Blockchain services coming soon in Dubai

Smart Dubai aims to implement blockchain technology in the public sector this year, ahead of its planned rollout in 2020, a senior official said on Sunday.

Dr Aisha Bint Butti bin Bishr, director-general, Smart Dubai Office, said the entity is currently working on 20 use cases and awaiting the results so that it can be scaled across the emirate. Many government entities such as the Dubai Police, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, etc., are involved in this pilot project.

"Our deadline is 2020, but my aim for blockchain implementation is 2018. We have partnered with IBM and Consensys as both strategic advisor and consultant for this strategy. We are working with them on two parallels - one is to develop use cases and the other is to develop a plan for the whole city," said Dr Aisha.

"We are making Dubai the blockchain capital of the world," she added.

Dr Aisha was speaking on the sidelines of the first day of the Unlock Blockchain Forum on Sunday. More than 60 blockchain startups from 39 countries are taking part in the two-day forum.

"We are building the digital backbone of the city. The blockchain is one of the fundamental layers of that backbone. We are also looking into a framework on how to organise the government and private sector individuals around the blockchain," she added.

The Dubai Blockchain Strategy was launched in 2016 to deliver more seamless, safe, efficient and impactful city experiences. Dubai will become the first government in the world to use blockchain in all its transactions.

Under the strategy, documentation such as visa applications, bill payments and licence renewals, which account for over 100 million documents each year, will be transacted digitally.

Blockchain technology will contribute savings of up to to 25.1 million hours of productivity.

Dr Aisha said: "Blockchain should not to be over-regulated. As a smart city establishment, it is our responsibility that this technology eases people's lives in the city."

- waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com