Page 73 - Enhancing innovation and participation in smart sustainable cities

United for Smart Sustainable Cities
Enhancing Innovation and Participation

Figure 14 Three pillars of the Dubai blockchain strategy

The adoption of blockchain technology perfectly aligns with the citywide vision of embracing technology
innovation. This enables Dubai to offer the most efficient, seamless, safe and impactful experience for residents
and visitors.

2.2 Implementation
The Smart Dubai Office (SDO) is leading the implementation of Dubai’s Blockchain Strategy and has developed a
detailed roadmap that is organized around the blockchain strategy’s three pillars. This roadmap defines the way
forward for Dubai’s blockchain ambitions.
For each pillar in the strategy, the city has a plan with actionable initiatives.
1 Government efficiency

Dubai intends to first pilot blockchain on the most applicable government services in 2017 before it proceeds to
full implementation in 2018. The most applicable services are those that would benefit the most from the
implementation of blockchain technology due to their need for third party elimination, transaction ledgers, smart
controls and/or automation.
The piloting of blockchain will be done across the city in several sectors such as energy, transport and logistics,
tourism, health, education and employment, economic development, safety and justice, social services, municipal
and land works and smart districts (see Figure 14). This process will involve the key Government champions in
each sector such as the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, the Roads and Transport Authority, the Dubai
Tourism and Commerce Marketing Department, the Department of Economic Development, Dubai Police, Dubai
Health Authority and many more public sector stakeholders that are key to sectoral adoption.
In order to roll out the blockchain pilots in an organized manner, Dubai recognized the importance of putting a
governance framework in place that would ensure that all stakeholders are aware of their roles and are receiving
the support they need. For this purpose, the Smart Dubai Office will roll out workshops with each stakeholder
with an objective to identify the best potential pilots in their sector and provide them with the technical standards
and unified protocols for implementing their pilots. Moreover, it will support each entity in selecting a technical
partner to implement the blockchain pilots.

By opening the door to blockchain technical partners from around the world to come to Dubai and pilot use cases
in each entity, Dubai is stimulating the blockchain market and its own economy. In brief, the city is creating
demand for businesses to thrive through innovation.

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