BBC News | MIDDLE EAST | Qatar aims for online government

BBC News Online: World: Middle East

Monday, 13 March, 2000, 15:00 GMT

Qatar aims for online government

By Middle East correspondent Frank Gardner

The Gulf state of Qatar is planning to introduce a form of electronic government on the Internet, according to a local newspaper, the Gulf Times.

The paper says the aim of the pilot scheme, known as e-government, is to cut costs and streamline administration.

Another grandiose white-elephant scheme to keep people busy
Unnamed Government Spokesman

In a region long hampered by obsessive bureaucracy, this would put Qatar in the position of once again breaking the mould.

Qatar's ruling emir has already promised his people a fully-elected parliament. Now, it seems, the country's system of government is to become more people-friendly.

A Qatari official is quoted as saying that most services already provided by the government will be made available on the internet.

Internet frenzy

Qatar has one of the highest internet-user ratios in the Arab world, with an estimated 61 subscribers for every 1,000 residents.

The Gulf Times said the scheme would take about two-and-a-half years to implement, and would help the government to take decisions.

It is not yet clear how e-government would work in practice, but in theory, processing official forms and applications over the internet could spell an end to the long queues that now form outside government ministries.

That, at least, would benefit businesses in this energy-rich Gulf State.

But it is doubtful that e-government, if it is ever implemented, would change the way Qatar is governed.

Like most of the Gulf Arab States, Qatar is a small desert country ruled by a dynastic royal family.

Democracy is often discussed, but has yet to be introduced.

When a government spokesman was asked for his views on the e-government scheme, he told the BBC he doubted it would take off.

He said: "This is just another grandiose white-elephant scheme to keep people busy."

Related to this story:
Internet addiction strikes Egypt (13 Mar 00 | Middle East)
Dubai launches cybercity (30 Oct 99 | Middle East)
Ayatollah squares up to satellite dishes (19 May 99 | Middle East)

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