The role of governments has evolved; it now includes communicating with people and interacting with them in order to address their needs better and improve services for them.

To achieve that, the interaction must be more dynamic using a two-way approach. Since its inception, the internet became one of the most effective ways that uses modern technology to interact with people. Governments can utilise this technology through their official portals and social media accounts to address peoples’ needs better, empower them and to pursue a sustainable development of the society.

The UAE launched its official portal in May 2011, aiming to make it as a single window for all government services and a platform to facilitate effective communication with the public.

Since then, the UAE Government is seeking to improve the level of interaction by hearing people out more and encouraging them to participate in the polls, surveys, eConsultations and other communication channels.

In addition, the UAE officials are known to communicate with people using social media networks. H. H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, is a role model in that aspect.

He conveys messages and news to the public and interacts with them through his twitter account. He had declared in a tweet that directions were given to government entities to improve participation with people to enhance services and set an objective for the UAE to be ranked as number one globally in services’ quality in two years’ time.

To achieve these goals, government portals, both federal and local, are undergoing a thorough process of checking its readiness and accessibility to facilitate an effective communication and interaction with the public.

Share with us your suggestions on how to improve UAE government portals and websites to facilitate better communication and participation with the public, which will reap benefits for the entire community.