Dubai eGovernment expands ePay scope

In line with its efforts to offer a range of innovative channels based on its ‘customer first’ approach, Dubai eGovernment announced on the sidelines of the GITEX Technology Week 2011, the signing of joint agreements with Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation, Dubai Public Prosecution, Noor Dubai Foundation and Dar Alber Society; to confirm their inclusion in Dubai eGovernment’s ePay gateway.

The joining of these four entities to the ePay gateway further consolidates Dubai eGovernment’s portfolio of eServices, bringing it to a total of 24 government entities that use the ePay gateway to offer eServices to their individual and corporate users; who can now make instant online payments through a broad network of banks and multiple payment options, in line with Dubai eGovernment’s Customer First strategy.

His Excellency Ahmed Bin Humaidan, director general of Dubai eGovernment Department, said, “We are pleased to expand our ePay network of partners, whose faith in our secure ePay technology will lead to greater adoption of eServices by our customers, ensuring a connected and integrated government approach. Thanks to our ePay portal, our customers find it very convenient to pay for government transactions online, using credit cards or direct debit from their participating banks.”

His Excellency Bin Humaidan pointed out that the amounts collected through the ePay portal rose by 52% to AED 2.66 billion through 2 million transactions over the first nine months of this year compared with AED 1.75 billion through 1.26 million transactions in the same period last year.

He added, “These agreements gain special importance because they are concluded on the sidelines of GITEX Technology Week 2011, which provides an ideal platform for a connected government, through a network of online services that match the highest quality and excellence criteria in line with the vision of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, for achieving government interaction and easing the lives of the public interacting with the government.”

Dubai eGovernment launched the ePay gateway back in 2003 as an innovative electronic channel to facilitate payment for governmental and private transactions. Only three departments initially availed of the gateway, but with the recent joining of Awqaf and Minors Affairs Foundation, Dubai Public Prosecution, Noor Dubai Foundation and Dar Alber Society, this number has now increased to 24.