Dubai Culture highlights its smart services at GITEX Technology Week 2015

Mobilk - The Dubai Culture & Arts Authority (Dubai Culture), the Emirates dedicated entity for heritage and culture, will showcase its extensive range of smart services and applications at the 35th GITEX Technology Week from October 18 to 22, 2015. 

The smart services of Dubai Culture are aimed at strengthening engagement and interaction with all stakeholders for providing a stronger understanding of Dubai’s cultural and creative scene. The Dubai Culture App, one of the key smart initiatives, provides users with the most comprehensive information on the Heritage Sites in the Emirate, managed by Dubai Culture, as well as details of the various cultural events held throughout the year. 

The participation of Dubai Culture at GITEX Technology Week underlines its commitment to the Smart Dubai vision announced by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, and the guidance of HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai and Chairman of Dubai Executive Council, to mark the transformation of Dubai into a Smart City. Dubai Culture is rolling out integrated IT solutions that enhance engagement between all stakeholders in the cultural scene. 

“Dubai Culture actively focuses on upholding the Smart Dubai initiative by HH Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, which aims at integrating all government services to enhance the convenience of the public and add to their happiness. Dubai Culture has already unveiled several smart initiatives including a dynamic website and dedicated Apps that allow users to gain greater understanding of Dubai’s cultural scene. At GITEX, we will highlight our achievements in providing smart services that encourage people to discover diverse creative aspects of Dubai,” said Mohamed Yousif Al-Hammadi, Acting Director of Information Technology Department at Dubai Culture.

Last year, Dubai Culture launched a smart app that has now been strengthened with brand-new features this year. The Augmented Reality (AR)-enabled mobile app effectively integrates Dubai’s heritage with modern initiatives by Dubai Culture to promote the cultural scene.  

The AR features, supported by iBeacon, are the distinguishing aspects of the App that takes it to the next level of efficiency. It guides users to AR locations, especially in the Al Fahidi Historical Neighbourhood and Dubai Museum, and notifies users when they are in close proximity of any AR-content and scanning the camera in the smartphone will bring to life the AR targets to visualise the content.

Dubai Culture app has also enhanced its tourism guidance by adding drone photos and videos, 360 degree aerial panoramic photos and iBeacon supported voice guidance. The photographs, with distinctive frames, can be shared via social media. The App also enables users to provide feedback, interact with the creative community and share their cultural interests. Among new features to be added include the option to buy tickets to the cultural attractions through the safe and secure Smart Government gateway and a search option to instantly access diverse content.

Dubai Culture has also highlighted its Dubai Library app, which serves as a one-stop referral point for the various library services offered by Dubai Public Library. From search options and accessing the electronic database for information on the books available at the libraries to undertaking member services, the App offers comprehensive services for users. The App also facilitates book lending, ordering books, requesting information on account status, booking multipurpose rooms and reading rooms in the Dubai Public Library branches, and making payments including membership fees, late fines, among others 

Dubai Culture has also further enhanced its website (www.dubaiculture.gov.ae) to provide richer content for all segments of the society. To facilitate effortless navigation and accessibility for people with special needs, the website now provides a ‘listen to the selected text’ feature. The Dubai Culture website is a creative platform with compelling photographs by some of the leading professionals in the UAE and offers easy access to Dubai Culture’s social media pages. The site also offers the ability to customise display to fit any device screen. It serves as a key reference for visitors on the variety of cultural and artistic aspects of Dubai, and provides comprehensive information on the city’s history, archaeological sites and cultural and heritage sites.

Dubai Culture committed to cultivating the cultural landscape of Dubai by building on its rich Arabian heritage, nurturing and promoting talent, and encouraging intercultural dialogue between the city’s communities’ as well as, contributing to the social initiatives that benefit UAE nationals and residents alike. Follow Dubai Culture on Twitter: (@DubaiCulture), Facebook and Instagram. Dubai Culture apps are available on Google Play and Apple Store