In line with this initiative, the Government of Dubai will shortly introduce a new pricing mechanism for such services, which has been developed on a scientific basis by the Department of Finance to further enhance the competitiveness of the emirate and its attractiveness as an investment destination. This new system, which is unique among non-tax nations globally, will provide fee payers with the modern and diversified payment facilities, including through installment payments.

The Department of Finance, in coordination with all relevant Government departments, has identified opportunities to reduce fees by an average of 20-30 per cent. The specific fee reductions in this regard will be announced shortly.

 His Excellency Abdul Rahman Al Saleh, Director-General of the Department of Finance, said that the service fees that will be reduced under the new fee structure include:

The Director-General of the Department of Finance added that, in line with the decree by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the costs associated with all Government services will be reviewed in terms of fees, prices and specific tariffs. The pricing mechanism for Government services will be applied as the basis for the review process, which will in no case lead to an increase in fees, further supporting His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum’s vision of enhanced economic competitiveness.

The Director-General of the Department of Finance said:

“His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has stressed very clearly that the imposition of any new charges will be limited to one instance, which is the development of new services that have been deemed necessary and beneficial to the community. The pricing of any such service will be updated according to the pricing mechanism adopted.”

Regarding the nature and advantages of the Government services pricing mechanism, developed under the guidance of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, the Director-General of the Department of Finance said that this mechanism is a unique achievement by the Government of Dubai, not only across the region but also among all non-tax nations worldwide.

Abdul Rahman Al Saleh added that tax-imposing countries generally determine such service fees based on the actual cost to government. Other countries, including both tax and non-tax states, base such fees on cost estimates.

This can lead to two possible outcomes: first, either such fees are higher than required, leading to additional burdens on individuals and institutions, which can create a negative impact on incomes and economic competitiveness. In the second instance, such fees will be lower than required, leading to additional burdens on the government budget, hindering the process of providing and enhancing government services.

Al Saleh said that the Dubai Government’s new pricing mechanism is unique insofar as it based on the revenue policy of the Government. This policy is based on the principle of fairness in pricing Government services. Accordingly, Government services have been identified as belonging to four categories:

1. Public services that are available for all and from which no one can be excluded from their benefits, such as public security, infrastructure, environmental protection, etc. Worldwide, governments typically finance such services through tax revenues. In Dubai and the United Arab Emirates, these services are financed from other sources, such as oil revenues, profits of Government investments, etc.

2. Regulatory and administrative services that are essential to the regulation and authentification of general social and economic activities, such as issuing permits, licenses and all types of visas, in addition to registration records, birth certificates, ownership titles, etc. All the charges and fees of these administrative services are based on the fair cost and benefit to the individual.

The concept of fair cost is a unique advantage in the pricing mechanism that has been developed by the Dubai Government. It requires calculating the cost to be paid by the individual, even if it less than the actual cost to the Government for the same service. This means that the fair cost may be less than the actual cost by up to 30 per cent.

The benefits in this instance have been defined as limited to the private benefits obtained by the applicant upon receipt of the license, permit or registration, without considering the significant additional benefits that result from the use of the license, permit or registration.

3. Competitive economic services: services provided by the Government and the private sector, including medical, educational and other services. This type of service is priced on the basis of market prices. In this instance, the Government ensures that the price of such competitive services is not higher than market price, as the market price is assumed to be moderate because of competition. Such fees must also not be less than market prices so as not to weaken the private sector. The Government is committed to maintaining market prices, even if the cost of such services is higher than the market price.

4. Non-competitive economic services: services of an economic and investment nature that are not subject to competition from various points of delivery, such as electricity, water, public transportation, sanitation, public car parking, etc. Tariffs for these services are determined on the basis of economic cost in line with global standards.

Al Saleh concluded:

“The pricing mechanism approved by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum conforms with his vision to promote competitiveness and is based on modern scientific foundations, rather than speculation. The positive effects of the application of this mechanism will become clear in the coming months following the implementation of the comprehensive review initiated by the Department of Finance.”

The Harvard-Affiliated Joslin Diabetes Center was established in Boston in 1898 and since then it has been a global leader in meeting the ever-changing challenges of diabetes. The opening of this centre in Dubai marks its presence in the gulf region, where diabetes is a pressing medical concern.

His Highness Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, UAE Minister of Finance and President of Dubai Health Authority said: “I am pleased that the Dubai Health Authority has partnered with a centre that is known for its treatment methods and its capability to effectively treat and manage this disease. The centre will provide its expertise to treat the people in UAE who are suffering from this disease and its complications.”

He added: “Another important aspect is the diabetic training program that the centre will provide healthcare practitioners in Dubai. We are glad that both patients and healthcare professionals will be able to benefit from the centre’s experience in providing frontline treatment and care to control and manage this disease.”

H.E. Qadhi Saeed Al Murooshid, Director General of Dubai Health Authority said: “Diabetes is one of the major diseases that has affected a significant percentage of our population. The partnership with Joslin will ensure that we can utilize their competency to actively tackle this disease. This centre will be the first completely dedicated centre for diabetes care and prevention in the Emirate of Dubai and such a multi-disciplinary approach to managing the disease is indeed crucial at this point in time.”

The Affiliate will feature a state-of-the-art treatment facility for patients with diabetes and will focus on prevention, education, lifestyle management and podiatry, as well as early detection of complications for patients ages 18 and older. A pediatric division is planned for the future.

The centre will mirror the same approach to treating and preventing diabetes as is followed in Boston and will be able to treat 100 patients a day.

Clinicians at the Dubai centre include four U.S.-board certified endocrinologists, seven diabetes educators, a podiatrist, a physiotherapist and a mental health counselor.

Dr Hamed Farooqi, M.D., Medical Director of the Joslin Diabetes Center Dubai said: “The new affiliate’s mission for combating the diabetes epidemic in Dubai involves educating both patients and physicians and using sophisticated technology to both deliver care and measure results.”

“An important aspect of strategy, especially in the content of Dubai where a large percentage of the population are diabetics or are pre-diabetics, is setting up a diabetes training program for primary care doctors in Dubai.”

He said this will help provide unified standards for the prevention of diabetes across the Emirate of Dubai. “We will also bring in a software platform to track quality of care, clinical outcomes, physician education and patient compliance.”

He said the challenges of tackling the disease in this region are particularity high given the fact that Dubai has a high rate of obesity. “Type two diabetes is directly related to obesity and since Dubai also has a high incidence of childhood obesity, awareness and educative initiates will go a long way in combating the disease.”

Dr Farooqi said that the opening of this centre has brought the most advanced diabetic care to the Emirate of Dubai and in future the centre will include management of gestational diabetes and pediatric endocrinology amongst the host of other features it currently provides for identifying and managing the disease.