Dubai has made it to the list of the world’s best-performing digital governments with a “Very High” rating in the Local Online Service Index (LOSI) 2022 issued by the United Nations as part of its bi-annual E-Government Survey. Dubai was ranked fifth globally and first in the Arab World in the Index.
Dubai earned top rankings for its institutional framework, content provision and service provision indicators, consolidating its reputation as one of the world’s best digital governments.
The city also received a fourth-place ranking in the Technology index. The latest LOSI assessed the digital governments in major cities across 193 countries.
Dubai scored 0.9186 on the survey’s LOSI, placing it fifth, behind Berlin, Madrid, Tallinn and Copenhagen.
The 2022 Local Online Service Index comprises 86 indicators relating to five criteria: institutional framework (8), content provision (25), services provision (18), participation and engagement (17) and technology (18).
Commenting on the feat, H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of Dubai Executive Council, said, "Dubai’s exceptional performance in the UN’s Local Online Service Index demonstrates the strategic vision and the steadfast commitment of the leadership to ensure Dubai’s digital government offering surpasses the highest global benchmarks. This achievement is yet another unique milestone in the journey begun by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, over two decades ago, to transform the emirate into the digital capital of the world. Driven by its commitment to adopting advanced technology and fostering a culture of excellence, Dubai has created a unique model of governance that advances human happiness and well-being in all spheres of life."
The Institutional Framework index focuses on digital government strategy, organizational structure, legislation on access to information and privacy as well as open data policy, among others. The report highlighted Dubai’s success in establishing Digital Dubai as a model for developing institutional frameworks. The Content Provision index measures the availability of basic public information and resources online. The third index, Service Provision, focuses on the availability and delivery of government services through digital channels, measuring the extent to which these services are streamlined, proactive, interactive and capable of ensuring the utmost customer satisfaction.
Also read: UAE Cabinet Forms Dedicated Committee for Future-Ready Governance
The Technology index focuses on the technical features of online portals, which make the website and content easily accessible to customers 24/7. During the assessment process, other relevant sub-indicators such as accessibility, functional capacities, reliability, mobility, visual appeal and alignment with technology standards are also measured.
The 2022 edition of the Local Online Service Index is consistent with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which consider cities as the most prominent engines of urban growth and that they play a vital role in driving global change from the bottom up. Local governments are also playing their part in setting policies to promote and drive change, given that most SDGs contain objectives that are directly or indirectly related to the day-to-day operations of local and regional governments.
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs conducted the first integrated assessment of local governments in the UN E-Government Survey 2018, which was a pilot study featuring 60 different indicators limited to just 40 cities, including Dubai. The 2020 edition of the survey was expanded to include 100 cities and around 80 indicators. The 2022 edition covers cities from every country in the world and includes a total of 86 indicators.
Abdulla Mohammed Al Basti, secretary general of The Executive Council of Dubai, said, “As part of our recently adopted ‘360 Services Policy’, we aim to achieve 100% automation in government services through innovative projects designed to benefit various segments of society and facilitate a high quality of life." Also read: Group Formed to Develop Dubai’s Digital Assets
Meanwhile, Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori,director general of Digital Dubai, said, “As new digital advancements reshape our world, data and artificial intelligence have emerged as the pillars of sustainable smart cities.”
Dubai has introduced a flurry of digital initiatives aligned to its Digital Economy Strategy. Launched in April 2022, it aims to double the contribution of the digital economy to the UAE’s GDP from 9.7% as of April 2022 to 19.4% within 10 years.
Also read: New Higher Committee to Oversee Dubai’s Future Tech Developments
