Dubai’s Ruler plans to place government departments 10 years ahead of other cities

HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai has announced plans to advance Dubai’s government departments 10 years ahead of other cities.

Under the ‘10X’ initiative announced at the World Government Summit, independent ‘X units’ will be established at each government department and tasked with disrupting the organisation’s practices and coming up with three innovative ideas annually.

The units will report directly to His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Majtoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and be required to develop systems, processes and labs to trial disruptive technologies and review their own organisational structure to facilitate innovation.

They will then develop processes and remove regulatory hurdles to allow the department to work with disruptive companies and start-ups to offer better services and allow Dubai’s residents to live happier lives.

Each department has three months to implement these initiatives and present a plan to Sheikh Hamdan and Sheikh Mohammed.

The future will not be as patient with us as the pressent. The future belongs to those who affect radical changes, not those who make minor, gradual improvements,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

“Today, I am calling on all government leaders and employees to embrace disruptive innovation and find new, creative and truly disruptive approaches and technologies to delivering their mission rather than incremental and minor improvements.”

He added that he would personally be following up on reports compiled by government departments for the initiative.