Sharjah displays latest digital offerings, projects at Gitex 2024

Sharjah Digital Department has participated in Gitex Global 2024 and showcased it digital offerings during the exhibition from October, 14 to 18, at the Dubai World Trade Centre.

Her Excellency Engineer Lamia Obaid Al Shamsi, Director of Sharjah Digital Department, shared her thoughts about the department participation in the global technology event.

Lamia Obaid Al Shamsi said, “First, I would like to extend my gratitude to all government entities participating in the Sharjah Government Platform at Gitex Global 2024. Their collaborative efforts have been essential in showcasing Sharjah’s digital technologies to enhance government services and improve the quality of life for citizens, residents, visitors, and investors.”

About the Sharjah Digital Department’s role as an enabler of innovation, she added, “As the trusted digital arm of the government and the enabler of the emirate’s digital transformation, the Sharjah Digital Department leverages its resources to support Sharjah’s government entities, aiming to enhance service efficiency and excellence while positioning Sharjah as a leading hub for innovation.”

“We have launched several key projects to achieve this, including the unified employee platform, OnePortal. This secure gateway provides all Sharjah Government employees with streamlined access to various services. Future updates will introduce additional applications, further boosting operational efficiency and collaboration across entities.”

On the strategic partnerships signed during Gitex, Al Shamsi added, “Strengthening partnerships with leading local and global entities in advanced technology is a top priority at the Sharjah Digital Department. This focus ensures continuous enhancement of Sharjah’s digital transformation ecosystem, keeping us aligned with the latest global technological trends.”

“During Gitex 2024, we signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Microsoft Gulf to launch a national initiative. This initiative aims to train thousands of government employees, including executive leaders, developers, and IT specialists, to elevate their AI skills. It also leverages the latest AI technologies to drive productivity and innovation across Sharjah’s government sectors.”

Explaining the key digital achievements and projects approved in 2024 for Sharjah’s government, she revealed, “One of the key digital projects approved this year is the Sharjah Real Estate Services Platform “Aqari”, designed to create a unified digital system that connects real estate services across the emirate. This platform simplifies processes, enhances efficiency, and provides high-quality access to real estate services.”

“Another important initiative is the unified business licensing platform, which streamlines the process for new business owners to apply for licenses. It integrates re-engineered services with relevant entities, making it easier for entrepreneurs to establish their businesses in Sharjah. Additionally, we have a strategic initiative focused on unifying geospatial data across Sharjah’s government. This project aims to enhance decision-making, improve service quality, and foster innovation by providing comprehensive and easily accessible spatial data.”

Highlighting the key digital solutions in Sharjah, Al Shamsi said, “The Sharjah Digital Platform and its accompanying app are projects in which we take great pride. This platform serves as a unified digital channel for accessing services from local and federal government entities in Sharjah. Leveraging the latest technologies and offering flexible features enables users to access services within minutes while ensuring top-tier security.”

“We recently launched the second version of the platform, featuring a redesigned user interface with innovative elements that align with our strategy to enhance user experience. The update includes AI-powered live chat services for quick access to reliable government information, digital service evaluations, payment options, and an enhanced services guide. It also improves existing services like SEWA and public parking fee payments. This version balances technical upgrades and user-friendliness, representing a significant step toward achieving our vision for digital transformation. We remain committed to advancing development and improving the efficiency of government services.”

About the department vision for employing AI in the government sector, she added, “The Sharjah Digital Department is committed to leveraging emerging technologies, especially AI, and recognises its critical role in driving digital excellence and innovation. We focus on delivering reliable, secure services that align with the emirate’s vision and the UAE’s commitment to using AI to support economic and social growth.”