Dubai is bolstering its vision of digitizing all aspects of life in the emirate and becoming the world’s digital capital.

H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai has launched Dubai’s Digital Strategy, with a $27.2 billion target for value added to the city’s digital economy.

The new strategy is centered on seven key pillars: the digital city, digital economy, data and statistics, digital talent, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, and digital competitiveness.

“Aligned with the targets of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the emirate will develop innovative new initiatives and services through partnerships between government teams and private sector players. Dubai is on the fast track to deliver the world’s best digital living experience,” Sheikh Hamdan said.

The strategy involves creating value from demand-driven data, accelerating Dubai’s global digital competitiveness and leadership, enhancing cybersecurity and cyber resilience, and fostering a globally competitive digital economy, among many others.

Its targets include achieving a 90% positive digital well-being impact and being among the top three cities in the UN’s Local Online Service Index. Other goals include having 50 “high-impact digital, seamless, connected, proactive and predictive city experiences” and being part of the top five global cities attracting digital talent.

It aims to equip over 50,000 professionals with advanced digital qualifications.

We launched the Dubai Digital Strategy today along with initiatives that are set to accelerate the emirate’s transformative journey into the world’s digital capital. Aligned with the targets of the Dubai Economic Agenda D33, the emirate will develop innovative new initiatives… pic.twitter.com/B5nU3EwcX1

— Hamdan bin Mohammed (@HamdanMohammed) June 21, 2023

The strategy is based on a vision to empower a digitally-driven society, setting the stage for a new digital transformation era, aligned with the leadership’s vision to position Dubai as a leader in the sector.

During his visit to the Digital Dubai HQ, Sheikh Hamdan said that Dubai had completed three phases in its digital journey – from the launch of the region’s first e-government in 2011, a smart government initiative in 2013, then the government-wide digital transformation, which culminated in eliminating paper transactions by the end of 2021.

“The period ahead calls for intensifying efforts, strengthening cooperation, and promoting proactive thinking and innovation to achieve major goals,” he said.

Currently, the digitization rate of government services is 99.5%, while the paperless government objective has been achieved 100%, and digital transactions account for 87% of total government service transactions.