Following the plan put forward by His Highness, Sheikh Mohammad Bin Rashed Al-Maktoum, the Ministry of Finance and Industry launched its government services through smart cards called “e-dirham” or “electronic-dirham” card services. This transformation from normal cash payment is the first step towards implementing the Electronic Government Project. Many government bodies have started utilizing the e-dirham service; among the first to actually implement it was the UAE Patent Office as all official fees are now collected through the e-dirham card. Other government offices such as the Ministry of Health, Ministry of Trade and Commerce, Trademark Office, and the Ministry of Media and Information have also started to use this system.
The Government Client Card, in particular, has the advantages of being permanent and safe. By using the Government Client Card the customer can key in the password personally, fill in the appropriate value, or reload the card.
The card is issued in the name of the company free of charge and can be operated on collection terminals within networks at ministries or other departments.
A more evident advantage is practicality; e-dirham cards are easily available in a large number of government agencies and a number of national and commercial banks throughout the UAE. The e-dirham service is merely a beginning. Full payment facilities provided through the Internet are to be implemented in the very near future.