Public Policy Document

Aligned with the “UAE Strategy for Government Services”, the UAE Government has introduced the "API-First Policy" to accelerate digital transformation and ensure seamless, 24/7 access to services from anywhere. This initiative positions the UAE as a leader in digital infrastructure and transformation, fostering the development of innovative digital services. By offering faster, more cost-effective service options and strengthening partnerships with the private sector, the policy aims to enhance service excellence and drive the growth of the digital economy. 
The policy outlines the government’s requirements and procedures for accessing data and leveraging the digital services offered by federal entities through the API-First approach. It establishes clear regulations governing the relationship between service providers and users, strengthens public-private sector collaboration, and enhances the customer experience with government services. Additionally, it accelerates integration and transformation, paving the way for a dynamic and thriving digital economy.
 

1. Design and develop government services to be inherently linked to and seamlessly integrated with other systems and applications.
2. Enhance the user’s experience for services provided by both the public and private sectors.
3. Improve service efficiency and effectiveness by providing a seamless, integrated, and secure ecosystem for API-First accessibility.
4. Foster a culture of innovation and enable rapid, systematic, and cost-effective development of new software and service packages to ensure proactiveness and quality.
5. Adopt modern and innovative business models while empowering private sector growth in the digital economy through strategic partnerships.
6. Enable customer data sharing within government services to uphold the principle of requesting data only once.
7. Boost data protection by introducing cutting-edge security measures for API-First to ensure data confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
    

1. Design digital government services to, primarily, enable system and application interoperability and integration.
2. Activate the API-First marketplace for both the public and private sectors.
3. Raise awareness and facilitate API-First accessibility for users, developers, and public and private entities.
    

Impact on digital government services:

• Enhance the quality of government and sectoral services by offering secure, seamless, and integrated communication interfaces.
• Streamline administrative processes and reduce bureaucracy by transitioning to digital services.

Impact on international competitiveness:

• Strengthen the UAE’s global standing as an attractive destination for investment and innovation in technology.
• Improve the UAE’s international ranking in innovation and global competitiveness indexes, by advancing the digital and technological infrastructure.

Economic impact:

• Increase national and foreign investments in the technology and innovation sectors.
• Boost economic growth by stimulating the digital business sector and fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.

Social impact:

• Create advanced job opportunities and learning platforms for young talent and UAE national professionals.
• Enhance communication and engagement among citizens, community members, the Government, and the private sector by providing more efficient and seamless services.

Environmental impact:

• Reduce paper consumption and printing by supporting the transition to digital services.
• Lower carbon emissions by minimizing travel and commuting for government services.

API-First Publisher or Provider: All Federal Government Entities that supply API-First interfaces, offering digital services and/or currently designing systems or applications related to digital services, as well as existing systems and applications within the entity.

API-First User: All users of API-First platforms from the public and private sectors, as well as external entities who collaborate with API-First providers and seek to utilize or benefit from these interfaces.