His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, alongside His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Defence, and Chairman of The Executive Council of Dubai, recently honored the winners of the inaugural ‘Zero Bureaucracy Award’. The ceremony took place during the World Governments Summit 2025.
Sheikh Mohammed emphasized that the award reflects the visionary leadership of President His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, highlighting the UAE’s commitment to a community- and people-centred governance model. He stated, “Today, we celebrate the most outstanding government employees and teams. By honoring their achievements and the remarkable results they have achieved, we reaffirm our commitment to advancing toward a people-centred ‘Zero Bureaucracy’ government.”
The award recognizes exceptional performance in various categories such as Best Government Team, Impact on People, Impact on Business, Engaging People, Government Integration, Innovative Solutions, and Outstanding Initiative.
Among the notable winners, the Ministry of Justice secured the Best Government Team award. They were recognized for eliminating over 31 bureaucratic procedures, greatly reducing time and effort for clients. The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure’s ‘Manzili Bundle’ Team won the Impact on People category for enhancing housing procedures for UAE citizens. In the Impact on Business category, the Federal Tax Authority was recognized for improving corporate tax registration processes.
The Engaging People category featured three teams: the Ministry of Interior’s Customer Councils Team, the Ministry of Finance’s Partner Councils Team, and the Ministry of Health and Prevention’s User Experience Lab and Customer Councils Team. They were all acknowledged for fostering greater transparency and trust between government and society.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, along with the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs, and Port Security, were honored in the Government Integration category. They were recognized for integrating databases and streamlining connectivity. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ Smart Mission Team received the Innovative Solutions award for enhancing consular processes and customer satisfaction.
The Emirates Health Services took home the Outstanding Initiative award, recognizing their exceptional efforts to improve access to essential healthcare services.
The ‘Zero Bureaucracy Award’ recognized 30 federal government entities and over 600 teams for eliminating bureaucratic barriers. The total prizes awarded amounted to AED7 million.
The award process involved a three-stage evaluation. It started with an independent assessment of initiatives aimed at eliminating bureaucracy. The best teams were shortlisted and selected based on measurable impact. Additionally, the capabilities and integration of modern technologies to improve government operations were considered.
The World Governments Summit serves as a global platform for exploring major future government trends. It features over 30 heads of state, 140 government delegations, and more than 200 interactive sessions. The summit also publishes strategic reports to promote excellence and innovation in government operations.
