Latest news with #eGovernment
Gulf Business
11-07-2025
- Business
- Gulf Business
Sharjah landlords, tenants alert: New way to attest lease contracts
In a major step toward digital transformation, Sharjah Municipality (SM), in collaboration with the Sharjah Electricity, Water and Gas Authority (SEWA), has launched a new service that automatically attests lease contracts—eliminating the need for tenants to visit government offices or pay electricity deposits in advance. Read- The initiative is part of SM's broader digital integration with government entities, aiming to streamline processes and enhance customer experience, Faster processing through unified digital system Abdullah Al Shehhi, Director of the Rental Regulation Department, described the system as a 'significant improvement' that simplifies procedures and reduces the time required to attest residential, commercial, and other types of lease agreements. According to Al Shehhi, lease contracts are now automatically attested based on data already available in the municipality's database. Once the attestation is complete, the contract is sent to SEWA. Tenants then receive a text message with payment details for the electricity deposit, and utility services are activated upon payment. 'This initiative reflects our commitment to providing fast, efficient services in line with Sharjah's digital vision,' Al Shehhi said. 'The unified electronic system linking government departments has led to faster transactions and improved satisfaction among residents.' 'Aqari' platform at the core of real estate services The entire process is available via the 'Aqari' digital platform, which SM has positioned as a model for innovation in real estate services. Al Shehhi credited the achievement to strong cooperation with the Sharjah Digital Office and SEWA, as part of continued efforts to fully digitise municipal services across the emirate. Sharjah's digital initiatives are part of a broader strategy to make government services more accessible and reduce the need for in-person visits, aligning with the UAE's vision for smart governance.
Zawya
09-07-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Oman: Dhamani ranked 5th globally in e-government innovation
Muscat – National Health Insurance Platform – Dhamani – developed by Financial Services Authority (FSA) has been ranked fifth globally in the E-Government IT Applications category at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Forum 2025 held in Geneva, Switzerland. Dhamani made it to the final round alongside 360 shortlisted projects from 972 global entries. Designed to streamline communication between insurance providers and private healthcare institutions in the sultanate, it facilitates secure exchange of health insurance data and claims. It also enables creation of a unified medical file for each policyholder, improving data accuracy and access while enhancing service efficiency. Sheikh Abdullah Salem al Salmi, Executive President of FSA, said the international recognition affirms Dhamani's contribution to advancing health insurance operations in the sultanate. 'This achievement reflects the progress made in Oman's health insurance ecosystem. Dhamani allows for the secure transfer of data, processing of approvals and settlement of claims,' he stated. The platform uses a unified coding system for medical prescriptions and archives patient histories across all participating healthcare providers. Salmi noted that these features have improved both the quality and speed of service delivery and increased transparency within the healthcare and insurance sectors. 'This enhances investor confidence in the private healthcare market,' he said. By the end of June 2025, more than 4.2mn health insurance transactions had been processed through Dhamani, with an average of 40,000 transactions every day. Around 700,000 claims were submitted by private hospitals via the platform, generating RO3.5mn in insurance settlements. Additionally, 1.4mn medical approvals were processed through the system. All licensed insurance firms in Oman are now integrated with Dhamani, connecting 33 private hospitals, 37 health complexes, 20 clinics and 33 specialist centres which are Ministry of Health approved. The platform currently serves more than 650,000 policyholders, with full nationwide integration of private healthcare providers expected by early August. This latest recognition follows Oman's first-place award at the WSIS Forum in 2024 for its Bayanat platform in the E-Business category. Bayanat is a digital platform managed by FSA that oversees financial and non-financial data disclosures by listed entities on Muscat Stock Exchange. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Zawya
25-06-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Jordan: Gov't aims for full service digitisation by 2026, reaches 67.5% benchmark
AMMAN — The Ministry of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship on Tuesday said that 67.5 per cent of government services have been digitised so far, as part of ongoing efforts to modernise public service delivery and enhance digital access for citizens. In a statement to Al Mamlaka TV, the ministry said that 1,621 services out of a total of 2,400 targeted services have been fully digitised, adding that the ministry expects the digitisation rate to reach 80 per cent by the end of 2025, in line with its strategic goals. Minister of Digital Economy and Entrepreneurship Sami Samara has previously said that the ministry aims to achieve 100 per cent digitisation of all government services by the end of 2026. As part of the broader digital transformation strategy, the ministry highlighted progress in activating digital identities through the government's 'Sanad' application. According to the latest figures, 1.76 million digital IDs have been activated to date. When asked about services available via the Sanad app, the ministry clarified that while 1,621 services have been digitised in total, only 513 are currently accessible through the app. The remaining services can be accessed through the respective websites of government institutions. Launched in February 2020 as part of the fifth executive package of the government's economic programme, the Sanad app was designed to support e-government services and improve the business environment. The app has since undergone several updates to address early technical challenges. Sanad enables users to access services using a unified username and password, eliminating the need for multiple credentials across different platforms. Activating the digital ID can be done at Sanad service stations or via bank-supported mobile apps, which allow users to complete the process remotely. The ministry noted that the Public Sector Modernisation Plan includes a goal of reaching 3.5 million activated digital IDs and fully automating all government services by 2025. © Copyright The Jordan Times. All rights reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Times of Oman
18-06-2025
- Business
- Times of Oman
Your new best friend is your ultimate betrayer
In the summer of 1999 — at the dawn of the digital age — world leaders gathered at the Millennium Assembly on IT and Knowledge with a bold vision: governments must go digital, and wealthy nations would help the rest achieve it. As a member of Oman's delegation, I watched as the idealism of 'global cooperation' overshadowed a darker reality. 'Once we embrace e-government, privacy disappears,' I warned our delegation head. 'Our data won't belong to us anymore.' He dismissed it as paranoia. Two decades later, that warning has become prophecy — and Israel, with its deep ties to Western tech and intelligence, sits at the heart of this surveillance empire. The Backdoor Revolution The post-9/11 era erased any illusions. The U.S. government compelled American tech giants to embed surveillance backdoors in their exports — officially for 'national security,' but effectively a global license to spy. Israel, America's closest intelligence-sharing ally, gained indirect access to this data through agreements like ECHELON and joint cyber units. 'Israel doesn't just benefit from U.S. surveillance — it actively shapes it,' says Avi Meyer, a former Israeli cybersecurity official who spoke on condition of anonymity. 'When the NSA or FBI demand backdoors from Apple or Google, Israel's intelligence agencies are rarely far behind in accessing the same pipelines.' From Pegasus to Exploding Pagers Israel's cyber warfare capabilities reached terrifying new heights in September 2024, when dozens of pagers carried by Hezbollah operatives simultaneously exploded across Lebanon. This unprecedented attack proved that modern surveillance doesn't just monitor — it can physically eliminate targets using their own devices. The pager explosions demonstrated Israel's ability to: * Weaponise ordinary electronics by remotely triggering battery explosions * Compromise supply chains by implanting lethal capabilities during manufacturing * Escalate cyber warfare into the physical realm with deniable precision strikes Combined with Israel's Pegasus spyware — used against journalists and activists worldwide — and AI-powered tracking in conflict zones, this marks a complete evolution of warfare. 'First they read your messages through Pegasus. Then they detonate your devices,' says Avi Cohen (pseudonym), a former cyber defence official. 'The Hezbollah pager attack was Israel showing the world there are no limits anymore.' Hypocrisy in the Tech Cold War While Israel and the West weaponise technology, they wage a relentless campaign against Chinese tech firms, branding Huawei a 'spying tool' and TikTok a 'data pipeline to Beijing.' Yet Western-made operating systems (Windows, iOS, Android) and platforms (Facebook, X, Google, WhatsApp) dominate global infrastructure — with no scrutiny of how Israel exploits them. The 5G rollout exposed the double standard: 2019: Huawei pioneers affordable 5G. Western media floods with warnings of 'radiation risks' and 'Chinese brainwashing.' The U.S. pressures allies to ban it. 2024: Western firms like Ericsson and Nokia deploy 5G. The health warnings vanish. The Stakes: Digital Colonialism or Sovereignty? The 1999 dream of e-government has metastasised into a global surveillance grid controlled by a U.S.-Israel tech-intelligence axis. The Hezbollah pager attacks proved that even basic electronics can be turned against their users. Three steps to reclaim control: 1. Build Sovereign Tech – Develop domestic alternatives to foreign operating systems and hardware. 2. Secure Supply Chains – Create national standards for critical tech components. 3. Assume Compromise – Treat all foreign tech as potentially weaponised until proven otherwise. The Ultimate Spy — and Assassin We stand at a crossroads: Continue to depend on hostile technologies, or follow China's lead in building sovereign digital infrastructure. The pager attacks weren't just a warning—they were a preview of our vulnerable future. But the most dangerous spy isn't a pager. It's the smartphone in your pocket. Your phone, smartwatch, smart ring, or band knows everything about you: * Your habits, routines, and movements * What you eat, when you sleep, and when you wake * Who you meet and what you discuss (via microphone access) * Your health data, financial activity, and biometrics This, I believe, is how Israel assassinated Iran's top officials last week. No human spies — just the targets' phones betraying them. Every foreign-made device in your home isn't just spying — it's a sleeper agent awaiting activation. The pager explosions were merely the opening scene. Tomorrow's assassinations won't be delivered by human hands — but through the glowing rectangle that never leaves your side. Your phone doesn't love you. It's just biding its time.
Biz Bahrain
31-05-2025
- Business
- Biz Bahrain
iGA invites public to experience Bahrain's latest digital services at Marassi Galleria stand
The Information & eGovernment Authority (iGA) invites citizens and residents in Bahrain to visit its awareness stand at Marassi Galleria, starting this week until Tuesday, June 3, to learn about its latest digital projects. Lulwa Sami, Director of Communications and Marketing at the iGA, confirmed that the awareness stand is part of the Authority's ongoing efforts to enhance communication with citizens and residents, raise awareness about integrated digital services and channels, and provide necessary support. It also aims to open direct channels for feedback to help improve the Authority's digital services and projects. The stand will introduce visitors to several digital projects, including the MyGov app and the updated eKey 2.0, both available on the eGovernment app store ( and the 13th eGovernment Excellence Award 2025. Sami added that the stand coincides with the launch of the 13th eGovernment Excellence Award 2025, where visitors will learn about the award's categories, participation requirements, and evaluation criteria, especially the Citizen Award. She renewed her invitation to citizens and residents to visit the iGA's awareness stand at Marassi Galleria until Tuesday, June 3, and to follow the Authority's official social media accounts @igabahrain for updates. BNA(R)
