UAE’s plan to cut maritime paperwork wins Gulf digital award

The Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure received the Digital Innovation Award for its Maritime Bundle at the Gulf Green Mobility Forum Awards 2026, attended by government officials, experts and transport-industry representatives from across the GCC.

The ministry received a second award when Hessa Al Malik, adviser to the Minister of Energy and Infrastructure for maritime transport affairs, placed first in the Leading Woman in Mobility category.

The Maritime Bundle brings separate maritime services together digitally, allowing customers to complete procedures through a simpler and more connected process.

It was created as part of the UAE Government’s Zero Bureaucracy Programme by reviewing the customer journey, removing unnecessary steps and linking services offered by different organisations.

When the platform was launched, the ministry said commercial vessels could face 365 procedures, 552 data fields and 117 documents.

The bundle combines 28 services delivered with 62 organisations and serves more than 38,000 beneficiaries annually. It can reduce procedures and documentation by as much as 99 per cent, according to details released by the ministry.

The project previously received national recognition when the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure was named Best Government Team in the Zero Bureaucracy category.

Al Malik received the Leading Woman in Mobility Award for her leadership and work in developing the transport sector.

“I am proud of this achievement, which I see as a recognition of Emirati women and the enabling environment created by our wise leadership to empower women and strengthen their participation across various sectors,” she said.

She credited the Maritime Bundle award to the national team that redesigned maritime services around customers and simplified the steps they must complete.

Al Malik said the project followed the Zero Bureaucracy Programme’s approach of making the customer central to the development of government services.

“This recognition holds particular significance for us, as it brings together recognition of national talent and innovation in the development of government services,” she added.