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Dubai Ruler's corporate-style governance keeps slackers in check

600 federal government service centres were evaluated last year to assess the best and worst.

In April last year, when His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, shared a photo of a long queue at an Emirates Post office branch - publicly reprimanding the government agency for its poor services - it permanently changed the way government services are offered in Dubai.
Five months later, he declared the five best and worst government service centres at the federal level, ushering in a sea of change. 
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, followed in his father's footsteps and revealed the rankings of Dubai government departments on Saturday when he announced the Customer Happiness and Mystery Shopper Index. The Dubai Electricity and Water Authority was ranked first with a score of 90.1 per cent. The Roads and Transport Authority (89.3 per cent) came second, followed by the Dubai Health Authority (88.6%) . The lowest-performing entities in the Index were the Dubai Land Department (79.6 per cent) and the Dubai Public Prosecution (77.8 per cent).
Experts and residents have hailed the two leaders for their transparent approach to governance.
dhanusha@khaleejtimes.com