- The event included planting mangrove seedlings at the reserve during UAE Planting Week, supporting the national target of 100 million mangroves by 2030.
Ajman,November 2025: In the presence of Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Chairman of Municipality & Planning Department in Ajman, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment (MOCCAE) hosted a Zero Bureaucracy Meeting at Al Zorah Natural Reserve in Ajman. During the meeting, the Ministry presented its new vision for streamlining service procedures for customers. The launch of the Fishermen Services Package was a key announcement at the event. The package offers a pioneering model of government services to support fishermen, strengthening the blue economy and enhancing national food security.
The meeting was attended by HE Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, HE Mohamed Bin Taliah, Chief of Government Services, Government of UAE, HE Marwan Abdullah Al Zaabi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Regions Sector at MOCCAE, Heads of various government entities that contributed to developing the ‘Fishermen Services Package,’ senior officials from the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment, government officials from Ajman, and other strategic partners and customers.
An Innovative Model in Government Work:
In her opening remarks, HE Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak emphasised that the Ministry’s development efforts are based on deeply-rooted national principles.
HE said: “Our efforts are deeply inspired by the vision of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the UAE, who champions people and sustainability as national priorities. Simultaneously, we are implementing the Zero Government Bureaucracy Programme, guided by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. This initiative embodies a progressive vision to deliver flexible, innovative, and future-ready services.”
HE also noted that the Ministry is evolving its approach, focusing on transforming customers from mere service receivers into active partners in their design.
Her Excellency added: “We are working with a strategic vision aimed at transitioning from merely improving procedures to fundamentally reinventing services, in line with our leadership’s aspirations for a future-ready government.”
HE commended the Fishermen Services Package, adding that it represents a significant step in supporting one of the most important sectors in the country.
HE said: “Fishermen are the guardians of our heritage and the backbone of our food system. Ensuring zero bureaucracy is more than just an administrative facility but will go a long way in supporting the blue economy and sustainable food security. This commitment enables fishermen to dedicate their expertise to their profession, free from the burden of excessive paperwork.”
HE Dr. Amna Al Dahak underscored the holistic nature of the government’s vision: “Today, we demonstrate an integrated model of innovative governance, encompassing our efforts to eliminate bureaucracy, strengthen nature conservation, and advance climate action. This unified approach is designed to achieve comprehensive sustainability and build a greener, more prosperous future for all people in the UAE.”
Launch of the Fishermen Services Package:
As part of the meeting’s agenda, the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment introduced the Fishermen Services Package, a programme shaped by insights from interactive workshops conducted with fishermen to understand their specific challenges.
This package introduces a new generation of proactive services designed to shorten customer journeys, integrate related services into a unified window, and significantly reduce required documents. This streamlines critical processes such as licence renewals and the management of vessels and equipment, ensuring a smooth and efficient experience for fishermen.
The ‘Fishermen Services Package’ encompasses a comprehensive suite of key services that have been simplified. These include procedures for fishing boat licensing and renewal, applications for the issuance and renewal of Deputy Captain (Nakhuda) cards, addition or replacement of engine, and fishing boat replacement. Additionally, the package covers fishing boat hull sales, transfer of fishing boat ownership, transfer of boats to heirs, changing fishing techniques, and requesting fishermen support materials.
The Ministry’s efforts to achieve zero bureaucracy have yielded tangible, record-breaking results, including the elimination of 18,624 procedures and the reduction of 7,515 steps in the customer journey. These measures also removed the need to submit 16,269 documents and cut 2,827 requirements, resulting in a reduction of 2,620 visits to service centres. This demonstrates the efficiency of the new model in saving both time and effort for customers.
Roadmap and Achievements:
The Ministry has adopted an advanced methodology to achieve zero bureaucracy, employing internal teams to analyse and break down complex services, resulting in agile and efficient operating models that serve all customer segments.
Significant progress has been made in recent months. A higher committee and internal taskforces were formed across six main sectors, identifying priorities for 33 services and procedures. These include 82 sub-activities targeted for zeroing.
To ensure community engagement, the Ministry hosted 21 councils and interactive workshops to gather their insights on service design. Work is also underway to organise the largest virtual council for livestock traders between the UAE and the Sultanate of Oman.
On the digital integration front, the Ministry communicated with 28 federal and local government entities to reduce paper-based procedures and link services and enhance customer experience. These efforts culminated in the launch of the Tahweel Platform, the UAE’s first national digital marketplace for recyclable materials.
This innovative phase builds on the successes achieved in the previous cycle of the Zero Bureaucracy Programme, which eliminated 39 processes across 101 services. These resulted in the removal of more than 71,000 procedures and 150,000 steps, and the elimination of around 126,000 documents, reducing service delivery time by up to 51% and embedding a culture of efficiency within government work.
Honouring Partners and Strengthening Government Integration:
Sheikh Rashid bin Humaid Al Nuaimi and HE Dr. Amna bint Abdullah Al Dahak honoured partners, who played a prominent role in the success of the “Zero Bureaucracy” project and the launch of the “Fishermen Services Package.” This recognition underscores the effective government integration and commends the collaborative efforts that linked systems and simplified the customer journey.
The list of honourees included HE Ahmed Mohammed Bin Thani, Director General of the Dubai Environment and Climate Change Authority; HE Ali Ahmed Ali Abu Ghazin, Chairman of the Sharjah Fish Resources Authority; and HE Abdulrahman Mohammed Al Nuaimi, Director General of the Municipality and Planning Department in Ajman.
The ceremony also honoured HE Eng. Moza Obaid Al Muhairi, Assistant Director General of the Environment Protection and Development Authority in Ras Al Khaimah; HE Ismail Al Sayed Al Hashmi, Executive Director of the Terrestrial and Marine Biodiversity Sector at the Environment Agency – Abu Dhabi; Mr. Sulaiman Rashid Al Khadim Al Antali, President of the Cooperative Union of Fishermen’s Associations; and Lt. Col. Staff Bakhit Rashid Al Matroushi, Commander of the 3rd Squadron at the National Guard, in appreciation of their substantial contributions to supporting fishermen and enhancing sustainable food security.
Mangrove Planting: Sustainability at the Heart of the Event:
At the end of the meeting, HE Dr. Amna Al Dahak and attendees participated in planting mangrove seedlings at one of Al Zorah Natural Reserve’s key sites to mark UAE Planting Week.
Mangrove trees are among the most effective nature-based solutions for combating climate change, enhancing biodiversity, and protecting coastal ecosystems, as they act as natural carbon sinks. The UAE continues to advance its national target of planting 100 million mangrove trees by 2030 as part of its broader environmental and climate sustainability efforts.
