The Dubai paperless Strategy was launched in February 2018 by His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, and Chairman of the Executive Council of Dubai. It seeks to eliminate the use of paper from all internal operations and customer facing services. The strategy identifies two types of paper: first, paper used in processes and services, which can be eliminated through digital alternatives and second, paper printed selectively that is not process related, but printed and used due to current habits and culture.
14 government entities have successfully reduced their paper consumption by 64.9%, now eliminating the annual use of 169.3 million sheets of paper (out of the 261 million they normally consumed every year). The reduction in use of paper has led to savings of more than AED725 million to date, while also saving 7.7 million hours of labour across government sector. This, in turn, has also had a positive impact on the environment, saving 20,325 trees from being cut down to make paper.
In March 2020, Smart Dubai launched the ‘100% Paperless Stamp’ initiative as part of the ‘Government Development Track’ – one of the six tracks announced by the Dubai Council, which was inaugurated at the beginning of 2020 by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai. The ‘Stamp’ is awarded to government entities where the Dubai Paperless Strategy is 100% implemented, as a symbol reflecting remarkable achievement of their complete transition into entities that offer digital, paperless services and processes.
Large entities (that use more than 10 million sheets of paper annually) managed to cut their paper consumption by 65.2%, saving nearly 153.2 million sheets of paper. This includes Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA), Dubai Police, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), Dubai Municipality, Dubai Courts, Dubai Health Authority (DHA), and the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs.
Meanwhile, medium-sized entities (that use more than 5 million sheets of paper annually) reduced their paper consumption by 59.1%, or 12.7 million sheets of paper per year. These entities include Dubai Land Department, Dubai Customs, and Dubai Public Prosecution.
Last but not least, small entities (that use less than 5 million sheets of paper annually) managed to cut their paper consumption of paper by 74.7% or 3.3 million sheets. These include Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing, Department of Economic Development (DED), Community Development Authority, and Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA).
Furthermore, Smart Dubai has also announced groups four and five of government entities participating in Dubai Paperless Strategy, whereby group four has pledged to cut their paper consumption by 50% by November 2020, and group five will cut paper consumption by 50% by January 2021.
The Dubai Paperless Strategy seeks to make sure that no employee or customer of Dubai government will need to print any paper after 2021. Dubai Government entities will stop issuing or requesting paper documents for main or supporting operations.