The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Digital Government announced that the UAE has achieved outstanding results in a number of indicators related to government and digital services, issued in the United Nations E-Government Survey 2024 report, which focuses on the role of governments in accelerating digital transformation and artificial intelligence, for sustainable development, and providing services that enhance the quality of life of community members.
The report, which was revealed by the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, indicated that the UAE ranks first globally in the telecommunications infrastructure index, obtaining a full score of 100%, while the country advanced 34 places in the human capital index, moving from 44th to 10th place, achieving first place in Asia and the Arab world in this index, which reflects the efforts made to focus on national competencies and provide them with the necessary skills to deal with the era of rapid digital and technological transformations.
The report indicated that the UAE is one of the countries with the highest ranking in the Digital Government Development Index (EGDI), which forms the general framework for a set of standards, as the country achieved a score of 95%, advancing two places from what it achieved in the previous assessment in 2022, and maintaining its position among the list of the most advanced countries in the world.
The UAE obtained a full score (100%) in the Digital Literacy Index (EGL), and first place globally with a full score in the Digital Content Index, and the same result in the Executive Framework criterion, which are two sub-criteria within the Digital Services Index (OSI).
His Excellency Talal Belhoul Al Falasi, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Digital Government, praised the results achieved by the UAE in the 2024 E-Government Report, issued by the United Nations, which reflects the efforts of federal and local government agencies.
His Excellency said: “With these results, the UAE has established a new milestone in its journey towards a brighter future, under the leadership of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the State, may God protect him, and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, may God protect him, and the government of the country. Today, we reap the fruits of a cumulative journey of efforts and achievements, which were achieved by the minds and arms of the sons of this generous nation in order to consolidate the foundations of a digital knowledge society and economy that benefits from the latest technologies, most notably artificial intelligence and other transformative technologies.”
His Excellency stressed that the UAE’s experience in digital government is a distinctive model in the integration between human creativity and the use of technology to facilitate people’s lives, noting that the UAE government was a pioneer in investing in the communications sector within a forward-looking vision in line with the directives of the wise leadership, as major investments have been pumped into the communications infrastructure over more than two decades, accompanied by the qualification of government cadres and providing them with the highest skills, so that they can contribute to serving their country within this vital sector, which represents the basis of sustainability and making the future.
For his part, His Excellency Eng. Majid Sultan Al Mesmar, Director General of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and Digital Government, stressed that the UAE’s interest in the communications and information sector stems from the vision of the wise leadership that this sector constitutes a fundamental pillar of development and a driver for all sectors.
He said: “When it comes to global competitiveness and sustainable development strategies, the ICT infrastructure index stands out as one of the most important data that reflects the level of progress of countries in the field of employing future technologies to create the desired future.”
He added: “We are proud that the results of this index place the UAE at the forefront of the global scene, and thus we reap the fruits of a long journey of leadership, effective strategies, insightful future vision and joint efforts, which have brought us to where we are today, an advanced digital society.”
He stressed that the UAE has today become an inspiring story of systematic digital transformation, which supports the digital economy and smart cities, based on the principle of comprehensive digital government, customer centricity, business continuity and proactivity.
He added: “If these results have placed us at the top of the world, we see this as an important incentive to continue implementing the strategic slogan of the “We the Emirates 2031″ vision, which is to move from one summit to another.”
He said: “This indicator is not the only one in which we have achieved complete leadership. Today, we are ranked first in Asia and the Arab world in the Human Capital Index, and we have achieved a full score (100%) in the E-Government Services Familiarity Index, first place in digital content within the Digital Services Index (OSI), and first place in the regulatory framework within the same index.”
He stressed that these achievements would not have been possible without the spirit of partnership and the single national team, with which we worked with our partners in the federal and local government agencies, especially the telecommunications service providers in the country (Etisalat &e and Du).
In a related context, Her Excellency Hanan Mansour Ahli, Director of the Federal Competitiveness and Statistics Center, said that the results of the UAE’s leadership on the global competitiveness map are a reflection of the development witnessed by the country, the effectiveness of digital government enablers at the level of federal entities, and the efficiency of the communications infrastructure supporting electronic connectivity projects and initiatives and the integration of data and statistics, which enhances the application of future technologies to ensure government readiness for a sustainable future.
The report highlighted the efforts of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority and the Digital Government in enhancing capabilities in the field of digital transformation, and its focus on developing governance and government services, by adopting several initiatives such as the unified automated chat platform for government services “Ask Us” “U-Ask” based on generative artificial intelligence, which ensures smooth access to electronic government services, the Federal Digital Network “FedNet” initiative, which contributes to enhancing digital efficiency through artificial intelligence solutions, and the National Digital Identity Initiative “UAE PASS”, which is the first national digital identity for all citizens, residents and visitors, and allows users to access the services of local and federal government agencies, and other service providers. The UAE also applies the best international standards and practices to ensure consistency and accessibility across the federal government’s websites.
The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs launched its report, called the “E-Government Survey Index,” for the first time in 2003, as an important station every two years to monitor the extent of development in digital governments and determine the levels of progress in their paths.
The survey aims to help decision-makers and those responsible for digital transformation move forward with their plans, based on reliable analytical data and comparisons at the regional and local levels, including government portals, services, content, digital participation, data, and others.
The administration has been developing its standards in this regard, in line with emerging developments and technologies, to achieve compatibility between the standards and the goals of sustainable development.
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