EDITOR’S QUESTION
HOW CAN THE DATA
REQUIRED FOR SMART
CITY INITIATIVES
BE SECURELY
AND EFFECTIVELY
MANAGED?
C
ommunities across the Middle
East are adopting the smart city
innovation of connecting people
with data.
Dubai is an excellent case in point.
Here the vision is for it to become the
smartest and happiest city on earth
and a benchmark for smart
cities worldwide.
This will see technology deeply
integrated with infrastructure to create
environmental and economic efficiency
while improving the quality of life of
its citizens.
One of the aims of the project in Dubai
is to celebrate the end of the era of
paper government transactions - by
issuing the last printed government
document by 2021.
The intention is that this will enable Dubai
to become the first government in the
world to conduct all its viable transactions
using blockchain technology.
In fact, paperless transactions have
already started to be conducted in
three major government entities: The
Roads and Transport Authority (RTA),
Dubai Electricity and Water Authority
(DEWA), and the Department of
Economic Development (DED).
Overall, the strategy has the aim of
creating a flexible city that offers its
inhabitants smart lifestyles, easy and
facilitated smart services and seamless
smart mobility through shared and
smart transport.
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This will contribute to a clean and
sustainable environment under a
competitive global economy supported
by cutting-edge technology and
sponsored by a highly efficient,
connected digital government.
H.E. Saeed Mohammed Al Tayer,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of
Smart Dubai Office (SDO), said: “In
order to fulfil the vision and directives
of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and
Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of
Dubai, for Dubai to become the smartest
and happiest city in the world and in
a bid to support the emirate’s smart
transformation, we are sparing no effort
to implement the Smart Dubai
Strategy 2021.
“This was launched by His Highness
Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mohammed bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of
Dubai and Chairman of the Executive
Council, and is regarded as an ambitious
roadmap for all the city’s components
including its government, businesses,
society, individuals, resources
and infrastructure.
“To this effect, we are striving to
consolidate Dubai’s position and
bring its services to higher levels while
providing a safer and more efficient and
seamless life experience for its citizens,
residents and visitors.
“We will continue to work diligently and
adopt the best solutions and technologies
to keep up with the aspirations of our
prudent leadership as embodied in
providing real-time and seamless smart
services at any time and from any place
and consolidating the bases of creativity
and innovation for the UAE to be always
in the lead as an example to follow by the
countries that place the happiness and
wellbeing of their people at the top of
their priorities.”
H.E. Dr Aisha Bint Butti Bin Bishr,
Director-General of SDO, added: “Dubai
has succeeded in transforming itself into
a world-class smart city of a pioneering
position, thanks to the ambitious vision
of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin
Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and
Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler
of Dubai.
“We look forward to having a delightful
living experience for all Dubai inhabitants
in all walks of life. The next few years
will witness great achievements in terms
of economy, environment, individuals,
mobility and governance, which would
provide a high-quality life in Dubai.
“By having a clear vision supported by an
ambitious leadership that seeks people’s
happiness and by harnessing the latest
cutting-edge technology to serve people,
we can provide the smoothest high-
quality life for Dubai inhabitants, enabling
them to have an actual experience of the
happiest life in Dubai.”
But Smart Cities do not come without
security risks. Among the main concerns
are use of a large network of sensors and
data collection platforms that have the
potential to be attacked by
cyber-criminals. ¡
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