The UAE Ministry of Finance and Industry and Dubai World today signed an official agreement under which the Ministry will provide the E-Dirham service for the collection of fees for services offered by Dubai World and its subsidiary companies.
This service will be available to the business sectors and individuals from end of March through the e-payment system on Dubai Trade portal www.dubaitrade.ae.
The Agreement was signed by Younis Haji Khouri, Undersecretary, Ministry of Finance and Industry, and Jamal Majid Bin Thaniah, Executive Vice Chairman, DP World, and Group CEO, Port and Free Zone World.
This step contributes towards providing the most important channels of centralized electronic payment via the service centres and online, with a series of advanced services offered by the Ministry to various government departments throughout the UAE.
DP World, Dubai Customs, Economic Zones World, Nakheel are among the Dubai World companies authorized to use the E-Dirham System devised by the Ministry of Finance and Industry.
Younis Haji Khouri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance and Industry said: “Through this Agreement, the Ministry seeks to build on the success of the E-Dirham System by enhancing the technological and administrative drive led by Dubai World. The E-Dirham System launched by the Ministry of Finance and Industry in 2001 provided a more developed alternative to the traditional methods of fees collection. It has proved to be a secure and modern payment system and an effective tool for the application of automated systems for financial control and the introduction of accurate database, both financial and statistical. The automation of payment transactions also allows for more accurate information about government fee payments and facilitates policy decision-making. Government institutions are now able to focus more on the provision of services rather than the collection of fees.”
Bin Thaniah said on the occasion: “Dubai World is keen to contribute to the growth and prosperity of the UAE, especially Dubai, in all fields, and is keen to support the development process led by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, who is extending his unwavering support for the UAE nationals, expatriates and business sectors. We believe that information technology is one of the most important pillars of progress.”
“Collection of fees via E-Dirham through the centralized e-payment gateway and other channels of payment at the Dubai Trade portal will contribute to providing services to the customers of Dubai World group companies, in addition to facilitating the commercial transactions in Dubai through electronic clearance of import, export and re-export-related transactions, and improving the supply chain and logistics services,” he added.
Bin Thaniah stressed that the application of the E-Dirham System will largely contribute to increasing productivity and efficiency, simplifying fee collections, controlling congestion and fast processing of transactions, besides enabling customers to process their translations without having to leave their offices.
HE Khalid Al Bustani, Assistant Undersecretary, Revenues and Budget Affairs, Ministry of Finance and Industry said: “In the first phase, the Ministry succeeded in implementing the E-Dirham System at all Federal Ministries and authorities. It is also close to realizing all the objectives of its second phase, as it managed to provide it for a number of government, semi-government and private establishments.”
“The Ministry of Finance and Industry plans to introduce other new services this year following the launch of the third generation of the E-Dirham System. This has seen the upgrading of E-Dirham chip in line with the international criteria of electronic purses, so that it would incorporate a broad package of new services,” he added.
Mahmoud Al Bastaki, Director, Dubai Trade, Dubai World, and head of the Centralized E-Payment Gateway Project, said: “This System will provide the users with an advanced and secure tool to finalize their transactions electronically via Dubai Trade portal, which enjoys substantial reliability and credibility among its customers and companies operating within the Dubai World group. This is reflected in the rapid increase in the number of registered users.”
Dubai World’s E-Dirham System will offer two kinds of cards: the Fixed Value Card and the Government Client Card. The latter has been introduced with a host of features that makes it more appropriate for companies, establishments and individuals. Other features include free issuance fees, a PIN (personal identification number) known to the card holder, the card can be recharged at any time at the convenience of the card holder, it can be deactivated in case of loss or theft, and the balance can be transferred to another card. Card holders can also obtain an online statement via the E-Dirham System website. It has been agreed with the Emirates Identity Authority to allow the use of agreed the ID card as an electronic payment card in the E-Dirham System.
The Ministry has provided the E-Dirham cards in most branches of the banks operating in the UAE, in addition to a large number of ATMs and Emirates Post offices throughout the UAE whose working hours extend till 11.00pm, as well as the direct transfer service in the banks. The E-Form service for the issuance of Government Customer Card online, allows dealers to fill up the forms on the Ministry website, and the cards are sent to the customers via ordinary mail free of delivery charges.
