ePay generated Dh1.7bn in H1

There is an increase of 55 per cent in amounts collected through Dubai eGovernment's ePay payment gateway in the first half of 2011 compared to last year, says Dubai eGovernment.

ePay has enabled customers to electronically pay their bills and settle dues for various government services in a safe and secure manner.

A total of Dh1.7 billion - through 1,396,973 transactions - was collected through ePay on behalf of all the participating local entities by the end of June 2011 where as last year same period it was Dh1.1bn through 835,095 transactions.

Dubai Customs, Dubai Electricity and Water Authority (Dewa) and Dubai Health Authority were the top three government entities respectively in terms of the electronically collected amounts, while Dubai Health Authority, Roads and Transport Authority and Dewa were the top three government entities respectively in terms of the number of transactions achieved.

Ahmed Bin Humaidan, Director General of Dubai eGovernment said: "These results clearly indicate the favourable pace of eTransformation in Dubai and also reflect the increasing adoption of ePay as a preferred mode of payment to complete government transactions on one hand and the confidence shown by customers in the efficiency and safety of this option on the other." Bin Humaidan added: "This service allows both corporate and individual customers to complete ePayment for government services either through credit cards or direct debit from the customer's account in participating banks."

He noted that payment through credit cards was the customers' top preferred option with the amounts electronically collected through credit cards reaching nearly Dh1.4bn. He also noted the use of direct debit option grew noticeably from 23,000 transactions in the first half of 2010 to 120,000 transactions in the corresponding period this year.

Explaining the role played by Dubai eGovernment in providing the foundation required for completing eTransformation in Dubai as per the highest standards observed worldwide, Bin Humaidan said: "All government departments need certain electronic ingredients and infrastructures to offer high quality and secure online services aimed at attracting customers and encouraging them to adopt the option of completing their transactions online. In line with this, Dubai eGovernment strives to offer the required ingredients in the shape of centralized services and a joint infrastructure, enabling these departments to provide facilitated services to the public while offering them a suitable ground for concentration and innovation in their respective scopes of activity."