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UAE: Best, worst government department rankings not meant to name and shame, says official
'The bad systems created by government bureaucracy over the years can be changed with bold and swift decisions in just a few days,' said Sheikh Mohammed
- PUBLISHED: Tue 18 Feb 2025, 5:30 AM
Ranking the best and worst government departments in the UAE is not about naming and shaming them, a top official has said. Rather, it is a “long-standing commitment to progress” that motivates all emirates to strive for excellence.
This philosophy has been a “guiding principle” in the UAE's governance for over 20 years, explained Huda Al Hashimi, Deputy Minister of Cabinet Affairs for Strategic Affairs at the Prime Minister's Office.
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The UAE's Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid had on Sunday announced the results of the bureaucracy removal initiative, ranking the best and worst government departments across the country.
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The Ministries of Justice, Foreign Affairs, and Energy and Infrastructure were the top three; while Emirates Post, General Pension and Social Security Authority, and Ministry of Sports were ranked as the worst three entities in cutting down bureaucracy.
Addressing the World Governments Summit that Dubai hosted recently, Al Hashimi said the system may come as news for some, but “we have lived by this philosophy for over 20 years”.
Drawing from historical practices, she highlighted how Sheikh Mohammed has championed quality awards since the 1990s, reinforcing a culture of continuous improvement. "It's not about shaming them," she clarified. "It's about what more can be done.”
As he announced the results, Sheikh Mohammed, who is also Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, had a word of advice for entities that came in the bottom three: “The bad systems created by government bureaucracy over the years can be changed with bold and swift decisions in just a few days.”
The UAE Vice-President has publicly announced performance reviews of government entities and called out those with poor performance several times.
Al Hashimi elaborated how collaboration among government entities can be the key to progress, with top performers actively supporting those who are struggling. "They didn't bring in consultants; they shared their experiences and strategies," she noted.
This collaborative spirit has resulted in remarkable transformations, with previously low-performing entities rising to the top in subsequent evaluations. She reaffirmed the government's commitment to pushing the agenda of excellence, stating: "Our people deserve it."
As part of the Zero Government Bureaucracy programme, ministries, and government entities were asked to work on cutting at least 2,000 government procedures and reducing the time required by 50 per cent.
Al Hashimi discussed the initiative, particularly in light of the Covid-19 pandemic. She noted that the crisis forced governments worldwide to reevaluate their processes and prioritise efficiency. "The idea of e-government and e-education was accelerated and put into practice," she remarked.
The pandemic served as a pivotal moment, prompting the government to adopt a zero-bureaucracy approach to enhance responsiveness and effectiveness.
"The call was clear: Relook at everything, don't take anything for granted," she said, emphasizing the need for a top-down approach to foster innovation.
The UAE's commitment to digital transformation and service quality has been a national priority for decades, and now there is a push for "anticipatory needs-based governance," where services are provided proactively rather than reactively.
Furthermore, Al Hashimi highlighted the importance of collaboration between public and private sectors. The first meeting after announcing the zero-government bureaucracy initiative involved the Chambers of Commerce, focusing on co-designing priority areas for improvement. "Thousands of meetings took place," she noted, highlighting the extensive engagement with the public to ensure that the reforms meet their needs.
Ruqayya Alqaydi is a Special Correspondent with an endless curiosity to learn. Like a journalist on a caffeine overdrive, she is fuelled by passion and on a mission to uncover every gem in the UAE.