His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has publicly acknowledged the best and worst government departments in the UAE regarding their efforts to reduce bureaucracy. The announcement was made via social media on Sunday, February 9, 2025. Sheikh Mohammed highlighted that the Department of Justice, the Department of State, and the Department of Energy and Infrastructure have made significant progress in combating bureaucratic inefficiencies.

Conversely, Emirates Post, the Pensions Authority, and the Ministry of Sports were noted as the least effective in addressing bureaucracy. According to ARN News, Sheikh Mohammed said about the importance of these assessments by stating, “At the end of 2023, we launched a movement to eliminate and reduce bureaucracy in the departments. We launched an assessment of the extent of the departments’ response to ensure better services, higher efficiency, and facilitation of people’s lives.”

During his remarks, Sheikh Mohammed conveyed a strong message to departments that have not made adequate efforts. He noted that “the bad systems created by government bureaucracy over the years can be changed by bold and quick decisions in days,” emphasizing the need for both people and officials to take action. He expressed his concerns about the nature of government bureaucracy, describing it as “the art of turning simple things into complex ones” and a barrier to individual creativity.

Sheikh Mohammed further elucidated the shortcomings of bureaucratic systems, asserting that “in government bureaucracy, procedures take precedence over results, papers surpass service delivery, and systems and rules stifle innovative thinking.” The UAE’s commitment to improving public service efficiency and enhancing the overall experience for its citizens is underscored by this declaration.