UAE to allow residents to pay for services through 'good behaviour'

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, announced a behavioural rewards scheme at a ministry meeting

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior (second from the right) announced a behavioural rewards strategy during a meeting of the Ministry of Possibilities. Courtesy Wam

Good behaviour will be rewarded under a proposed scheme to allow UAE residents to win 'points' to pay for government services by demonstrating strong ethics, loyalty and patriotism.

Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of the Interior, unveiled the National Behavioural Rewards Programme during a meeting of the Ministry of Possibilities in Dubai this week.

It is hoped the strategy, which is aimed at all sections of society, will encourage people across the Emirates to adopt positive mindsets and actions.

More than 90 different types of behaviours have been selected for the scheme.

The project was on top of the agenda as Sheikh Saif chaired a meeting of the Department of Behavioural Rewards, one of four bodies which form the Ministry of Possibilities.

The Ministry of Possibilities – heralded as the country's virtual ministry as it has no designated minister and is led by a committee of existing government authorities – was set up in April to take a new approach to tackling issues of national importance.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, said he had launched the new branch of government to shake up current practices and help the country become a global power.

The other divisions are the  Department of Government Procurement, the Department of Anticipatory Services and the Department of UAE Talent, each headed by a current government minister.

The behavioural strategy will be guided by five themes; individual empowerment, family support, community interaction, economic growth and love of country.

The policy sets out to encourage patriotism, ensure loyalty, spread good ethics, prepare a generation ready to lead the future and promote positive behaviours, state news agency Wam reported.

It was not revealed when the initiative will be implemented and how it will be managed.