Dubai Smart Government Department launches mobile app for government staff

HE Ahmad Bin Humaidan.

The Dubai Smart Government* Department (DSG) has launched a smart employee app for Dubai government employees. The app contributes towards an initiative by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to shift to smart government and smart city, in line with the Dubai Government Towards 2021 initiative of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council.

HE Ahmad Bin Humaidan, DSG Director General, said: “We are inspired by the vision of our prudent leadership led by HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, and the directives of HH Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council; to be among the finest smart governments in the world.

“This app has been developed by our Government Resources Planning (GRP) team after nine months of testing and coordination with other DSG sections. In the first phase, it will be used and tested by the HR department in 31 government entities. Following their feedback, the app will be launched on 12 October at Gitex 2014 so that 20,000 employees from the participating government entities can use it as a shared service app. 

"Shared services help Dubai Government save money from unnecessary duplication costs. The app will also prove useful for teamwork among employees and manager, speeding up crucial decisions and saving time; which leads to further happiness and satisfaction among Dubai government employees.”

The app allows users to benefit from an employee self-service menu for absence, attendance and leaves management, notifications for immediate action, instant approvals from line managers, requests for certificates and letters, payroll and salary, team hierarchy, and to search for as well as contact another employee. Through the app, one can apply round the clock and get instant purchase approvals and leaves, as line managers get immediate notifications for action.

The smart employee app also has an Arabic and English interface, integration with other GRP HR systems and is available on the Android platform, with iOS to follow. After it has been used effectively from among 20,000 government employees at Gitex 2014 onwards, it will then be made compatible with Blackberry and Windows platforms for other users.

*About Dubai Smart Government

Dubai Smart Government is a pioneering initiative in the region to provide government online services across the spectrum of corporate and community life in the emirate. Dubai Smart Government officially directs and supervises the implementation of the process of eTransformation in over 30 government entities and is one of the world’s only governments to have established an official eGovernment branch in the capacity of an independent department.

Dubai Smart Government utilises multiple innovative electronic channels to facilitate interaction and transaction with government services for citizens, residents, visitors and businesses with the goal of making the life of people much easier in their dealings with the government. The official Dubai Government public portal highlights government initiatives and facilitates the customers’ access to more than 2,000 service from the services of several government departments, while the official corporate portal of the Dubai Smart Government provides information about the strategy, goals and achievements of the department.

*Images from the Dubai government.