Dubai to use blockchain technology for all government documents by 2020

Dubai has announced plans to use blockchain, the database technology behind crypto currency bitcoin, for all government documents by 2020.

Dubai Media Office said in a tweet the strategy was launched earlier today by Crown Prince of Dubai and chairman of Dubai Executive Council Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

. @HamdanMohammed Launches #Dubai Blockchain Strategy, 100% of Government Documents to be on the Blockchain by 2020

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) October 5, 2016

Blockchain was originally designed as the distributed database list system behind bitcoin. It is intended to record every transaction using the currency that ever occurred in a tamper and revision proof record.

In recent years fintech firms have been exploring its use in other database systems.

Dubai itself has sought to position itself at the forefront of the technology through recent initiatives.

In May, several government bodies announced that would explore the technology’s use in areas including healthcare, wills and diamond transactions.

Read: Dubai looks to improve fintech credentials with bitcoin technology