DUBAI // A new law to ease data sharing between Government agencies and the private sector was launched on Saturday as part of the emirate’s Smart City initiative.
Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, announced details of the Dubai Data Law through his Twitter account, @HHShkMohd.
“We issued today Dubai Data Law, which will allow sharing of Government data with private sector for a better Smart City of Dubai,” Sheikh Mohammed tweeted. “Dubai Data Law will create opportunities for collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship between Government and non-Government entities.”
The new law will make the data accessible to researchers, investors and service developers via an integrated platform. The law will create opportunities for collaboration, innovation and entrepreneurship between government and non-government entities, which would in turn increase the competitiveness of data providers at the local, regional and international levels.
The data law lays down clear rules and mechanisms, making it obligatory for all government departments to share their data with each other in order to unify all Dubai related data and provide unified and integrated services to the public.
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai and General Supervisor of Dubai Smart City, said, “The new law will unify Dubai data and remove the last legal obstacles for those interested in investing in the digital economy. It will also complete the legislative framework of Dubai Smart City.”
The law will also facilitate the process of obtaining data for Smart Cities, which rely mainly on data and internet cloud computing technology to implement advanced infrastructure set up.
It will help authorities to prepare policies, implement plans and initiatives efficiently and effectively. The data law will also enable the emirate to achieve its vision of making Dubai a city that can manage data according to clear and specific methodology consistent with international best practices.
Dubai Police praised the new law, saying it will make Dubai’s government data accessible to the public and available to be classified, consolidated and exchanged among different entities.
Major General Khamis Matar Al Muzaina, Commander-in-Chief of Dubai Police, said: “The new law lays the legislative foundation for transforming Dubai into a smart city, and allows the provision of integrated services to the public and the building of a new digital economy in partnership with the private sector.”
Maj Gen Al Muzaina highlighted Dubai Police’s keenness to keep pace with the latest developments in smart services in order to enhance their performance, streamline their procedures and improve the services provided to the public. He added that the Dubai Police were among the first government entities to implement the smart government initiatives, which aim to transform to an era of smart government in 82 government services at country level in line with the Dubai government’s 2021 Vision and the initiatives launched by Sheikh Mohammed to invest in people and services alike in order to improve the emirate’s reputation as a notable international destination.
The Dubai Smart City project was launched in 2013 with a plan to provide residents “with high-speed Internet access in public places, and live services and information”. Sheikh Mohammed had tweeted at the time. “The Dubai Smart City project involves remote sensor devices all over Dubai. Education, health care and general security will be managed via smart systems. City management today requires new tools and a new thinking. We want to create a new reality for our people, a different life for our children and a new global development model.”
newsdesk@thenational.ae
