iPhone application gives access to UAE's legal code at touch of a button.

DUBAI // A new iPhone application gives the world access to the UAE's legal code at the touch of a button. E-Laws, an Arabic-language application that officially launched yesterday, can be downloaded for free from Apple's App Store on iTunes. The software is also compatible with Apple's new iPad tablet. E-Laws gives users full access to federal laws, including the penal code and criminal, civil, traffic and narcotics laws.

Yousif al Mutawa, Dubai's Senior Advocate General, said:"The launch of this application is aimed at expanding the role of judicial authorities in society and exploiting the use of technology to help the public,. Over 10,000 downloads have been made by users on the App Store since we dropped the application two weeks ago." E-Laws, which takes less than a minute to download, includes a simplified search system and is continuously updated to include any new legislation or amendments. The application can be modified to fit the user's needs, said Hind al Zarooni, the director of electronic services at the Dubai Public Prosecution.

"It includes a notes section [in] which one could save whatever legislation is needed," she said. "Any legislation can also be e-mailed or sent via text message at the click of a button." The application was developed only for the iPhone due to the capabilities and security of the device, said Abdullah al Merri, the prosecution's director of information technology. "The simplicity of use of this application could only be achieved through the Apple technology," he said. "This is why we chose Apple as our official technology partner last year."

Although E-Laws is available only in Arabic, Mr al Mutawa said an English version was being developed. A version of E-Laws specifically designed for the iPad and an application that allows access to case files are also in the works. The Dubai Public Prosecution was hailed at an international public prosecutors conference last year as a model for adopting information technology solutions. @Email:amustafa@thenational.ae