Applying for a visa, obtaining a driving licence, renting a property or signing up for health insurance … what is sometimes called “personal admin” can be a time-consuming part of modern life. Most people, already busy with family and careers, simply want these unavoidable processes over and done with as quickly as possible.
It should come as no surprise therefore that Abu Dhabi’s AI-powered super app for government services is called Tamm, the Arabic for “done”. The app, which can be used to access more than 1,000 public and private services, is an example of how the UAE has worked hard to cut bureaucracy, make services simpler and generally free citizens and residents from the burden of onerous paperwork. A good quality of life includes ease of day to day activities, which Tamm enables for many in Abu Dhabi.
Last month, Tamm even caught the eye of Microsoft’s president and vice chairman. Brad Smith praised Abu Dhabi’s AI initiatives and apps, telling a US Senate committee hearing: “We need to bring it to America.” However, Tamm and other streamlined government services, such as the UAE Pass and Dubai’s Work Bundle, are the result of years-long efforts to enhance government procedures and to put the user at the heart of designing these processes.
Establishing a comprehensive Emirates ID system that links the holder to different services, the public ranking of the best and worst-performing government departments, impromptu inspections of civil service offices and bonuses for employees or work teams that raise standards are just some of the measures taken to improve services for everybody.
On Monday it was confirmed that such efforts will continue. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, announced the next phase of a Zero Government Bureaucracy programme, which he described as “a national project to make government services simpler, faster and more efficient”.
It is a project that has gone quite some way in making people’s lives simpler. During the first phase of the Zero Government Bureaucracy programme, more than 4,000 unnecessary or duplicated procedures were cancelled. Mohammed Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs, said members of the public, customers, businesses and investors were saved more than 12 million hours and Dh1.12 billion ($326.7 million).
Having a bureaucracy – that is, people working on this information – is not inherently inefficient. It is flawed design, execution and staffing that make it so
As a country with a growing population, most of whom are from overseas, it makes sense that the Emirates is harnessing its technological know-how to develop a robust system of efficient services. With cities such as Abu Dhabi and Dubai acting as magnets for regional and international talent, the arrival of more people results in a huge amount of paper and digital information to retain, process and update. Having an efficient system to process all this information is vital.
Initiatives like the Zero Government Bureaucracy programme, coupled with broader measures such as the UAE’s Digital Government Strategy 2025, show it is possible for bureaucracies – as Mr Al Gergawi noted – “re-engineer processes” to deliver quicker outcomes. Entrenched bureaucracies can be an issue, but a flexible approach that focuses on improvements and outcomes is one that can cut the dreaded red tape, increasing individual and societal efficiency.
Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
- Premier League-standard football pitch
- 400m Olympic running track
- NBA-spec basketball court with auditorium
- 600-seat auditorium
- Spaces for historical and cultural exploration
- An elevated football field that doubles as a helipad
- Specialist robotics and science laboratories
- AR and VR-enabled learning centres
- Disruption Lab and Research Centre for developing entrepreneurial skills
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
SHOW COURTS ORDER OF PLAY
Wimbledon order of play on Tuesday, July 11
All times UAE ( 4 GMT)
Centre Court
Adrian Mannarino v Novak Djokovic (2)
Venus Williams (10) v Jelena Ostapenko (13)
Johanna Konta (6) v Simona Halep (2)
Court 1
Garbine Muguruza (14) v
Svetlana Kuznetsova (7)
Magdalena Rybarikova v Coco Vandeweghe (24)
Tearful appearance
Chancellor Rachel Reeves set markets on edge as she appeared visibly distraught in parliament on Wednesday.
Legislative setbacks for the government have blown a new hole in the budgetary calculations at a time when the deficit is stubbornly large and the economy is struggling to grow.
She appeared with Keir Starmer on Thursday and the pair embraced, but he had failed to give her his backing as she cried a day earlier.
A spokesman said her upset demeanour was due to a personal matter.
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Barcelona v Real Madrid, 11pm UAE
Match is on BeIN Sports
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NYBL PROFILE
Company name: Nybl
Date started: November 2018
Founder: Noor Alnahhas, Michael LeTan, Hafsa Yazdni, Sufyaan Abdul Haseeb, Waleed Rifaat, Mohammed Shono
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: Software Technology / Artificial Intelligence
Initial investment: $500,000
Funding round: Series B (raising $5m)
Partners/Incubators: Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 4, Dubai Future Accelerators Cohort 6, AI Venture Labs Cohort 1, Microsoft Scale-up
RESULTS
6.30pm: Longines Conquest Classic Dh150,000 Maiden 1,200m.
Winner: Halima Hatun, Antonio Fresu (jockey), Ismail Mohammed (trainer).
7.05pm: Longines Gents La Grande Classique Dh155,000 Handicap 1,200m.
Winner: Moosir, Dane O’Neill, Doug Watson.
7.40pm: Longines Equestrian Collection Dh150,000 Maiden 1,600m.
Winner: Mazeed, Richard Mullen, Satish Seemar.
8.15pm: Longines Gents Master Collection Dh175,000 Handicap.
Winner: Thegreatcollection, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
8.50pm: Longines Ladies Master Collection Dh225,000 Conditions 1,600m.
Winner: Cosmo Charlie, Pat Dobbs, Doug Watson.
9.25pm: Longines Ladies La Grande Classique Dh155,000 Handicap 1,600m.
Winner: Secret Trade, Tadhg O’Shea, Ali Rashid Al Raihe.
10pm: Longines Moon Phase Master Collection Dh170,000 Handicap 2,000m.
Winner:
UK-EU trade at a glance
EU fishing vessels guaranteed access to UK waters for 12 years
Co-operation on security initiatives and procurement of defence products
Youth experience scheme to work, study or volunteer in UK and EU countries
Smoother border management with use of e-gates
Cutting red tape on import and export of food
Benefits of first-time home buyers' scheme
- Priority access to new homes from participating developers
- Discounts on sales price of off-plan units
- Flexible payment plans from developers
- Mortgages with better interest rates, faster approval times and reduced fees
- DLD registration fee can be paid through banks or credit cards at zero interest rates
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
INFO
Everton 0
Arsenal 0
Man of the Match: Djibril Sidibe (Everton)
Brief scoreline:
Liverpool 5
Keita 1', Mane 23', 66', Salah 45' 1, 83'
Huddersfield 0
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MATCH INFO
Manchester City 1 (Gundogan 56')
Shakhtar Donetsk 1 (Solomon 69')
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
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