In the feverish pursuit of “efficiency”, America’s recently minted Department of Government Efficiency – or Doge – has wielded the axe more than the scalpel. Launched with a lot of fanfare as an initiative by US President Donald Trump in his second term and led by the now persona-non-grata Elon Musk, the programme promised to slash wasteful spending, streamline bureaucracy and reinvent the federal government.
What it delivered was a far cry from its mandate. Instead of the much-lauded $1 trillion in savings, the public witnessed a chaotic unravelling of vital institutions, a mass exodus of experienced civil servants and a string of legal challenges from employee unions.
Meanwhile, almost 13,000 kilometres away, Abu Dhabi’s Department of Government Enablement – known as DGE – has quietly shown what real transformation looks like. Methodical, data-driven and rooted in co-operation and citizen trust.
The 18-month-old department shies away from the limelight. Labelling itself as the “team behind the teams”, it exists with the mandate to “deliver quality services, increase efficiencies and offer one clear unified approach to customer-centricity”.
The differences between Doge and DGE are stark despite their superficial similarity in name and intent. They both want to make their respective governments more efficient, but the fork in the road comes when looking at semantics. What does efficiency mean?
While Mr Musk focused public attention on how much money he was going to save the US government, Abu Dhabi’s DGE prioritises a different asset: time. By using artificial intelligence and other workflow-reducing measures, the intent is to limit time spent by employees on mundane bureaucratic tasks that can be outsourced to AI, freeing them up to focus on more important things such as streamlining the customer experience.
Apart from a significant difference in priorities, there is a critical component to DGE’s success: co-operation
Attention is paid to metrics such as hours and steps saved, as well as reducing needless paperwork, all in an effort to allow employees to spend more time on “human-facing” tasks. On the other side of the counter, the intent is to reduce the need for residents to attend service centres, thereby saving both time and reducing emissions from unnecessary vehicle use.
And despite its relatively young existence, DGE has already made significant inroads. The “AI-Powered Objective Builder” – technology designed to reduce hours spent on annual employee goals – was successfully trialled within DGE and is now in use across 38 government bodies making life easier for more than 15,000 employees. Similarly, social services such as social support requests, which offer financial assistance for low-income families, had processing times reduced to 18 days from 90 after the introduction of digital payments and a digital wallet.
Looking to the future, a recent report from DGE highlighted areas in the workplace set to be transformed, particularly by AI, and has already prompted the implication of strategies to incorporate these changes.
Meanwhile, after cutting health department and scientific research grants, gutting the agency created for consumer protection and all but closing USAID, a department that provided food and health care internationally, Doge’s online “wall of receipts” claimed a saving of $180 billion. Multiple analyses show the maths to not quite add up.
This is not to say that DGE does not positively affect Abu Dhabi’s bottom line. Its Digital Strategy plans to deliver a Dh24 billion ($6.5 billion) boost to the economy and add 5,000 jobs. But this is a by-product rather than a goal.
Apart from a significant difference in priorities, there is a critical component to DGE’s success: co-operation. Each government department in the emirate is equally committed to what’s deemed “customer happiness”, which makes life possible for the agency. That’s more than 40 governmental entities working together, sharing data, for the benefit of UAE citizens and residents.
Tamm, the super-app recently mentioned by Microsoft’s president and vice chairman, Brad Smith, at a US senate hearing, is one of DGE’s flagship initiatives and a direct result of this co-operation between entities and sharing of data. Of the app – which simplifies the process of renewing driver licences, reporting potholes, obtaining various forms and other services – the tech chief said: “We need to bring it to America.”
Incidentally, although Tamm may have saved the government Dh134 million, it is the 4.1 million government working hours that the app recouped that is the real jewel in its crown.
To say there has been infighting between the head of Doge and the US government would be an understatement. The public feud between Mr Trump and Mr Musk played out online, resulting in threats and accusations before the latter’s 130-day mandate as a special government employee expired on May 30. America’s growing issue with polarisation potentially causes a rift that ultimately inhibits a properly functioning government from doing its job: making citizens and residents’ lives better.
If America wants a leaner, smarter government, it would do well to take a page from a place that’s building the future quietly.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl, 48V hybrid
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 325bhp
Torque: 450Nm
Price: Dh289,000
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League semi-final, first leg
Barcelona v Liverpool, Wednesday, 11pm (UAE).
Second leg
Liverpool v Barcelona, Tuesday, May 7, 11pm
Games on BeIN Sports
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
MATCH INFO
West Ham United 2 (Antonio 73', Ogbonna 90 5')
Tottenham Hotspur 3 (Son 36', Moura 42', Kane 49')
KILLING OF QASSEM SULEIMANI
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
If you go
Flight connections to Ulaanbaatar are available through a variety of hubs, including Seoul and Beijing, with airlines including Mongolian Airlines and Korean Air. While some nationalities, such as Americans, don’t need a tourist visa for Mongolia, others, including UAE citizens, can obtain a visa on arrival, while others including UK citizens, need to obtain a visa in advance. Contact the Mongolian Embassy in the UAE for more information.
Nomadic Road offers expedition-style trips to Mongolia in January and August, and other destinations during most other months. Its nine-day August 2020 Mongolia trip will cost from $5,250 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, two nights’ hotel accommodation in Ulaanbaatar, vehicle rental, fuel, third party vehicle liability insurance, the services of a guide and support team, accommodation, food and entrance fees; nomadicroad.com
A fully guided three-day, two-night itinerary at Three Camel Lodge costs from $2,420 per person based on two sharing, including airport transfers, accommodation, meals and excursions including the Yol Valley and Flaming Cliffs. A return internal flight from Ulaanbaatar to Dalanzadgad costs $300 per person and the flight takes 90 minutes each way; threecamellodge.com
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
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Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
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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
War 2
Director: Ayan Mukerji
Stars: Hrithik Roshan, NTR, Kiara Advani, Ashutosh Rana
Rating: 2/5
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Published by Liveright
What are the main cyber security threats?
Cyber crime - This includes fraud, impersonation, scams and deepfake technology, tactics that are increasingly targeting infrastructure and exploiting human vulnerabilities.
Cyber terrorism - Social media platforms are used to spread radical ideologies, misinformation and disinformation, often with the aim of disrupting critical infrastructure such as power grids.
Cyber warfare - Shaped by geopolitical tension, hostile actors seek to infiltrate and compromise national infrastructure, using one country’s systems as a springboard to launch attacks on others.
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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
How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
If you go
The flights Etihad (www.etihad.com) and Spice Jet (www.spicejet.com) fly direct from Abu Dhabi and Dubai to Pune respectively from Dh1,000 return including taxes. Pune airport is 90 minutes away by road.
The hotels A stay at Atmantan Wellness Resort (www.atmantan.com) costs from Rs24,000 (Dh1,235) per night, including taxes, consultations, meals and a treatment package.
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
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The five pillars of Islam
1. Fasting
2. Prayer
3. Hajj
4. Shahada
5. Zakat
