UAE Zero Bureaucracy Program Enters Phase 2, Speeds Services

UAE has launched Phase 2 of its Zero Bureaucracy Program to cut red tape and streamline processes. The results from the original phase started in November 2023 have been remarkable. Government service delivery time dropped by over 70% as more than 4,000 unnecessary procedures were removed. This saved customers over 12 million hours and reshaped how government services work in the country.

The program’s success has created yearly savings of AED 1.12 billion ($305 million) that benefit the public, customers, businesses, and investors. More than 30 government entities and 690 teams worked together to improve over 200 million yearly transactions. The second phase focuses on digital bureaucracy. It ensures digital systems run 24/7 and enhances customer experience through better data sharing and AI integration across government platforms.

Sheik Mohammed launches Phase 2 of Zero Bureaucracy Program

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“We thank the more than 30 government agencies and 690 work teams who contributed to simplifying and reducing government procedures.” — Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, showed the second phase of the Zero Government Bureaucracy program at a major event in Dubai. More than 200 ministers, deputy ministers, and directors general of federal entities attended this significant gathering.

“Today we launch the second phase of the Zero Government Bureaucracy program, a national project designed to create simpler, faster, and more influential government services,” Sheik Mohammed stated at the event.

The Vice President thanked everyone who helped achieve the program’s first phase: “We are grateful to the over 30 government entities and 690 teams involved in streamlining government procedures”. The next phase would build on these wins by “focusing on eliminating digital bureaucracy to realize our goal: a government without complexity, services without waiting times, and results that tangibly improve people’s lives”.

Mohammad Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said the achievements matched UAE leadership’s vision perfectly. “The results of the previous phase represent a new, more effective model for government operations, by leveraging internal teams to re-engineer processes and boost service efficiency,” Al Gergawi explained.

President Sheik Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s vision to create a world-class model for government service delivery sparked this announcement. Sheik Mohammed added that this expansion matches the UAE’s bigger goal to become the most digitally advanced government worldwide.

The program started in November 2023 and asked ministries and government agencies to begin implementation right away. They needed to cancel at least 2,000 government procedures, cut procedure times by 50%, and remove unnecessary conditions within a year.

The UAE government wants to create a governance model that puts citizen services first through this next phase. This model will keep improving and simplifying processes to deliver influential outcomes with minimal effort for citizens, residents, and investors alike.

Phase 1 eliminates 4,000 procedures and saves 12 million hours

“We canceled more than 4,000 unnecessary procedures, and we saved beneficiaries more than 12 million hours in transport and presence.” — Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai

The UAE’s Zero Bureaucracy Program’s first phase delivered outstanding results in making government services more efficient. Teams from 30 government entities worked together to cut down administrative barriers. More than 690 teams joined forces to create real benefits for residents, businesses, and investors.

The results were remarkable. Service delivery time dropped by over 70% across government procedures. Teams eliminated more than 4,000 unnecessary procedures that had previously slowed down service delivery. On top of that, they removed 1,600 redundant requirements that had made government transactions complex.

These improvements changed lives way beyond government offices. People and businesses saved over 12 million hours they would have spent traveling to and waiting for government services. This massive time savings put back AED 1.12 billion (US$305 million) into the UAE economy every year.

The changes made a difference to about 200 million yearly transactions between the government and its stakeholders. The UAE Government recognized three top-performing government entities that showed steadfast dedication to the Zero Bureaucracy initiatives.

This first phase created a brand new model for how the UAE government works. It proved that internal teams could redesign processes to make services better without sacrificing quality. This fresh approach replaced old bureaucratic systems with a faster, more customer-focused way of delivering public services.

The sweeping reforms showed the UAE’s determination to remove administrative roadblocks. Government entities focused their efforts to combine similar procedures, cut unnecessary steps, and speed up service delivery. These changes led to an extraordinary boost in administrative efficiency.

Phase 2 targets digital bureaucracy and 24/7 service uptime

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The UAE government has launched Phase 2 of the Zero Bureaucracy Program after Phase 1’s success. This new phase wants to remove digital red tape from UAE government platforms. The focus lies on removing unnecessary online procedures, keeping systems running smoothly, and merging digital systems between government entities.

The government’s main goal is to keep all digital platforms running 24/7 without interruption. This ensures citizens can access essential services anytime. The program will modernize and merge all digital systems by making use of artificial intelligence.

Mohammed bin Taliah, UAE Government’s Chief of Government Services, explained that Phase 2 will improve government integration and data sharing. He highlighted the development of innovative joint solutions between departments. The program now takes the best business practices from the private sector to make government operations smoother.

AI plays a crucial role in reshaping service delivery. The UAE Council for Artificial Intelligence and UAE’s Strategy for Artificial Intelligence show the government’s commitment to become a world leader in AI by 2031. These programs support the Zero Bureaucracy Program by creating the tech foundation needed for efficient digital services.

The plan has over 200 innovative AI solutions for government services. This lines up with Abu Dhabi’s Digital Strategy 2025-2027 to create an AI-powered government. The strategy builds a reliable digital infrastructure with complete adoption of sovereign cloud computing.

The UAE has created a ‘Generative AI’ guide with 100 use cases and applications. This helps government entities exploit AI technologies in a variety of fields while protecting data privacy.

Abu Dhabi’s GDP will grow by AED 24 billion by 2027 thanks to this digital transformation. The program will create more than 5,000 jobs to support Emiratisation efforts.

UAE Sets New Standard for Government Efficiency

The Zero Bureaucracy Program stands as one of the most ambitious government efficiency initiatives worldwide. Phase 1 results demonstrate UAE’s steadfast dedication to streamlining public services. The program eliminated over 4,000 unnecessary procedures and reduced service delivery time by more than 70%. This saved citizens, residents, and businesses 12 million hours they would have spent on bureaucratic processes.

Phase 2 expands on these remarkable achievements. The focus now shifts to digital bureaucracy with a promise of round-the-clock service availability on government platforms. Sheik Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision aligns with this expansion: “a government without complexity, services without waiting times, and results that tangibly improve people’s lives.”

The program’s economic benefits speak volumes. Phase 1 saved AED 1.12 billion ($305 million) annually. Phase 2 could boost Abu Dhabi’s GDP by AED 24 billion by 2027. The initiative creates jobs too, with 5,000 new positions supporting Emiratisation efforts.

UAE officials took a smart approach. They relied on internal expertise instead of external consultants. Teams from 30 government entities proved that meaningful reform comes from within, creating a model for other nations.

The Zero Bureaucracy Program showcases UAE’s innovative governance. The country pioneers government innovation through AI integration, improved data sharing, and streamlined procedures. Simple, fast, and effective government services will boost quality of life for citizens, businesses, and investors.