Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. ARCHIVE

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has publicly ranked the best and worst government departments based on their performance in reducing bureaucracy. The rankings follow the launch of a government-wide initiative in late 2023 aimed at streamlining services and improving efficiency across federal agencies. The initiative was designed to eliminate bureaucratic inefficiencies and enhance public service responsiveness. “We launched an evaluation to assess the responsiveness of these entities, ensuring better services, higher efficiency, and an easier life for people,” Sheikh Mohammed said in a social media post on Sunday (February 9). The Department of Justice, the Department of State, and the Department of Energy and Infrastructure were recognized as the top three government departments that excelled in eliminating red tape. Sheikh Mohammed praised their performance, stating that they had made significant progress in making government processes more accessible and efficient for the public. In contrast, Emirates Post, the Pensions Authority, and the Ministry of Sports were ranked as the worst-performing departments in reducing bureaucracy. Addressing these underperforming entities, Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that systemic inefficiencies could be swiftly corrected with bold decision-making. “The bad systems created by government bureaucracy over the years can be changed with bold and swift decisions in just a few days,” he said. “This also applies to the individuals and officials involved.” Highlighting the importance of innovation in governance, Sheikh Mohammed criticized traditional bureaucratic practices, stating that they often prioritize procedures over outcomes. “In government bureaucracy, procedures are more important than results… paperwork is more important than delivering services,” he said. This is not the first time Sheikh Mohammed has conducted public evaluations of government entities. In 2020, he introduced the "UAE Mystery Shopper" initiative, which assesses service quality through undercover evaluations. Prior to this, the Dubai Ruler had deployed his own personal team of mystery shoppers to review government services firsthand. The initiative underscores the UAE leadership’s commitment to enhancing efficiency, cutting red tape, and ensuring a seamless government service experience for residents and businesses alike. ICA/Expat Media
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