UAE- Finals of Best m Government Service Award to witness contest between 91 entries in 10 categories

DUBAI 3rd February 2016 (WAM) -- As many as 91 contestants have entered the finals of the 3rd Best m-Government Service Award in the National Arab and International levels as well as University Students from the UAE category of the award. The final winners will be announced and honoured during the World Government Summit which will be held from February 8th to 10th.

The award received 104 entries from federal and local governments of which 30 have qualified. University students in the UAE submitted 94 entries with four applicants qualifying. On the Arab level 256 applications were submitted from 17 countries and 27 qualified to the finals. On the International level 1304 applications were received from 52 countries of which 30 qualified to the finals. The total entries to the award reached 1758 applications.

Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gargawi Minister for Cabinet Affairs and Chairman of the World Government Summit said the huge participation in the Best m-Government Service Award this year and its success in attracting global attention support its goals which represent the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai to employ the latest technologies and innovation to provide the best government services to the society.

The entries from the federal and local government entities are in ten categories led by Smart Wearable Technology category receiving 15% entries followed by Economy & Commerce Sector 14% Social Affairs Sector 11% Transportation & Infrastructure Sector 11% Tourism 10% and One Stop App category Safety & Security Sector and Health Sector accounting for 9% each. Education Sector and Environment Sector received 6% each.

As many as 450 students from 21 universities in the UAE submitted 94 entries to the award. Four applications qualified to the finals: 'Face Your Fear' from University of Sharjah in cooperation with field specialists consultants and psychologists; 'Air Book' from Khalifa University in cooperation with Ministry of Education; 'Parent App' from American University of Sharjah in cooperation with Center of Digital Innovations - TRA; and 'Road Watch' from NYU Abu Dhabi in cooperation with Ministry of Interior.

Among 1560 application reviewed by the 3rd Best m-Government Service Award Saudi Arabia topped the list of Arab countries with 70 entries out of 256 entries from 17 countries while Bahrain came second with 38 entries. Australia topped the list at the International level with 291 entries out of 1304 entries from 52 countries followed by the United States with 250 entries.

Saudi Arabia topped the Arab list of qualifiers with eight successful entries followed by Bahrain with five. There are four qualifiers from both Qatar and Oman three from Morocco two from Jordan and one from Kuwait.

At the international level 30 entries qualified to the finals. Australia topped the list with 11 entries while the rest of the qualifying applications are from New Zealand Spain Italy Singapore India France UK Hong Kong US Sweden Kazakhstan and Estonia.

Hessa Buhumaid Executive Director for Government Services Sector at the Prime Minister Office at the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs said the Best m-Government Service Award has witnessed huge participation at the National Arab and International levels with the launch of two new categories: One Stop App and Smart Wearable Technology.

She said that apart from the evaluation of the entries by a panel of judges this year the public can vote to choose the winning application of university students in the UAE through the official website of the award (www.mgov-award.ae).

In the new One Stop App category MobileOne from India UK GOV from the United Kingdom and egov.kz from Kazakhstan will compete at the International level. At the Arab level the contest will be between EGOVKW from Kuwait Saudi e-Government Mobile App from KSA and Talabi from Morocco while the National level contest will feature Dubai Now from Dubai Smart Government Abu Dhabi Services from Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Center and mRAK from RAK Electronic Government Authority.

In the Smart Wearable Technology category the International level competition will be between T. Jacket from Singapore Australia Post from Australia and TMBapp from Spain. While none of the applications have qualified at the Arab level the National level contest will feature Dubai Police App from Dubai Police General HQ RTA Drivers & Vehicles from Roads and Transport Authority and Sehhaty from Dubai Health Authority.

The Health category includes international level finalists from Force Fit from New Zealand Social Diabetes Global from Spain and MOH iHealth Sg from Singapore. At the Arab level the contest will be between Rendez-vous dans les h?pitaux App from Morocco Health Services App from Bahrain and Ministry of Health App from KSA. The National level contest will feature HAAD from Health Authority - Abu Dhabi Tifli from Dubai Health Authority and Salamah from Ministry of Labour.

In the Education category international level qualifiers are School A to Z and Triple Zero Kids' Challenge from Australia and NLB Mobile from Singapore while at the Arab level the contestants are SAFEER from Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Alphabet Lessons from Qatar and UJApp from Jordan. At the National level the contest will be between Wajjehni from Ministry of Labour Student Information System App from Ministry of Education and Ministry of Higher Education App.

The Enviroment category are International level finalists from Energy Watch App from Sweden USDA FoodKeeper from the USA and Eesti Energia from Estonia. At the Arab level the contest will feature Electricity and Water Services App from Bahrain Oman Meteorology App from Oman and Qatar Weather App from Qatar. The National level contestants are DEWA App from Dubai Electricity & Water Authority MPDA App from Ajman Municipality and Planning Department and iDubai App from Dubai Municipality.

In the Social Affairs category the International level contest will be between National Relay Service National Public Toilet Map and Sortli all from Australia. At the Arab level the finalists are How do I pay Zakat from Oman and NGO Directory App and MYS Bahrain App both from Bahrain. The National level contestants are AWQAF UAE App from General Authority and Islamic Affairs and Endowments Absher App from Ministry of Labour and Tawteen from Abu Dhabi Human Resources Authority.

In the Safety & Security category international level finalists are AlertCops App from Spain NirbhayaNoida App from India and Alert SA App from Australia while at the Arab level the contest will be between ROP - Royal Oman Police App from Oman 940 Service App and Hazer App from KSA. The National level qualifiers are Dubai Police App from Dubai Police General HQ HEMAYATI App from Abu Dhabi Police GHQ and MOI UAE App from Ministry of Interior.

In the Tourism category at the International level the contest will be between My Hong Kong Guide from Hong Kong Sydney Official Guide from Australia and Essential New Zealand Travel from New Zealand while at the Arab level the qualifiers are Visit Jordan App from Jordan Saudi Tourism App from KSA and Bahrian Culture App from Bahrain. The National level contest will feature Visit Dubai App from Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing Ajman Tourism App from Department of Tourism Development and Dubai Culture App from Dubai Culture and Arts Authority.

In the Economy & Commerce category the international level finalists are Occupation Outlook 2015 NZ from New Zealand EXPO MILANO from Italy and Track My SPEND from Australia. The Arab level finalists are MEC_QATAR App from Qatar Balagh -Report a Commercial Fraud Notification from KSA and MSM touch from Oman while the National level contest will feature Ministry of Labour App smart FUJAIRAH App from Fujairah Municipality and eDirham from Ministry of Finance.

In transportation & Infrastructure category the International level finalists are ID Pass from France Trip Go from Australia and Visit Paris by Metro from France. The finalists at the Arab level are ADM MOBILE from Morocco Taif Municipality from KSA and Masarak - iTraffic from Qatar. The National level qualifiers are MawQifi from Ajman Municipality and Planning Department RTA Dubai App from Roads and Transport Authority and SAMAE App from General Civil Aviation Authority.

The Best m-Government Service Award aims to motivate government entities to provide innovative solutions in the field of smart phone applications mobile web SMS and smart wearable technology. It honours innovative services from UAE governments at the Federal and Local levels as well as governments from the Arab region and the world.