Sheikh Sultan issues law on regulation of Sharjah Digital Department

His Highness Dr Sheikh Sultan Bin Mohammed Al Qasimi, Supreme Council Member and Ruler of Sharjah, has issued a law regulating the Sharjah Digital Department (SDD).

According to the law, the department's main headquarters shall be located in the city of Sharjah, and by a decision of the Ruler, branches and offices may be established in other cities and regions of the emirate.

The law defines the objectives of SDD, which aim to achieve the following:

- Enhancing the emirate's status as a smart digital city and solidifying its local and international leadership and competitiveness.

- Raising awareness among government entities about the importance of digital transformation and achieving principles of transparency and governance as a standard for advancing institutional work to enhance satisfaction among stakeholders in the emirate.

- Contributing to enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of performance through the excellence of the government sector in digital transformation and providing smart digital services based on the best global standards.

- Supporting the government's efforts to achieve comprehensive development in the emirate by providing shared digital systems, platforms, and channels, and facilitating the exchange of information and data among government entities.

- Providing digital support and the legislative framework for implementing the general strategy for digital transformation.

- Creating a secure environment for saving and protecting information from attacks or risks, considering it of strategic and vital value in the emirate.

According to the law, the department is empowered to exercise the following competencies to achieve its objectives:

First: General Competencies

- Developing relevant strategies and standards related to digital transformation, information security, and the use of technologies, supervising their implementation, collecting, preparing, and analysing evidence related to their application in coordination with government entities for presentation and recommendation to the Executive Council for approval.

- Coordinating joint efforts between institutions in the governmental and private sectors to efficiently build, develop, and manage the digital transformation system and its services, capable of providing digital services to government entities and the public.

- Supervising the digital transformation system in the emirate, establishing the necessary standards and indicators to support operational plans within government entities and their governance, monitoring the level of compliance with their targets in line with the objectives, policies, and strategies set by the government to ensure their achievement.

- Supervising the official government portal on the internet, the unified government services platform, and any applications developed, operated, and enhanced by government entities.

- Developing specifications to ensure optimal use of modern technologies, data analysis practices, and artificial intelligence in government entities, and monitoring their implementation.

- Studying, reviewing, and approving all initiatives and projects submitted by government entities regarding digital transformation, information technology, and information security to ensure their standardisation across the emirate.

- Monitoring and reviewing performance indicators related to digital transformation and digital services, enhancing the emirate's competitiveness on local and international indicators, and coordinating with government entities on these matters.

- Formulating frameworks and technical standards for infrastructure, data sharing platforms, open data, as well as digital service and technology management methodologies at the government and government entity levels, ensuring their continuous implementation and adherence.

- Managing projects and programmes related to digital transformation, infrastructure development, digital communication networks, applications, and systems at the emirate level, integrated services, and defining roles and responsibilities for each entity according to requirements.

- Representing the emirate at local, regional, and international levels in the fields of digital transformation, information technology, information security, and emerging technologies, participating in relevant exhibitions, events, conferences, seminars, and meetings.

- Negotiating contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, and partnerships related to the department's work after approval by the Executive Council.- Any other tasks or competencies assigned by the Ruler or the council.

Second: Competencies Related to Digital Systems and Services

- Supervising the digital services provided by government entities in the emirate, whether delivered directly or through service providers.

- Providing technical oversight of the technical departments and units within government entities for monitoring, guidance, support, performance measurement, and development.

- Evaluating, developing, and standardising information technology systems associated with government entities in coordination with those entities and other relevant parties.

- Developing and operating specialised contact centers to handle public inquiries regarding government services, their provision, and monitoring their implementation.

- Coordinating with government entities regarding the establishment of integrated digital service centres.

- Developing standards and performance indicators that government entities must adhere to and implement, supervising government entities' efforts regarding implementation and compliance.

- Developing and operating the unified platform for integrated digital services for all government services.

Third: Responsibilities Related to Information Security

- Develop and implement an information security management framework for all government entities, especially those with infrastructure. This includes setting technical standards, practices, principles, and compliance rules, ensuring implementation, and providing necessary guidance.

- Monitor the implementation of information security policies, strategies, and action plans within the emirate. Review and approve periodic reports prepared by government entities highlighting compliance with information security frameworks and standards, and submit compliance reports to the Executive Council to assess progress toward goals and action plans.

- Take preventive measures to safeguard the emirate's infrastructure from internal and external breaches, risks, disasters, and crises, while contributing to developing risk and threat response plans in coordination with government entities.

- Establish and manage permanent and temporary task forces within the department and government entities to monitor and address cyberattack incidents. Ensure the emirate's infrastructure is protected, contribute to risk and threat response plans, ensure continuity of government services, and mitigate the impacts of infrastructure and information system breaches.

Fourth: Responsibilities Related to Data Management

- Design, implement, and manage specialised digital platforms for data governance, management, sharing, and open data in the emirate in line with approved policies and legislation.

- Develop data governance standards and frameworks, ensure data privacy, and monitor and audit government entities' compliance with these standards and requirements according to established plans and programmes.

- Coordinate efforts to create a unified guide for government data in the emirate, fostering inter-agency collaboration and improving decision-making through reliance on government data.

- Define requirements for publishing open data on government entities' platforms or portals, coordinate efforts at federal and local levels for data sharing and availability, and set the procedures, principles, and standards for data sharing.

Fifth: Responsibilities Related to Infrastructure

- Establish, unify, and develop digital infrastructure, platforms, data centres, systems, applications, cloud services, and digital communication networks. Supervise their implementation and operation at the government level, develop plans and programmes for hosting systems, websites, applications, and platforms, and define technical and organisational architectures according to the department's established standards.

- Review all existing digital communication networks used for inter-agency connectivity to unify and develop them to meet digital transformation requirements and the emirate's goals.

- Prepare lists of technical specifications for equipment, software, and technological assets of government entities, and establish rules for their periodic updates in collaboration with the Central Finance Department.

Sixth: Responsibilities Related to Digital Empowerment

- Coordinate with relevant entities in the emirate to build specialised capacities through training courses and programmes for government employees, focusing on IT security, digital transformation, and emerging technologies.

- Conduct studies and research related to digital government, digital transformation, information security, and emerging technologies. Provide consultations, proposals, and recommendations to government entities in the emirate.

- The decree specifies that the department will have a Director-General appointed by an Emiri Decree, supported by sufficient staff and experts as per an approved organisational structure.

- The Director-General will have the authority to manage the department's affairs and take necessary decisions to achieve its objectives, including

- Developing and presenting the department's general policies and strategic plans for approval by the council.

- Overseeing the department's operations in accordance with applicable laws and regulations, issuing administrative decisions, instructions, and circulars, and ensuring their implementation.

- Proposing draft laws, executive regulations, and systems related to the department and submitting them to the Executive Council.

- Representing the department before public and private entities, as well as in its dealings with third parties. The Director-General may delegate representation to others, including in legal matters.

- Presenting the department's annual budget and final account to the council for necessary action and overseeing the budget's expenditure.

- Signing contracts, agreements, memoranda of understanding, and partnerships entered into by the department.

- Forming permanent and temporary committees within the department and defining their roles.

- Submitting necessary reports on the department's activities to the Ruler or the council.

- Delegating some of their powers to senior department staff in accordance with applicable legislation.

- Performing any additional tasks assigned by the Ruler or council.

The law also includes provisions regarding financial resources, organisational structure, fee exemptions, safeguarding clauses, final provisions, cancellations, and enforcement.

WAM