Unite Arab Emirates : e-Dirham as a payment tool in order to facilitate collection of revenues

The e-Dirham is a Payment Tool devised by the Ministry of Finance & Industry in order to facilitate collection of Revenues, providing the Government with a Secure Payment Method, and providing the public with a convenient payment tool. The e-Dirham was initially intended for the Revenue Collection of the Federal Government, but gradually the e-Dirham has become the Payment Method, which many Local Governments in the UAE are using including semi-governmental organization and even some of the Private Sector. The e-Dirham was launched on the 3rd of February 2001. Marking the UAE to be the first to introduce such a system countrywide within the Arab Region.

The e-Dirham has become widely available, and has many payment channels. The UAE has become the center for the IT innovations, and the e-Dirham is one of the good examples.Our Objectives  :Replace the conventional revenue collection systems using Governmental Stamps or Governmental Receipts with a highly developed solution.Eliminate Cash Handling.Simplify payment collections for various Services offered by the Government.Provide a very Secure Revenue Collection Method, that will protect the rights of the Government and the rights of the public from any forgeries.Introducing and for the first time an automated Financial Monitoring System.Provides a National Internet Payment Gateway
Reduce Operating Cost.Increase Productivity & Efficiency.
Proper utilization of Government Employees time and resources.Cope with Latest Development in the IT Industry.Creating Automated Statistical Financial Data.Payment ChannelsThe Ministry of Finance & Industry has and is still working on expanding payment Channels using the e-Dirham System.The currently available payment channels are:Point of Sale (EPOS) TerminalsOver the Internet (E-Dirham Payment Gateway)E-StampPoints of SalesMinistry of Finance & Industry has installed hundreds of EPOS Terminals at various Ministries and Departments (offering settlements using the e-Dirham) all over the UAE. All EPOS Terminals are connected to a centralized clearing Host at the Ministry of Finance & Industry. Procedure of Use:1. Applicant applying for any Governmental service will go to the appropriate Ministry or Department with his /her application form filled up. 2. The Application will be received by the Ministry / Department Officer at the Counter, after following that particular Ministry / Department Procedure, the Counter Officer will request the applicant his/her e-Dirham Card.3. The Officer will insert the e-Dirham Card in the EPOS Terminal and only the exact amount of service fee will be debited from that e-Dirham Card.4. A Receipt will be issued in two copies, one copy is attached with the Application and the other copy is handed over to the Applicant along with his/her e-Dirham Card.Internet Ministry of Finance & Industry has made available a very secure Internet Payment Gateway using very high secure techniques. Ministries / Departments offering services over the Internet can make use of the e-Dirham Internet Payment Gateway. Procedure of Use:1. Applicant will log into the Ministry / Department Internet site and chooses the type of service he/she is interested to purchase.2. After following and filling all the procedure and details available over the Internet.3. The system will prompt the applicant for payment.4. The payment can be done by the e-Dirham (the e-enabled Fixed value e-Dirham Card, or the Government Client Card).5. The applicant will then insert his / her card number followed by the PIN Number.6. The System will then debit that particular card with the Service fee, provided that the card has enough balance.e-Stamp As part of reducing the daily crowds at the Ministries and Departments, the Ministry of Finance & Industry has introduced the e-Stamp, which is used to authenticate the pre-paid Smart Forms using the e-Dirham. Smart Forms are widely available at Typing Offices or at Corporate Organizations who wishes to use such a facility at their premises. This has been done by integrating the Smart Forms with the e-Dirham EPOS Terminal.Procedure of Use:1. The Applicant will go a Typing Office Licensed by the Ministry of Finance & Industry to use the e-Stamp.2. The Typing Office Clerk will fill in the Application using the Smart Form.3. The Smart Form will then determine the requested service fee, and will prompt the typing clerk accordingly.4. The Applicant will then present his e-Dirham card to the Typing Clerk, the later will then insert this e-Dirham card inside the EPOS Terminal, and Service fee will be debited to the e-Dirham Card.5. The Smart Form will then be printed out with the e-Stamp logo appearing on it with all payment details.6. The Typing Clerk will hand over the Smart Form and the e-Dirham card to the applicant who in turn has to just deposit the Smart Form Application at the Ministry / Department for processing with no need to queue again at the Ministry / Department for Payment.