New Dubai govt policies to focus on happiness, welfare

Dubai - Sheikh Hamdan launches 'Government Policies Guide' today, to focus on policymaking based on enhancing happiness and welfare of society.

By Web Report

Published: Sat 18 Mar 2017, 6:35 PM

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, launched the 'Government Policies Guide', a comprehensive guide that outlines the policymaking process.
The Guide, which aims to support decision-making processes and achieve the objectives of Dubai Plan 2021, will help government entities in developing and implementing new policies and assessing their impact.
The Guide signals the start of a new approach in government policymaking based on enhancing the happiness and welfare of individuals and society.
Sheikh Hamdan said that the concept of happiness has become a source of pride for Emirati society. The government seeks to make the achievement of happiness a key driver of its operations to ensure it becomes a reality in society. He also said that the government supports this by developing policies and tools to enhance, measure and assess the execution of policies that promote happiness.
"Enhancing happiness is the government's main role, and we want Dubai Government to come up with plans to ensure happiness in society through innovative policies, services and programmes. By ensuring that the achievement of happiness is a key goal at all stages of the policymaking process, we want to make sustainable happiness a reality in society. Happiness is the compass of Dubai Plan 2021, and we have been working over the last few years to measure it in different sections of society. It is the main indicator that will demonstrate the success of our plans," he said.
"We have issued directives to use the Government Policies Guide as the main reference for the government's operations over the next phase. We also seek to make it a key tool for promoting and assessing happiness across the policymaking process. Using it, as part of an integrated government system that is aligned with the National Agenda and Dubai Plan 2021, will help us ensure greater happiness and welfare in society," the Crown Prince added.
"Government policymaking requires innovation and creativity, and should give utmost priority to the needs of individuals and society. I urge all government teams to work on integrating the concept of happiness into public policies. The true test of the effectiveness of policies is in the impact it has on people's lives, currently or in the future."
Based on the directives of Sheikh Hamdan, the Secretary General of the Dubai Executive Council worked on developing the Guide.

The Guide

The Guide was developed following consultations with government entities and the collection of feedback from stakeholders. Each chapter of the Guide includes tools for self-assessment, and a diagram highlighting the process to be followed in each stage of policymaking.
The Guide is user-friendly, and assists specialists in implementing the policymaking process in an efficient way. The Guide features practical examples drawn from various entities of Dubai Government.
The Guide also details seven steps to be followed in developing government policies.

The seven steps include:

- Defining the need for the policy and developing a policy framework
- Developing and analysing the policy based on facts and figures
- Creating a theory of policy change
- Defining and assessing policy options
- Designing the policy and developing an execution plan
- Monitoring, evaluating and reviewing the policy
- Ensuring the participation of relevant people.