The Smart Dubai Government Establishment (SDG), in collaboration with the Department of Finance and ENOC Group, signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to launch a new service via its flagship Dubai Now smartphone application. The new service will be available soon and will allow customers to pay for petrol using the Dubai Now app across ENOC’s retail network in the UAE, eliminating the need for cash or card payments. This reflects the key objective of offering a single platform for all government services in the UAE. The portal now offers 55 service provided by 24 government entities. This, in turn, resonates with SDG’s mission to transform Dubai into the smartest and happiest city in the world.
“We strive, with everything we offer, to bring more comfort and ease to the lives of people in Dubai,” said SDG’s CEO His Excellency Wesam Lootah. “This new service which will be available soon– the first of its kind in the UAE – allows users to easily and seamlessly process payments for services, anytime and anywhere, via smart devices. This economises people’s time and effort, which can be steered towards more important things.”
“Dubai Now is more than just an application: it is a way of life,” H.E. Lootah added, welcoming ENOC to the growing list of service providers associated with the platform. “The platform puts all of the city’s smart services at people’s fingertips, as instructed by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai, when he launched Smart Dubai. As we forge more partnerships with entities across the entire government spectrum – most notably, this new collaboration with Dubai’s Department of Finance to launch a cutting-edge payment portal – we move ever closer to achieving the Dubai Vision 2021, establishing Dubai as the happiest city in the best country in the world in time for the UAE Centennial 2071.”
With the new service that will be available soon, customers can pay for their petrol using the Dubai Now app by simply downloading the application onto their smartphones and selecting the location of the ENOC station they are at.
DOF’s Executive Director of Central Accounts Jamal Hamed Al Marri said: “Recruiting more service suppliers to Dubai Now is a strategic target for us at the Department, as it complements our efforts to ensure customer satisfaction among citizens, residents and visitors. Our collaboration with the Smart Dubai Government Establishment succeeded in upgrading the platform’s services, offering users new methods to easily and securely pay their expenses.”
“Our commitment to forging new relations and solidifying existing ones allows us to offer competitive pricing and, thus, encourage more service providers to make use of the Dubai Government’s innovative payment channels,” Al Marri added. “Guided by the directives of our leadership, we work primarily to spread happiness among citizens and residents, making their lives easier by automating services to allow them, in this case, to easily pay for their petrol at ENOC stations using the Dubai Now application.”
H.E. Saif Humaid Al Falasi, Group CEO at ENOC, said: “Dubai has always been renowned for its ambitious vision to become an integrated smart city – one that is dedicated to diversifying its energy and economic resources, and adopts the latest digital solutions. We, at ENOC, are committed to playing a key role in facilitating the socio-economic development of the UAE and we aim to continue spearheading digitisation across all of our operations.”
“Through this collaboration, we hope to offer our customers a ‘smart’ payment experience that is in line with the strategic direction set by H.H Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, Ruler of Dubai. We will continue to adapt the latest technologies and support the aspirations of our visionary leaders, while offering our customers best in class services to enhance their experiences.”
The Dubai Now platform targets all members of the public, the business sector and visitors. It compiles government services and integrates them in an effort to provide easy and smooth access. The platform includes 11 categories of services: security and justice, public transport, payments and bills, visas and residence, driving, health, business and employment, education, housing, Islam, and miscellaneous.
The list of services available through the Dubai Now platform includes: bill payment, account top-up, vehicle registration renewal, calculating rent increases, searching for the nearest petrol station or ATM, searching for commercial activities, registering a trademark, renewing a trade license, choosing the correct clinic and medical practitioner, setting a vaccination plan, choosing the most suitable school or university, and tracking flights.
The smart services provided through the platform also include locating the nearest car registration centre; payment of traffic violations, water and electricity bills, and Etisalat and Du fees; topping up Salik and Nol cards; accessing Dubai Customs accounts; and services such as “Ejari”, “Makani”, and “Criminal Case Look-up”. The platform also allows users to donate to Dubai Cares, Al Jalila Foundation and others.
Dubai Now was named Best Mobile Government Service in the UAE at the World Government Summit 2016, as well as the Best Government Mobile Application in Dubai and the Northern Emirates at the dot Gov 2016 Awards. It was awarded the 2017 Smart Government Shield award in Egypt, which is dedicated to Arab governments and official institutions.
