Ministry of Sports Launches UX Lab to Enhance Sabbatical Services
The Ministry of Sports has launched a dedicated User Experience Lab (UX Lab) at its Dubai headquarters to improve the digital journey of its sports sabbatical services, reinforcing the UAE's commitment to customer-focused government transformation.
The initiative offered a hands-on simulation of the customer experience, enabling participants to assess and provide feedback on current services. Representatives from national sports federations, the Telecommunications and Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA), and the Ministry's own digital transformation and customer happiness teams attended the session.
The UX Lab is part of broader efforts under the Government Services 2.0 framework and the Zero Government Bureaucracy programme, both of which aim to simplify public services and eliminate administrative hurdles.
Ghanim Mubarak Al Hajeri, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Sports, described the lab as a step towards delivering streamlined, smart services. 'Enhancing customer experiences is at the core of our mission. This initiative allows us to directly engage with service users, gather insights, and co-design better solutions,'
he said.
Six participants from various sports entities took part in one-hour evaluation sessions, reviewing their digital experience and identifying opportunities for improvement.
The Ministry's focus on collaborative service design and operational efficiency reflects its long-term goal of offering frictionless government services that align with evolving user needs and the UAE's digital agenda.
News Source: Emirates News Agency
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Gulf Today
5 hours ago
- Gulf Today
UAE to implement Midday Break for 21st consecutive year from June 15 to Sept.15, 2025
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) has announced the implementation of the Midday Break, prohibiting work under direct sunlight and in open-air spaces between 12:30 pm and 3:00 pm, from 15 June to 15 September 2025. Now in its 21st consecutive year, the Midday Break is rooted in a sustainability-centred approach that the UAE implements in line with its commitment to providing a safe working environment as per international best practices and occupational health and safety standards, protecting workers from injuries and illnesses caused by working in high temperatures during the summer months. Under the terms of the Midday Break, companies are required to provide necessary supplies and arrangements, including shaded areas to protect workers from the sun during the break or while performing permitted tasks. They must also ensure appropriate cooling equipment is available, such as fans, adequate quantities of drinking water, and hydration supplements like electrolytes as approved for use by local authorities, along with other amenities and first-aid supplies at the Midday Break regulations take into account the need for continuity in certain types of work that serve public interests. Exemptions apply to tasks that must continue uninterrupted for technical reasons, such as laying asphalt or pouring concrete when it is unfeasible to complete these activities after the exclusions include work required to address hazards or repair issues that impact the community, such as disruptions to water or electricity supply, traffic congestion, and malfunctions in basic services. The exemption also covers activities that require a permit from a competent government authority due to their impact on public life and Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation works to assess the level of compliance with the Midday Break requirements among companies, using its monitoring system throughout the duration of the initiative. Moreover, the Ministry welcomes reports of harmful practices or violations flagged by members of the community through its call centre at 600590000, website, or smart companies will be fined Dhs5,000 for every worker per breach, up to a maximum of Dhs50,000 if several workers were found to be in violation. The Ministry will also escalate its awareness campaigns and field visits, in coordination with its public and private sector partners, to educate workers and employers about the provisions of the Midday Break and the necessity to comply with regulations in that regard. Mohsin Ali Al Nassi, Assistant Undersecretary for Inspection & Compliance at MoHRE said, "The Midday Break has achieved a record compliance rate of more than 99% for several years in a row, in a clear indication of the firmly entrenched social and humanitarian values among the business community and private sector companies in the UAE. This also highlights the high level of awareness regarding the need to protect human capital, the most valuable resource in any company, reflecting the commendable and people-centred nature of labour regulations and practices embraced in the UAE, especially with regards to occupational health and safety.' Al Nassi highlighted the Ministry's commitment to raise awareness among establishments and their workers about the importance of adhering to the provisions of the Midday Break through field visits by inspectors to workplaces and labour accommodations. This contributes to enhancing awareness of occupational health and safety requirements and protecting workers from heat-related illnesses. For her part, Dalal Alshehhi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for Labour Protection at MoHRE, said, "The Midday Break has become a prime example of constructive partnerships between the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation, the private sector, and the wider community, with many partners developing their own initiatives to support workers while the Midday Break is in effect,' Alshehhi added. "This reinforces the principle of social responsibility and ensures the success of our awareness strategies, further embedding humanitarian values in the UAE's work environment, which welcomes more than 200 nationalities to live, work, and invest, in line with the objectives of the 'We the UAE 2031' vision.' Alshehhi commended private sector establishments that have taken the initiative over recent years to provide fully equipped rest areas designed to ensure workers' utmost comfort during the daily Midday Break, demonstrating these establishments' strong commitment to ensuring workers' well-being before they resume their daily duties after the break. She urged all private sector establishments to adopt similar initiatives, which have a positive impact on workers' health and contribute to enhanced productivity. WAM
TAG 91.1
10 hours ago
- TAG 91.1
UAE to apply outdoor midday work ban from June 15
The annual outdoor work ban between the hours of 12:30 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. is expected to come into force on June 15 and end on September 15, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) announced. For the 21st consecutive year, is part of a sustainable approach implemented by the UAE to provide a safe work environment that meets best practices and occupational health and safety requirements, thus protecting workers from injuries and damages that may result from working in high temperatures during the summer months. His Excellency Mohsen Al Nasi, Assistant Undersecretary for Inspection and Compliance Sector at the Ministry, said that the midday work ban has achieved a pioneering level of compliance, reaching more than 99 per cent for consecutive years. Fines will be imposed on companies violating the policy, amounting to a minimum of AED 5,000 per worker and a maximum of AED 50,000 in the event of multiple workers. He pointed out the Ministry's keenness to educate establishments and their employees about the importance of adhering to the provisions of the "midday work ban" through field visits by inspectors, which include work sites and workers' housing- contributing to enhancing awareness of occupational health and safety requirements, and protecting workers from sunstroke and heat stress. For her part, Her Excellency Dalal Al Shehhi, Acting Assistant Undersecretary for the Labor Protection Sector, pointed out that the midday work ban has become a pioneering model of partnership between the Ministry, the private sector, and members of the community, as partners develop initiatives for workers during the ban period. This reinforces the concept of social responsibility and confirms the success of the awareness-raising approach and the consolidation of humanitarian concepts in the UAE's work environment, which hosts more than 200 nationalities to live, work, and invest. This aligns with the objectives of the "We the Emirates" Vision 2031. She commended private sector establishments that have, over the past years, taken the initiative to provide fully equipped rest areas to ensure complete comfort for workers during the daily work ban. This confirms these establishments' awareness of the importance of taking measures to preserve workers' health before resuming daily work after the suspension period. She called on private sector establishments to implement such initiatives, which will positively impact workers' health and enhance their productivity. The "noontime work ban" provisions require companies to provide tools and supplies for the ban period, provide shaded areas for workers to protect them from the sun during off-duty periods or while performing licensed work, as well as provide appropriate cooling equipment such as fans, sufficient quantities of water, and hydrating materials like salts and similar products approved for use by local authorities in the country, as well as other amenities and first aid equipment in the workplace. The midday work ban provisions ensure the continuity of work in a manner that serves the public interest. They stipulate the exception of some works that require continuous work for technical reasons, such as asphalt mix laying and concrete pouring if they cannot be implemented or completed after the ban period, and works necessary to avert danger or repair faults that affect society in general, such as interruptions in water supply lines, power outages, traffic disruptions, and other faults in essential services. The exception also includes works that require a permit from a competent government authority due to their impact on traffic and public life.
Gulf Today
11 hours ago
- Gulf Today
UAE approves criteria for Emirati students pursuing higher studies in foreign universities
In line with the UAE's strategic direction to enhance the quality and outcomes of higher education and human development, and to align its outcomes with national development goals and market needs, the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council (EHCD) has approved a set of criteria for Emirati students who wish to pursue their higher education outside the UAE. The criteria aim to enhance student's competence and readiness to enter the job market, and to regulate international scholarship options in accordance with the UAE's aspirations, national plans, priority sectors, and future developments, thereby supporting the optimal investment in Emirati talents. Through this initiative, the Council aims to empower students to make well-informed decisions based on clear criteria that ensures the quality of selected programs and academic institutions. It also seeks to enhance the value of the qualifications they obtain, supporting their future career opportunities both within the UAE and abroad. These criteria are derived from a clear vision to elevate the higher education experience abroad, by guiding students toward accredited and high-quality academic institutions and specializations. Students wishing to enroll in a higher education institution outside the UAE, whether at their own expense or through a sponsoring entity, are required to study at institutions recognised by the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research, in accordance with the following approved classifications and standards: 1. The institution must be ranked among the top 50 universities worldwide in the intended field of study, regardless of overall ranking or country, according to the Ministry's approved international rankings. 2. If studying in the United States or Australia, the institution must be ranked among the world's top 100 universities in the intended field of study, and among the top 100 universities overall, according to the Ministry's approved international rankings. 3. If studying in any other English-speaking country (excluding the USA and Australia), the institution must be ranked among the world's top 200 universities in the intended field and among the top 200 universities overall, according to the Ministry's approved international rankings 4. If studying in a non-English-speaking country, the institution must be ranked among the world's top 300 universities in the intended field and among the top 300 universities overall, according to the Ministry's approved international rankings. The Council emphasised the importance of adhering to the specified criteria to avoid non-recognition of qualifications obtained abroad. Non-compliance may result in these qualifications not being acknowledged for purposes such as employment, promotion, study leave, exam leave, thesis discussion, or eligibility for qualification-related benefits within the federal government sector in the UAE. To ensure a transparent and a balanced approach, taking into account special cases, Emirati students who are currently pursuing their studies abroad, whether self-funded or sponsored by a scholarship entity, will be granted a one-year grace period from the effective date of this decision to adjust their academic status. A specialised committee, chaired by the General Secretariat of the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council has been established to review exemption requests. The committee will assess these requests based on precise criteria that consider the nature of the specialization, the academic institution, and the individual circumstances of each case, to support the students' best interests and enhance their educational and career opportunities. The Council also instructs the students and the relevant parties to communicate directly with the Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research for inquiries related to the approved criteria and the process for submitting exemption requests. This mechanism is part of a broader set of policies and initiatives being developed by the Education, Human Development and Community Development Council in coordination with relevant entities. These efforts are designed to enhance the quality of higher education, strengthen accreditation recognition system, and support Emirati students both within and outside the UAE. Such initiatives contribute to empowering Emirati talents, developing human capital, and nurturing generations equipped with the skills, capabilities, and knowledge that align with the UAE's aspirations and reflects its vision for the future. WAM
