Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed urges government departments to keep pace with advances in technology

The Crown Prince of Dubai said employees must be equipped with the skills needed to meet the demands of an ever-changing workplace

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed has urged government bodies to rise to the challenge of a rapidly-evolving workplace. All pictures courtesy of Wam

The Crown Prince of Dubai said staff must be equipped with the skills needed to adapt to the digital age

The Crown Prince of Dubai met with heads of several government departments

Sheikh Hamdan has been at the forefront of efforts to develop Dubai's digital strategy

Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed has called for government workers to be equipped with the skills to harness new technologies and help the emirate keep pace with the changing face of the workplace.

The Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of Dubai Executive Council said authorities must play a leading role in adapting to evolving global trends.

Sheikh Hamdan delivered his message during a meeting with the heads of a number of government bodies, also attended by Sheikh Ahmed bin Saeed Al Maktoum, second deputy chairman of Dubai Executive Council.

Sheikh Hamdan said high levels of commitment, focus and teamwork were required to achieve the nation's goals.

He stressed that keeping track with advancements in technology would be crucial to bolstering productivity and efficiency in the years ahead.

Transitioning services to online platforms is a key target across the Emirates.

The coronavirus outbreak showed the benefits of having a strong digital infrastructure in place as many government services were carried out remotely to limit face-to-face interactions.

Last year, Sheikh Hamdan  issued a rallying cry to government departments to make their services paperless by 2021.

He hailed the efforts of authorities to meet the digital drive to save one billion pieces of paper every year — but said more could still be done.

The paperless initiative, launched in 2018, aims to make life more convenient for residents, freeing up about 40 hours per year by cutting down the need to visit physical service centres.

Earlier this week, Abu Dhabi City Municipality announced it had strengthened its partnership with Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei as part of an emirate-wide mission to deliver more services online.

The authority is aiming to boost reliability and efficiency by incorporating advanced technology in its day-to-day operations.

Abu Dhabi has been laying the groundwork for a smoother transition to digital platforms in recent months.

The Higher Committee of the Digital Government was formed in March to help emphasise the importance of a successful online strategy across the emirate.