What is open government data?

Government data that is freely available for anyone to use, reuse, distribute or share with others without restrictions is called open government data. As per the UN eGovernment Survey 2018 (PDF, 2 MB), open government data is government information proactively disclosed and made available online for all to access, without restriction.

Benefits of open government data

Disclosing government data brings transparency in government transactions and makes them accountable for their actions. It facilitates public scrutiny and evaluation of government performance. Open data helps in efficient use of resources, designing customised service delivery and creation of more jobs. It helps people to make informed decisions about public policies and identify development opportunities. Through all its endeavours, open government data helps to achieve the SDGs.

A document issued by World Bank (PDF, 1.5 MB) estimates the direct, annual economic value of open government data in two different studies as up to 40 billion euros throughout the European Union and close to 2 billion pounds in the UK.

Increasingly many countries have launched an open data portal. In 2014, just 46 countries had an open data portal. However, in 2018, 139 countries had an open data portal as per the UN eGovernment Survey 2018.

The UAE has two data portals: UAE Numbers and Bayanat.

The World Bank document brings out the key benefits of open data which are:

• Fostering in economic growth and job creation.

  Open data can promote economic growth by helping launch new businesses, create new jobs, increase efficiency in existing organisations and generally improve the climate for foreign investment.

   

• Improving efficiency, effectiveness and coverage of public services

  Open data can help strengthen healthcare systems by connecting patients to providers, promote education and ongoing learning, and relieve hunger and improve food security on both a large and small scale.

   

• Increasing transparency, accountability and citizen participation

  Open data can expose and prevent mismanagement and corruption. It also helps ensure environmental sustainability through transparent data that can help reduce pollution, conserve natural resources, and build resilience to climate change.

   

• Facilitating better information sharing within the government

Open data can help improve cities and urban infrastructure. It is key to high-tech smart cities, modern urban planning and the transformation of urban transportation. It can also improve resilience to disasters and ensure that critical resources will be deployed well in emergencies.

A picture showing the benefits of open data

Source: the UAE’s Ministry of Finance

Data Change Management Framework

The Dubai Data Change Management Framework provides a practical structure to facilitate transition within the Dubai government. Through a change plan guide, the Dubai Data Manual and supportive toolkits, the Change Management Framework will enable the growth of an effective and sustainable open and shared data culture.

Open Data Guidelines

The purpose of Open Data Guidelines is to guide the governmental bodies (ministries, agencies, Councils, etc.) what they are required to adhere to when they follow the Open data policy on their website. The scope of this document is limited to the websites of government agencies in the United Arab Emirates. As the document is open for continuous development, its scope can be expanded as dictated by the public policy of the Government of the United Arab Emirates and related instructions.

Related links

• UAE federal open data licence (PDF, 500 KB)
• UAE Smart Data Classifications (PDF, 500 KB)
• UAE Smart Data Framework (PDF, 500 KB)
• UAE Smart Data Principles (PDF, 500 KB)