Dubai to become region's first digital city

Buildings to be issued with Quick Response codes, encrypted columns that can be read using mobile phone cameras and tag readers.

DUBAI // A new municipality project is set to turn Dubai into the region's first complete digital city, bringing several benefits to the public.

The project is based on issuing each building a Quick Response (QR) code, which is an encrypted column that can be read using mobile phonecameras and tag readers.

Municipal officials are currently in talks with government departments such as the police, Civil Defence and the Roads and Transport Authority to connect through the codes, said Marwan Ibrahim Nasser, head of the municipality's Follow Up Office..

"If someone spots an emergency, like a fire, and they are unfamiliar with the area, they can scan the QR code of the building and get through to the right emergency service, which will then pick up the details," Mr Nasser said.

The technology will allow users to take a photograph of the code and link to municipal services through a single e-system. Services already available for download include requests for building permit renewals and requests for registration of new contractors. Hundreds more will soon be added, said Hussain Nasser Lootah, the municipality's director general.

"We are moving strongly towards e-government and the major benefits are it is simple and offers us quick calculations."