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Dubai eGovernment's ePay generates AED 3.8 billion in 2011

Statistics issued recently by Dubai eGovernment show that its ePay payment gateway - a secure and reliable portal for Dubai customers to electronically pay for government services - posted a 49 per cent increase in collections in 2011.

Payments for 2,883,401 transactions reached AED 3,833,912,347 by the end of December 2011, as compared to AED 2,568,124,172 for 1,888,417 transactions in 2010. The top three departments in terms of amounts collected were Dubai Customs, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority ( DEWA ) and the Dubai Health Authority (DHA) respectively, while the top three in terms of number of transactions were DHA, DEWA and the Roads and Transport Authority respectively.

H.E. Ahmed Bin Humaidan, Director General of Dubai eGovernment , said: "These results reflect the rapid pace of eTransformation in Dubai. They affirm the increasing demand among customers to adopt the ePay option for completing their government transactions on one hand and their high trust in the efficiency and security of this option on the other. This service allows individual and corporate clients to electronically pay for government services either via credit cards or via direct debit from their accounts in the participating banks." Bin Humaidan noted that the credit card option ranked first among customers, with related transactions amounting to around AED 3.3 billion out of the total amounts collected. He also noted a growing preference for direct debit, which accounted for 522, 815 transactions in 2011 over 54, 538 transactions in 2010.

Bin Humaidan explained the role of Dubai eGovernment in providing the foundations for Dubai to pursue its eTransformation goal in accordance with the highest global standards. "All government departments require various components and electronic infrastructures to provide safe, high-quality services that further encourage customers to perform electronic transactions. We at Dubai eGovernment are working hard to provide these components in the form of centralized services and a common infrastructure to make it easier for those departments to provide their services to the public via a suitable platform that encourages creativity and specialization."

The ePay gateway forms part of Dubai eGovernment 's initiative to deliver government services through innovative channels with the aim of easing government transactions for businesses and the general public in Dubai. It offers these two segments an opportunity to make instant payment of government fees through effective and convenient payment facilities without having to waste time and efforts visiting banks or the concerned departments as they can use other electronic channels including the Internet or mPay for more urgent transactions.

Earlier, Dubai eGovernment signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the UAE Central Bank to expand the scope of its ePay gateway by including new banks. By connecting with the UAESWITCH at UAE Central Bank, Dubai eGovernment will allow corporate or individual customers to settle government entities' fees through Dubai eGovernment 's ePay portal using ATM cards or through pre-paid cards. These payment options will be added to the other options that are already available to customers. Dubai eGovernment is keen on leveraging its cooperation with UAE Central Bank to open new prospects for customers by expanding the number of banks using the ePay gateway from five at present to all the 46 banks using the UAESWITCH.

-Ends-

About Dubai eGovernment :
Dubai eGovernment is a pioneering initiative in the region to provide government online services across the spectrum of corporate and community life in the emirate. Dubai eGovernment officially directs and supervises the implementation of the process of eTransformation in over 30 government entities and is one of the world's only governments to have established an official eGovernment branch in the capacity of an independent department.

Dubai eGovernment utilizes multiple innovative electronic channels to facilitate interaction and transaction with government services for citizens, residents, visitors and businesses with the goal of making the life of people much easier in their dealings with the government. The official Dubai Government public portal (www.dubai.ae) highlights government initiatives and facilitates the customers' access to more than 2000 service from the services of several government departments, while the official corporate portal of Dubai eGovernment (www.deg.gov.ae) provides information on the strategy, goals and achievements of the department.

For further information, please contact:
Orient Planet PR & Marketing Communications
P.O Box: 23345
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Tel: 00971 4 398 8901
Fax: 00971 4 398 8941
Email: media@orientplanet.com
Website: www.orientplanet.com

© Press Release 2012