Digital Dubai Authority

Digital Dubai was established by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President & Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai, in June 2021 to develop and oversee the implementation of policies and strategies that govern all matters related to Dubai's information technology, data, digital transformation, and cyber-security.

Digital Dubai brings together the expertise of four entities – Dubai Electronic Security Center, Dubai Statistics Center, Dubai Data Establishment, Smart Dubai Government Establishment, - to ensure a collaborative effort towards achieving the vision of the city's leadership to make Dubai a globally leading digital economy.

The entity has been entrusted with four key tasks - accelerate digital transformation of the city through strategic partnerships with governments and private sector entities, increase the Emirate's digital economy contribution to the city's GDP, build and develop digital competencies of national talent, and, maintain and develop Dubai's digital wealth whilst accelerating Dubai's cybersecurity efforts.

Entities' Bios

Dubai Electronic Security Center

Dubai Electronic Security Center (DESC) was founded in 2014, pursuant to Law No. 11 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, and Ruler of Dubai. The Center was established in line with the visionary objectives to ensure that Dubai becomes a leader in cyber security and the protection of information from external cyber threats. The Center reinforces the technological progress and smart transformation that has been adopted and engrained in the foundations of the emirate, by establishing Dubai as a global leader in innovation, safety and security.

DESC implements the values of reliability, innovation and cooperation to achieve the goals set out by the Dubai Cyber Security Strategy. The strategy involves the implementation of five domains including; maintaining a secure digital environment, preserving the flexibility and the free flow of information within cyberspace, ensuring the continuity of IT systems and promoting research and innovation in the field of cyber security. Other objectives include increasing awareness within the community and urging individuals to be more observant of digital threats.

As technological advancements continue, the Center seeks to protect Dubai digitally, by securing and protecting the emirates' information, telecommunication networks, and information systems. By developing, modifying, and using the necessary tools within cyber security, the Center aims to support all Dubai government entities to ensure they are in compliance with information security. The Center supports the increasing requirements for a cyber-secure digital landscape during the economic and social growth within the emirate and is dedicated to Dubai to training excellence within cyberspace.

Dubai Statistics Center

The Dubai Statistics Center specializes in the construction of a modern and comprehensive statistical system and shall be the only official source for the collection, analysis and publication of Statistical information and data in the Emirate adopting harmonized methodological international standards in the collection, analysis, and dissemination of statistical data according to the following:

1. The collection, updating, maintenance, and protection of statistical data and information on the Emirate from all sources of data.
2. The conduct of the population census, and economic and social statistical surveys either by total size or through sampling on a periodic basis and in cooperation with the Federal Ministry of Planning.
3. The design and execution of studies and surveys based on the requirements of local and other departments and agencies, and based on what has been agreed upon with these agencies and departments.
4. The provision of advice and statistical consultations to local government departments and institutions.
5. The provision of data and statistical information to government institutions and departments, to the business community, and to individuals within its mandate.
6. Work to standardize statistical concepts and definitions which are applied in the Emirate in conformity with international standards and classifications, and with coordination with Federal entities in the country.
7. Preparation and publication of statistical booklets and material at the Emirate level.
8. Preparation of population, economic, and social statistical indicators based on best practices as reference indicators at the level of the Emirate.

Dubai Data Establishment

The Dubai Data Establishment was launched in 2016 to build a holistic data ecosystem in the city. To achieve this goal the Establishment is working on four core pillars - Data Governance, Data Infrastructure and Architecture, Ecosystem Engagement, and most importantly Value Generation. Over the past 5 years DDE has issued Data Sharing and Data Compliance policies and guidelines, published ethical AI implementation guidelines, built Dubai Pulse, the city's data backbone that today hosts over 700 Open and Shared datasets, launched the Private Sector Engagement Strategy and has also built the city's COVID-19 Dashboard in partnership with Dubai's COVID-19 Command and Control Center.

Smart Dubai Government Establishment

Since its formation as Dubai e-Government in 2000, the Smart Dubai Government Establishment has unified the city's digital government efforts and is now responsible for Dubai Government's central shared services and infrastructure platform known as the Government Resources Planning Systems (GRPS), which connects more than 40 systems and over 71,000 Dubai Government employees. Today, the digital transformation of Dubai is being accelerated by the implementation of the Dubai Paperless Strategy that aims to digitize internal and external government transactions, rendering them completely paper-free by December 2021.

Landmark products and services launched by Smart Dubai over the past two decades include, DubaiPay, Smart Employee, Smart Supplier, UAE PASS - the UAE's first secure national digital identity for citizens and residents of the UAE, DubaiNow - the emirate's first unified smart services app combining over 130 smart city services from more than 30 government and private sector entities, and many more. Other key initiatives launched by the Smart Dubai Government Establishment include the Dubai Blockchain Strategy and the Dubai AI Lab.