Smart Dubai Office, the government initiative to implement innovative technology, announced that it has selected IBM, as its Blockchain Lead Strategic Partner, and Consensys, as Blockchain City Advisor and has officially started the first city-wide effort to implement blockchain technology.

The announcement was made during a press conference and falls in line with the effort of the Dubai Blockchain Strategy 2020 that was announced in October 2016 by the Dubai Future Foundation and the Smart Dubai Office. The move marks an important step towards the commitment to deliver Dubai's Blockchain Strategy, announced late last year by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammad Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, said Dr. Aisha bin Bishr, director-general, Smart Dubai Office.

“We are working towards our goal of making Dubai the first blockchain-powered government in the world by 2020. Collaborating with IBM and Consensys will help expedite this process, attaining Smart Dubai’s overall vision of making every-day experiences more safe, seamless, efficient and impactful for all residents and visitors of the city,” H.E Dr.Aisha Bin BIshr, Director General, Smart Dubai Office, said in a release. “Collaborating with IBM and Consensys will help expedite this process, attaining Smart Dubai’s overall vision of making everyday experiences more safe, seamless, efficient and impactful for all residents and visitors of the city.”

Smart Dubai will be conducting workshops over the coming months with key government, semi-government and private organizations in Dubai in order to identify and prioritize the services that can be most enhanced by the application of blockchain technology. The workshops aim to educate public and private sector communities in Dubai on potentials of the blockchain.

With the initiative, Smart Dubai can build a shared blockchain as a Service (BaaS) Platform for Dubai Government entities to use for implementing their blockchain pilots and projects.

“Once again Dubai has demonstrated its fast forward, yet prudent, approach to defining and delivering services on the blockchain. In analysing, selecting and offering government services on interoperable blockchains, Smart Dubai will dramatically reduce wasted time, effort and resources, and accelerate commerce locally by greatly reducing friction at the interface of business and government and in citizen services and will, therefore, serve as a model for the world's civic governance,” Joseph Lubin, CEO and founder, Consensys, stated.