Second edition of 10X to put Dubai '10 years ahead of world cities'

As many as 26 innovative initiatives will be launched by the government entities over the next 24 months that will move Dubai 10 years ahead of other world cities, it was announced on Monday.

With #Dubai10X .. #Dubai Government entities look to outpace other cities through 26 new innovative projects that will be implemented within 24 months.@dubai10x pic.twitter.com/H0FtqbL0xn

- Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) February 13, 2018

On the second day of the World Government Summit 2018, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, launched the second edition of 10X Dubai. 

The second edition will see 36 government entities working together and unifying efforts to bring to life 26 innovative combined projects in different sectors including tourism, health, education, justice, sports, charity, culture, security and energy.

During last year's summit, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, launched 10X Dubai asking government entities to come up with at least three innovative ideas that will move Dubai 10 years ahead of other cities.

During the past year, 36 government entities formed teams and brainstormed for over 150,000 hours to come up with 163 ideas outside the box. A total of 26 of these ideas will be implemented in the coming 24 months as part of 10X 2.0.

Some of the projects to be implemented are:

Smart City University

During the launch, Aisha bin Bishr, director-general of the Dubai Smart Office, announced Smart City University, a virtual educational platform that will develop digital skills through the technology of blockchain. "It will provide centralised education on an open platform and develop digital skills through blockchain," said Bin Bishr as she addressed Sheikh Hamdan, VIPs and delegates.

"We attend conferences, summits and YouTube courses and workshops without taking credit for developing our skills." She said the new smart platform will gather international experts and issue accredited degrees through blockchain.

Bin Bishr added that the new platform will raise employment levels in the UAE by 10 per cent in 2020. "Other parts of the world were able to raise that level to only five per cent," she said. 

"To develop that digital knowledge, we have to continue the journey of the UAE Founder Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, the inspirer," she said. 

C3 initiative: Verdicts in 30 days

Speaking during 10X 2.0 launch, Tarish Al Mansouri, director-general of Dubai Courts, said a new digital court will provide "parallel, not consecutive trials."

"Normally, a trial takes up to 305 days until a verdict is ruled, but the new court system will issue a verdict in just 30 days," said Al Mansouri. 

He added that current courts have 11 judges divided into three courts of the first instance, appeal and cassation. The smart court idea will be run by three judges and a court clerk.

"Dubai's project is a court of three judges to resolve cases quickly and easily for people. It also follows Dubai's vision of going paperless by 2021," said Al Mansouri.

He added that the project will make a shift in the justice system. The justice system will arrange regulations for this initiative and work with specialised sectors to bring the project to life.

Rahhal initiative: Education on the go

Abdullah Al Karam, director-general of the Knowledge and Human Development Authority (KHDA), said Rahhal's initiative will give parents the chance to provide education to their children anytime and in any place.

"The whole world will be a classroom," said Al Karam of Rahhal (means traveller in Arabic). "We will provide a learning experience that prepares students for life's test, not a life full of academic tests," he said.

Al Karam noted that questions of learning in one school by one teacher were raised during the brainstorming process. "Why do children have to start school at four, go to college at 18, then work at 21? Learning is endless and each person has to move at their own pace and be provided with the learning style that suits them," he said.

The sixth edition of the World Government Summit convenes over 3,000 participants, world leaders, policymakers, representatives of international organisations, and experts from over 130 countries. It will continue until February 13. 

sherouk@khaleejtimes.com

Sherouk Zakaria

"Born and raised in UAE, Sherouk Zakaria is a Senior Correspondent at Khaleej Times. Joined since May 2016, she covers Dubai Municipality, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (DEWA), special events and humanitarian issues. Her choice of journalism as a career stems from her passion of telling people's stories and writing to inspire or make a difference. In her free time, she's an occasional theater and film actress. Sherouk received her BA in Mass Communications from the American University in Sharjah in 2013. Before joining Khaleej Times, she was a senior lifestyle/entertainment editor for a magazine in Dubai."