ADSIC paves way for Abu Dhabi's IT modernisation

Having a sustainable knowledge-based economy is among the nine pillars Abu Dhabi has identified to bolster its social, political and economic future. Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC) ensures that the emirate is on track to realising such a vision by enabling the modernisation of government services through information technology (IT).

"Every country that undergoes modernisation has to build a strategy to fill the gap between its weaknesses and strengths. For Abu Dhabi, IT is a crucial area that we are aligning with the 2030 vision," says ADSIC director general Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori. "We have to build the right IT infrastructure, open our minds to best practices and create tailor-made solutions that fit Abu Dhabi."

The ADG portal provides more than 850 services and information pages in Arabic and English. It enables targeted customer groups, including individuals, businesses, employees and ADG entities, to perform as many as 60 transactions online, ranging from acquiring personal documents and licences to paying utility bills and seeking employment. With a comprehensive coverage of Abu Dhabi's legislative systems and legal affairs, the portal has also become a first point of call for potential investors and businesses looking to the UAE.

"The ADG portal brings together local and federal entities to provide stakeholder services that match the best in the world," Al Mansoori says.

The portal is recognised by international organisations as one of the most useful websites and an effective platform for strengthening international best practices. It also helped the UAE boost its global ranking from 99th to seventh in the United Nations' 2012 online service index and climb to 28th position in the e-government development index.