e-Government in the GCC

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e-Government in the GCC
Dr. George Kostopoulos Professor Information
Systems American University of Sharjah
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Dr. George Kostopoulos
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The American University of Sharjah
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The American University of Sharjah
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The American University of Sharjah
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The American University of Sharjah
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The American University of Sharjah
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e-Government in the GCC

• Gulf
• Cooperation
• Council

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e-Government in the GCC

• Kuwait
• Bahrain
• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• United Arab Emirates
• Oman

• Gulf
• Cooperation
• Council

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e-Government in the GCC

• The dual mission of the Dubai e-Government
• . . . to ease the lives of people and business
• in their interaction with Government,
• and to contribute in establishing Dubai
• as a leading economic hub . . .
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• Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum

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e-Government in the GCC
Government in the Digital Age

• Extra - Government
• G2C
• G2B
• G2S

• Intra - Government
• Inter-Agency
• Intra-Agency
• Archiving

• Inter - Government
• G2G Health
• G2G Weather
• G2G Travel

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e-Government in the GCC
The Role of e-Government Productivity Maximizer

• Information Producer
• Advisories
• Laws
• Regulations

• Information Receiver
• Citizen Requests
• Citizen Data
• Statistics

• Information Processor
• Issuance of Permits
• Database Updating
• Procurement

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e-Government in the GCC
Three e-Government General Aims

• Utilization of advanced electronic methods and
  technologies to achieve an increase in
• Productivity Government Society
• Revenues Cost Reduction New Revenues
• Image National International

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e-Government in the GCC
e-Governments Expectations of
Constituency Utilization of Offered
Services Feedback toward Improvements Ever-Inc
reasing Computer Literacy
Constituency Citizens Business
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e-Government in the GCC
Constituency Expectations of e-Government
Increased Transactions Speed
Quality Responsiveness Transparency
Accountability
Constituency Citizens Business
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e-Government in the GCC
The New Mutual Understanding The Citizen /
Business is the e-Government Client With Rights
and Expectations
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e-Government in the GCC
Objectives of the e-Government Portal

• National
• Operational Aims
• Day-to-Day Concerns
• International
• Strategic Aims
• Long Term Targets

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e-Government in the GCC
National Objectives of the e-Government Portal

• Passive Mode
• Information Provider
• Documents Depository
• Empowered Active Mode
• Transaction Processing
• 24/7 Web Call Center

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e-Government in the GCC
International Objectives of the e-Government
Portal

• Showcase
• Natural Beauties
• Cultural Wealth
• Promotion
• Political Positions
• Economic Incentives

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e-Government in the GCC

• Kuwait
• Bahrain
• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• United Arab Emirates
• Oman

• Gulf
• Cooperation
• Council

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e-Government in the GCC
Regional Observations and Concerns

• The Digital Divide
• Long Term Commitment
• e-Gov an Agent for Change

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e-Government in the GCC
Regional Observations and Concerns

• The Digital Divide ??
• Population Majority Issues
• Internet Bandwidth
• Computer Literacy
• Internet Access Cost

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e-Government in the GCC
Regional Observations and Concerns

• Long Term Commitment ??
• e-Government Projects are Budget-Based
• Budgets are not Project-Based

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e-Government in the GCC
Regional Observations and Concerns

• e-Government an Agent for Change ??
• Melting of the Government Rigidity
• Increased Decision Making Transparency
• Processes
• Streamlining
• Modernization
• Reform

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e-Government in the GCC
Regional e-Government Cases

• Kuwait
• Bahrain
• Saudi Arabia
• Qatar
• United Arab Emirates
• Oman

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e-Government in the GCC

• E-Gov Headed by Amiri Diwan (Head of State)
• Judiciary Information Database, UNDP
• Partially Outsources e-Government
• Al-Bared Group Fapco
• Establishes Secretariat for the Central
  Technical System
• Ranked 164th in e-Gov Worldwide

Kuwait
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e-Government in the GCC
Bahrain

• First in e-Voting, Feb 2001
• Major e-Gov Telecomm Investments, CISCO
• Plans for IP Telephony for Gov Intranet
• e-Payments into Government, Business
• Ranked 12th in e-Gov Worldwide, 2002

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e-Government in the GCC

• On the Road to e-Government
• Excellent Pilgrimage Information Website
• Plans for Extensive Government Intranet
• High Telecomm Costs Choke ISPs
• Lack of personnel with the skills
• Ranked 123rd in e-Gov Worldwide, 2002

Saudi Arabia
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e-Government in the GCC

• On the Road to e-Government
• Online Resident Permit Renewal
• Ministry of Interior Service Provider
• Qatar National Bank Payment Gateway
• Qatar Central Bank e-Gov Host
• e-Vision for e-Knowledge Delivery
• Ranked 12th in e-Gov Worldwide, 2002

Qatar
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e-Government in the GCC
United Arab Emirates

• Regional Leader in e-Government, Dubai
• E-Gov Regional Consultant
• 24 Department Online
• Resident Permit Renewal
• Visas Renewal
• e-Gate at Airport
• e-Traffic Advisory
• e-Dirham for Payments
• Outstanding Informational Portal

http//www.gia.gov.ae/egov1ES.shtml
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e-Government in the GCC
Oman

• On the Road to e-Government
• e-Sultanate Strategy
• e-Government
• e-Commerce
• e-Learning
• Focus on Computer Literacy Upgrading
• Hired External e-Gov Consultant, Gartner Group
• Ranked 134th in e-Gov Worldwide, 2002

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e-Government in the GCC
Conclusion

• GCC is on the Road to e-Government
• Dubai is Leading and on the Right Track
• Major Issues with Room for Improvement
• Transition Management
• Skills
• New Balance of Power
• Cadre Creation
• Need for IT Professionals
• Training of Civil Servants
• Cyber Issues
• Computer Literacy
• Internet Access

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e-Government in the GCC
In closing e-Government is a Very Rewarding
Endless Project