9 apps every UAE resident should have on their phone

As the world heads towards greater levels of digital complexity, the UAE - with its constant vision and foresight - has kept up with technology and designed platforms to aid residents' daily functions. Bringing the economy and everyday life to a truly smart level, and using the ubiquitous smartphone platform, the country now has apps for everything from paying bills to finding an address, or accessing your all-important medical records. Here are the must-haves on your smartphone:

mPay - Ahhh, those times in a month when you need to pay your bills. So instead of adding more stress, why not download mPay instead? With this app, you can pay for Dewa, etisalat and du bills; Dubai Police fines; Salik and NOL recharges; and Dubai Customs and Dubai Municipality services. It's an easy way to manage your everything and, most of all, a very secure payment alternative.

Wojhati - Getting around Dubai is easy enough; why not make it easier? This app from the RTA is a very essential tool for those without their own vehicle, especially those who move around often. View timetables of Dubai Buses and Dubai Metro, easily view your transport options from where you are and where you're headed, and even plan in advance - complete with how much it'll cost you (taxi options included). It also has an augmented reality feature; fire it up and point your mobile to see what stops/stations are near you.
(Tip: From experience and due to traffic situations, give yourself a three-minute headstart on the arrival times of buses you see on the app.) Also get the RTA Dubai app; you can use it to view your Salik balance, parking time remaining, fines, NOL balance and driver's licence info.

Makani - Speaking of getting around Dubai, why not put it up a notch? This smart geographic addressing system from Dubai Municipality exactly pinpoints the exact location of a building, using only a 10-digit combination (a Makani Number, eg, 12345 67890); go ahead and enter it on Google Maps. This is critical for the likes of deliveries or taxi trips, and is also a way of resolving language barriers. A very smart app to the very core - and by the way, Dubai is the first city in the world to use such a system.

Abu Dhabi Police/Dubai Police - Our law enforcers are now just a tap away. You can report something, pay fines and access other essential services - anything related to the police. For the Abu Dhabi Police app, you also have options related to driver's licence.

For the Dubai Police app, special features include Business Mode, which enables PROs to apply for services on behalf of several employees and one for visually-impaired customers - it also has Siri and Apple Watch integration.

CityGuard - Even if you're just visiting the capital for just a few hours, this could come in handy. This app from the Abu Dhabi government allows anyone to report incidents and/or complaints within the emirate directly to the relevant authorities. You can snap a photo or record a video or audio with the exact location thanks to its built-in interactive map. A case is automatically created, and you can track its progress. Its main aim: to boost civic cooperation between the government and the public to improve Abu Dhabi at all levels.

Dubai Airports - Going on a break? It's as simple as it can get with this app: anything you need to know about Dubai's airports - Dubai International and Al Maktoum International - with mere taps. Check out flight schedules, live alerts and everything else in between. And to save your time, instead of wandering around the airport after getting past immigration, why not use the app's interactive map to plan ahead on deciding which restaurant to eat in or which relaxation areas to prep you up for your flight?
Hemayati - Our children are the future, so we must nurture and protect them at all cost. The Ministry of Interior's Hemayati app allows parents to have real-time communication with their kids, letting them know exactly where they are; very useful in cases of emergencies (God forbid). The app also has safety and emergency alert services, so parents can rest assured that they will always be in the loop.
Sehhaty - You'll need to have your own health card number for this. And once you do, you'll be able to use this Dubai Health Authority app to access your medical records. You can view your medical history, primary healthcare centre details (even directions going there), laboratory results and appointments details.
Jobs Abu Dhabi/mJobs - Looking for a job? The capital's Jobs Abu Dhabi and Dubai's mJobs will be more than happy to help you out. It doesn't matter if you're fresh out of school or an experienced professional - you'll have access to an extensive database of employers. Just upload your CV, fix your profile and make sure you clear your schedule once someone comes calling. All the best to those seeking work.
alvin@khaleejtimes.com