Page 31 - Implementing ITU-T International Standards to Shape Smart Sustainable Cities: The Case of Dubai

Implementing ITU-T International Standards to Shape Smart Sustainable Cities – The Case of Dubai

Dubai has also defined an Integrated Energy Strategy, which aims to increase clean energy
sources in Dubai’s total installed power capacity to 25% by 2030 and 75% by 2050. This strategy
covers the building, transportation, and electricity sectors, which will be further explored in the
Infrastructure Dimension.

On the climate change front, the Dubai Government works with the Supreme Council of Energy
(DSCE) to define policies and measurement frameworks for energy, GHG emissions, and climate
change indicators in the Emirate. The DSCE, through Dubai Carbon Centre of Excellence
(Dubai Carbon), is responsible for CO2 emissions accounting process for Dubai, based on the
IPCC guidelines, as part of Dubai’s Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021. A first in the region, the
Dubai Carbon Abatement Strategy 2021 details sector-based reduction targets for greenhouse
gases, aiming to decrease emissions by 16% compared to business as usual (BAU) in 2021 (Dubai
Carbon, 2016).

3.4.3. Dimension 3: Productivity

Dubai has become a major business hub with a dynamic and diversified economy in the last
three decades. The city has been noted to have a first-rate infrastructure, an international
outlook, and liberal government policies that attract investors and fosters the development of
new activities (Government of Dubai, 2015).

Smart Dubai works together with the Department of Economic Development in the structural
transformation of Dubai into a diversified, innovative, and service-based economy that aims to
improve the business environment and accelerate productivity growth. In doing so, the
Department of Economic Development and its agencies develop economic plans and policies,
identify and support the growth of strategic sectors, and provide services to domestic and
international investors and businesses. For example, Dubai has launched a new e-service called
“Saad” – Simply ask, an intelligent advisor service that applies cognitive computer solutions to
facilitate business licensing and registration in Dubai to foster entrepreneurship in the city. The
‘Saad' service will allow business community users, to ask questions and get up-to-date
information on business licensing and registration processes in Dubai processes.

Smart Dubai, DED and the Dubai Statistics Centre work to assess the impact ICTs have on the
economic growth in the city, through a standardized review of economic indicators. This
centralized management control allows for transparent reporting and traceability of the
economic performance of smart city initiatives in Dubai. This cooperation among different actors
facilitates the incorporation of new KPIs and data collection processes to address the needs of
Dubai in assessing the impact of the use of ICT`s in city economic growth.

Dubai’s Smart Economy dimension provides innovative economic conditions to fuel
entrepreneurship and global competitiveness in the city. Key performance indicators, which are
able to measure ICT innovation, job creation, and trade growth enhance the potential of cities
to become economic engines and to improve quality of life of their citizens.
Smart Dubai is developing new KPIs and performance methods that require new collection
methods, alternative collection frequencies, and specialized analyses. See Box 3 for a description
of how central data management is used to assess Dubai’s growth and sustainability.

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