The General Authority for Regulating the Telecommunications Sector (TRA), calls all citizens and residents of the U.A.E. to vote for the Emirati projects shortlisted for the WSIS Project Prizes 2016 contest which is open for public voting until 10th March, the deadline set by the organizing committee.

This step comes within the framework of a broad campaign led by the TRA in collaboration with government entities to ensure a wide participation by employees and the wider public in supporting the Emirati projects and enhancing the chances of these projects winning the highest number of awards. Voting is crucial in supporting the selection of the 36 Emirati projects shortlisted under 15 different categories out of the contest’s eighteen categories.

"The World Summit on the Information Society Forum is a significant platform that showcases best projects and national initiatives in the field of telecommunications and information technology. The Forum significantly contributes to enhancing the competitiveness and quality standards, as each participating country tries to highlight the progress and development attained in this area. Our main objective, being the official body in charge of coordinating national efforts, is to achieve an honorable representation and positive image that reinforces the leading profile of the UAE in global events and forums and ensure winning the highest number of awards,” commented H. E. Hamad Obaid Al Mansoori, TRA Director General.

"We look forward to providing a bright image and a remarkable presence that truly reflects the great efforts and progress achieved by the UAE in building a knowledge and information society. The quality and nature of the Emirati projects submitted for this year's contest highlight the great, successive and rapid developments taking place in many government entities and institutions, which reflects the thorough vision and the well-defined future plans and action strategies all aimed at further improving and developing this sector,” said Mohamed Al Zarooni, UAE TRA Director Policies and Programs.

The Emirati projects which have made it to the shortlist include: “The Drones for Good Award” by Ministry of Cabinet Affairs, and “Mashrooi Smart Application” by Dubai Land Department, Government of Dubai and “MOI UAE Smart Application” by the Ministry of Interior, UAE by Ministry of interior under the “Role Of Governments and all Stakeholders in the promotion of ICT for Development”. “Project SMART” by ADNOC Distribution, “UAE NATIONAL VALIDATION GATEWAY” by Emirates Identity Authority (EIDA), “Dubai Electricity Control Centers” by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority are shortlisted under INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION INFRASTRUCTURE category. The ACCESS TO INFORMATION AND KNOWLEDGE Category include TRA-ITU ICT DISCOVERY MUSEUM by TRA and the CAPACITY BUILDING include IPv6 Roadshow by RIPE NCC and Dubai Smart Training Initiative by The Executive Council - Government of Dubai. Projects under BUILDING CONFIDENCE AND SECURITY IN THE USE OF ICTS include GD SMART POWER PLANET PROJECT by DUBAI ELECTRICITY AND WATER AUTHORITY (DEWA) and CYBER BLACKMAIL CAMPAIGN by TRA and Al Ameen Service. The ICT APPLICATIONS: E-GOVERNMENT Category include 10 projects: “Tiers Safety Control System” By Emirates Authority For Standardization and Metrology, “Dubai Electricity and Water Authority Smart Application” by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, “Area Report” by Dubai Electricity and Water Authority,” Bayanati System” by Federal Authority for Human Recourses, “Membership and Certificate of Origin System” by Sharjah Chamber of Commerce & Industry, SHARJAH Directorate of Public Works by Directorate of Public Works (DPW), “FAHR SMART APPLICATION” by Federal Authority for Government Human Resources, “Zayed Complexes” by Sheikh Zayed Housing Programme, “EMIRATES VEHICLE GATE” by Ministry of Interior, and “DARB BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT ABU DHABI” by DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT ABU DHABI. The ICT APPLICATIONS: E-BUSINESS include SMART NAVIGATION SYSTEM by Smart Navigation Systems, while the ICT APPLICATIONS: E-LEARNIN include Mobile Solution for Enhancing Teaching & Learning by United Arab Emirates University, Virtual Learning by Dubai Police and THE FUTURE AVIATORS WEBSITE by General Civil Aviation Authority. ICT APPLICATIONS: E-HEALTH Category include “Nomow Application” for early detection of developmentally delayed children by Ministry of Social Affairs while ICT APPLICATIONS: E-EMPLOYMENT category include Smart Recruitment by Dubai Police. Two projects are shortlisted under ICT APPLICATIONS: E-ENVIRONMENT category: E-LICENSE PROGRAM by Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation and M-ENVIRONMENT by Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW). Under CULTURAL DIVERSITY AND IDENTITY, LINGUISTIC DIVERSITY AND LOCAL category, the UAE shortlisted the UAEPedia by TRA and under media category M-GOVERNMANT TV PROGRAM by TDRA. The ETHICAL DIMENSIONS OF THE INFORMATION SOCIETY category include 360 Degrees of Student Awareness by Khalifa Empowerment Program for Students (AQDAR), Electronic Awareness Games by Dubai Police and HEMAYATI CHILD PROTECTION by Ministry of Interior. The last category, “INTERNATIONAL AND REGIONAL COOPERATION” category include two projects: ICT Development in Arab Region by TRA and 5TH BIENNIAL INTERNATIONAL CYBER CRIMES CONFERENCE by Ministry of Interior.