Dubai Ruler’s federal government initiative to support and fund innovation

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid launches plan to fund ideas generated by the more than 90,000 federal government employees.

DUBAI // Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, on Wednesday launched a federal government initiative to support and fund innovative ideas among the sector’s more than 90,000 employees.

Afkari includes the establishment of a fund to finance employee ideas, while a dedicated team of experts - made up of innovators, pioneers of global business and representatives from both public and private sectors - will cast their eye over ideas and back the best of them, to be implemented in government organisations within three months.

“We have launched the first government fund to support the innovative ideas of our employees to convey the message that we are personally interested in their ideas,” said Sheikh Mohammed.

“Every employee who has the ambition to improve government services will be encouraged and given the required support.

“Changing the government system requires courage, ideas and support for innovation, and we consider our employees as leaders.

“Nations are not built by wishes but by the men and women who have the will to overcome challenges, and our job as leaders is to prepare leaders and provide an ideal environment for everyone to contribute to the process of building the future of their country.”

The UAE government has developed a dedicated website, afkari.gov.ae, where federal government workers can send in their innovative ideas.

Afkari is an initiative of The Mohammed bin Rashid Centre for Government Innovation, which aims to provide integrated tools to support government entities in developing their services and adopting a culture of innovation.