Chapter 8: Building Blocks for Sustainable Public–Private Partnerships in Smart Dubai

Dubai’s economy has witnessed impressive development over the last two decades sustaining an average growth rate of approximately 4.5%. Supported by inspirational and strategic leadership, it has successfully diversified its economy away from oil into an array of sectors from real estate to logistics. It has adopted economic development strategies to attract foreign investment and expats more than trebling its population since 2000. Dubai has embraced technology across all sectors and adopted a multi-faceted technology-enabled development strategy, driven by a commitment to innovation with the explicit aim of making Dubai the happiest city on earth. Inherent in this strategy is the rapid adoption and diffusion of advances associated with the World Wide Web, e-payment, 3D printing, robotics, blockchain, artificial intelligence (AI), drones, big data and Hyperloop technologies. Under the auspices of Smart Dubai and in partnership with the private sector, the government has transformed many services through digitization and paved the way for this data to be further leveraged through future innovations in supervised machine learning, data sharing, more efficient storage and retrieval, digital certification and other initiatives that will foster greater efficiencies in transactions and the delivery of services. In order to overcome the challenges inherent in transforming service delivery, the Director General of Smart Dubai, Her Excellency, Aisha Bin Bishr has had to adopt the public–private partnership model so as it is solution orientated and enduring. Working with its private and public sector partners to invest in data accessibility, data security, digital literacy and governance, Smart Dubai aims to ensure an integrated, seamless, safe and personalized service experience contributing to the happiness of all Dubai residents and visitors.