SMART DUBAI IS MAKING THE EMIRATE HAPPIER

As you’ve surely noticed by now, MyBayut is here to provide you with all the real estate-related data and lifestyle information you require to lead a happy life, whether you’re an investor, a homeowner, a renter or even just a visitor to the UAE. In that sense, we have something in common with the emirate’s much talked about initiative – to make Dubai the happiest city on earth. For those of you who are still in the dark with regards to the happiness agenda, here are a few key points on Smart Dubai with a roundup of the organisation’s most recent enterprises.

WHAT IS SMART DUBAI?

Working under the umbrella of the Smart Dubai Office, Smart Dubai is firmly rooted in the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, to make the emirate the happiest city on earth. In essence, the main goal of Smart Dubai is to enhance the experience of the whole city by using innovative state-of-the-art technology. This is being done through various technology-based improvements to the city’s infrastructure in collaboration with establishments in both the public and the private sector. Smart Dubai’s strategic plan was first unveiled in Dubai World Trade Centre in March 2014, with HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in attendance. It comprised 100 initiatives and a complete upgrade of 1,000 government services to Smart services. One of these initiatives announced earlier this year was for all the government services in Dubai to be completely paperless by 2021.

THE DUBAI 2021 PLAN

At the Smart Dubai’s ‘Future-Now’ event hosted this April at the Dubai Design District, the Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, announced that “The Dubai Government will issue its last paper transaction in 2021.” This is a part of the “Dubai 2021 Plan” to dedicate the next four years to making the emirate  ‘home to happy, creative, and empowered people, living in an inclusive and cohesive society that caters to all,” as written on the project’s official website (the Dubai Plan 2021 website). “It will be a smart and sustainable city that is the preferred place to live, work and visit, and a pivotal hub in the global economy, led by a pioneering and excellent government.”

WORKSHOP ON SMART APPS FOR PEOPLE OF DETERMINATION

Another initiative that took place only last week was a workshop organised by Smart Dubai in collaboration with the Community Development Authority (CDA). It was an event that aims to set into motion a series of activities to help better the lives of people of determination (people with disabilities).

The Emirates News Agency quoted the CEO of Smart Dubai Government Establishment, Wesam Lootah, as saying: “In this first phase, we will organise workshops specifically designed for people with disabilities, allowing us to communicate directly with them and to identify what they need from websites and services provided by the private sector,” Lootah continued. “In later stages, we will establish communication channels with the private sector, and work with them to ensure that their smart services and websites are easily accessible to this segment of society.”

THE HAPPINESS METRE

Another initiative by Smart Dubai, that you may have already experienced if you visited Dubai Municipality’s, DEWA’s or any other Government entities’ website, is the ‘Happiness Metre’, first of its kind in the world. You will find it pop up as soon as you’ve made any kind of transaction on a website like RTA’s asking you to rate your experience by choosing the ‘happy’, ‘sad’ or ‘neutral’ face, as pictured in the image above. Of course, all the responses are used towards improving the services and increasing the overall happiness levels.

In conclusion, Smart Dubai is a one-of-a-kind initiative that is sure to help fulfil the vision of HH Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum to achieve a 95% happiness goal. Exactly how the Smart Dubai initiative will reflect upon the world of real estate remains to be seen, but Bayut.com, with its constantly self-improving website and app, will aim to keep up. Your happiness is our number one goal as well.

To know more about Smart Dubai or find out how you can get involved, follow the Government’s initiative either through @smartdubai and @SmartDubaiGov on Facebook or through Smart Dubai’s official website.

Main Image Credit: Smart City Brand