Representatives from a variety of governmental and semi-governmental institutions took part in the workshop

In a collaborative effort between the Ministry of Culture and the Prime Minister’s Office, an innovative workshop was held under the transformative “Zero-Bureaucracy Program.” This pioneering initiative is designed to streamline operations, lightening the load on businesses and individuals by saving them valuable time, effort, and resources.

The workshop, conducted on Wednesday, May 29 at Services 1 Centre in Emirates Towers, Dubai, is part of the Ministry’s proactive endeavors to devise innovative solutions for eradicating workplace bureaucracy. It seeks to enhance service quality to the community, drive economic growth, elevate sector competitiveness and business environment, improve community quality of life, adopt highly efficient human-centric work models, and aspire to position the UAE government as a global leader in service provision.

The workshop saw the participation of representatives from a diverse range of governmental and semi-governmental organizations, such as the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Port Security (ICP), Dubai Customs, Abu Dhabi Customs, Louvre Museum, various non-profit associations, as well as stakeholders from local entities dedicated to museums, antiquities, and cultural and artistic circles.

The workshop included two main sessions: the first session examined the current state of eliminating government bureaucracy, while the second session concentrated on generating suitable innovative ideas for implementing “The National Grant Program for Culture and Creativity” and the sabbatical leave for UAE citizens employed in the government. The workshop covered various essential topics, such as facilitating the import and export of artworks through national ports, registering sites on the World Heritage List and borrowed artworks, and recommending the Golden Visa for cultural and artistic personalities.

His Excellency Mubarak Al Nakhi, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Culture, stated: “The workshop addressing the reduction of government bureaucracy aligns with the UAE government’s goals to enhance governmental performance and raise service standards for stakeholders. Highlighting the significance of inter-agency collaboration to realize the leadership’s vision of enhancing community well-being and customer satisfaction strengthens the UAE’s leadership and global competitiveness in government service metrics, bolstering the path towards sustainable development.”

The UAE government introduced the “Zero-Bureaucracy Program” to streamline and simplify governmental procedures by eliminating unnecessary steps and requirements. Ministries and government entities were tasked with promptly implementing the program, including the abolishment of at least 2000 governmental procedures, reducing procedure durations by a minimum of 50%, and eradicating all unnecessary requirements within one year of program inception. The initiative’s outcomes will be assessed, with top achievements celebrated by the conclusion of 2024.

The program seeks to elevate the effectiveness of governmental procedures issued by federal ministries and entities, enhancing the leadership and global competitiveness of the UAE government in governmental efficiency and bureaucracy reduction. It serves as a significant addition to realizing the goals of the “We Are the UAE 2031” vision, aiming to simplify people’s lives, promote a stimulating business environment, and attract talents and minds, among other objectives.