Open data, an important practice
that reflects government’s desire
for continuous development
Data available
seamlessly and
easy to copy from
Portal supported
with increase font
and data reading
features
Data are easily accessible and search and
filter options are available. Documents
can be downloaded in the preferred for-
mat. The portal has an advanced search
engine enabling users to find and down-
load data easily.
There is no maximum limit on the number
of downloadable documents, but it is pre-
ferred to save the file after downloading it
so that users can access it later offline.
Data found on the portal can be used in
research and analysis and to boost the ef-
fectiveness and use of government servic-
es and evaluate the feasibility of govern-
ment policies. Additionally, some develop
new products, services and applications
based on this data.
The open data policy allows the use, shar-
ing and amendment of documents as
long as amendments are non-substantial,
and as long as the document’s source is
mentioned, and it is made open, usable,
shareable and amendable.
Bayanat.ae is a tool that helps the UAE
government redesign its services and
policies aiming to meet the users’ require-
ments and serve them in an optimal way.
This is possible based on the feedback on
published reports and analyses with re-
gard to the effectiveness and use of gov-
ernment services and policies.
The portal allows the public to contribute
in supporting its online services by using
the data to develop a service or applica-
tion or report government services as well
as suggesting data that can be uploaded
to the portal and report links that do not
work or share observations about the por-
tal and open data in general.
The public can share their opinions and
suggestions regarding open date on the
federal eGovernment forum or the eGov-
ernment blog. They can also contact the
open data team via email:
ae for reporting a non-working link or for
an inquiry.
Government entities that upload their data
to Bayanat.ae should adhere to a number
of criteria regarding published data, statis-
tics, reports and studies such as:
Published data should cover the federal
entity’s activities and services that are
useful to the customer/user.
Data should be accessible with no restric-
tions (e.g. registration).
Data should be in a downloadable format
and easy to copy from.
File formats should be easily accessible
by most users. Easy to use formats in-
clude MS Word and Excel.
Users should be given the option to voice
their opinions on the published data.
Data should be easy to read online.
File type, size and time required to down-
load should be available to the user.
Special programs or software needed to
run or open the file should be mentioned
and plug-ins should be provided by the
website.
Government entities should provide all
possible platforms that enable the users to
discuss and interact about the published
data. Other links to blogs, discussion fo-
rums, Facebook pages, etc. should be
available in the open data page.
Open Data page should include a link to
the policy used, which authorizes the us-
ers to utilize and distribute the data.
9
May
2014
