Abu Dhabi is drawing strong approval from the global information and communications technology (ICT) community for its ongoing initiatives to transform itself to a genuinely digital society, said experts.

Attendees to the ongoing Gitex agree that an expanding ICT framework is taking the emirate steps closer to its goal of becoming one of the world’s top governments in the next few years.

Catching the global spotlight is a special stand at the venue’s Sheikh Saeed Halls near the Government pavilion where the Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Centre (ADSIC), the government body responsible for local ICT development, is showcasing the emirate’s cutting-edge, ICT-enabled public services.

Among the high-profile officials who graced the stand on the opening day were Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the UAE’s Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai.

Both prominent figures commended ADSIC for its outstanding work in enabling the modernization of government services via information technology.

Mohammed Ahmad Al Bowardi, the secretary general of the General Secretariat of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council, also visited the Gitex and checked out the ADSIC’s presentations.

"It is an honor to both receive such a high level of admiration from the world’s best ICT practitioners, experts and decision makers and feel the genuine respect towards Abu Dhabi’s ICT maturity given by no less than some of this country’s great leaders," remarked Rashed Lahej Al Mansoori, the ADSIC director general.

"Our team will definitely draw on the overwhelming positive results of its participation in Gitex to continue taking Abu Dhabi’s ICT growth to the next level," he added.

The Abu Dhabi centre is holding a series of presentations at Gitex explaining the core e-services it offers to government and private entities.-TradeArabia News Service