Customer Councils Initiative Aims To Streamline Government Bureaucracy In The UAE

The Ministry of Finance (MoF) recently conducted the third session of its "Customer Councils" initiative under the "Zero Government Bureaucracy" programme. This initiative aims to gather input from stakeholders in both public and private sectors to streamline government processes. The goal is to enhance service delivery by reducing bureaucratic hurdles, aligning with the UAE government's broader efforts to improve operational efficiency.

Younis Haji Al Khoori, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance, highlighted that this session underscores ongoing efforts to refine government financial services. He stated, "The Ministry of Finance is dedicated to supporting the implementation of the Zero Government Bureaucracy programme, which reflects the UAE government’s ambition to create a global model of governance built on innovation, speed, and efficiency."

Fatima Yousif Alnaqbi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Support Services Sector at MoF, attended the session in Dubai. It brought together nearly 50 representatives from various sectors. The gathering reviewed outcomes from previous sessions held in April and July. Participants evaluated customer satisfaction and explored ways to innovate government procedures.

The initiative aligns with the UAE's "We the UAE 2031" vision and "UAE Centennial 2071". It continues efforts from the Smart Government Initiative and aims at designing Government Services 2.0. The focus is on fostering direct engagement with stakeholders to design solutions that meet their needs.

The "Zero Government Bureaucracy" programme was launched in 2023 by the UAE government. It seeks to enhance government efficiency by simplifying procedures. The programme aims to reduce at least 2,000 procedures and cut completion times by 50%. This will lessen burdens on businesses and individuals while promoting economic growth.

The programme focuses on transitioning from complex processes to streamlined ones by merging similar tasks and removing unnecessary steps. By simplifying conditions and requirements, it reduces time spent on completing procedures.

Commitment to Innovation

Al Khoori emphasized that this initiative supports a transformative shift in government operations. He noted that it contributes to creating a pioneering future for public financial management. The Ministry is committed to ensuring accessible, fast, high-quality services that enhance competitiveness in the business environment.

The session also highlighted key findings regarding customer experiences with various services following development efforts under the programme. These improvements are aimed at enhancing compliance services with international financial organisations and refining government procurement processes.

This initiative reflects a commitment to building a governance model based on innovation and efficiency. By engaging directly with stakeholders, the Ministry aims to design innovative solutions aligned with their aspirations.

With inputs from WAM