (37) of 2015 appointing the members of the Board of the Dubai Smart City Office. Pursuant to the Decree, the board is comprised of the Chairman, Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer, Vice-Chairman Ahmed Mohammed bin Humaidan and other Members, including Hamad Obaid Al Mansouri, Khalid Nasser Al Razzoqi, Youssef Hamad Al Shebani, Dr Aisha Butti bin Bishr, Mohammed Abdullah Al Zaffen, Abdullah Ali Madani and Mansoor Juma Bu Asiba. The board has a renewable term of three years.
Shaikh Mohammed also issued Decree No (38) 2015 appointing Dr Aisha Butti bin Bishr as Director-General of the Dubai Smart City Office.
Law No (29) of 2015, Law No (30) of 2015, Decree No (37) of 2015 and Decree No (38) of 2015 are effective from November 26, 2015 and will be published in the Official Gazette.
Shaikh Hamdan approved the Executive Council's Resolution No (57) of 2015 appointing Younis Abdul Aziz Mahmoud Al Ali as Deputy Director General of the Dubai Smart City Office and the Executive Council's Resolution No (58) of 2015 appointing Wesam Al Abbas Hussain Nasser Lootah as CEO of the Dubai Smart City Office. Both resolutions are effective from December 1, 2015 and will be published in the Official Gazette. - Wam