GIS diffusion in the government of Dubai in the United Arab Emirates

In an effort to achieve more effective operations in the face of an ever-increasing public sector workload, United Arab Emirates (UAE) government officials have recognized the importance of Geographic Information System (GIS). This research explores GIS implementation and diffusion within the Emirate of Dubai, specifically the government of Dubai. Since the 1990s, the government of Dubai has invested in GIS adoption, but without conclusive evidence that GIS adoption resulted in effective implementation. This research applies a case study approach including an in-depth description of GIS introduction, a rigorous analysis of Dubai government data, and interviews with government officials. Six research questions guided the study. What are: (1) the main features of the GIS diffusion process within Dubai government? (2) the main factors driving GIS diffusion within Dubai government? (3) the extents to which institutional and organizational contexts facilitate or impede adoption and utilization of GIS? (4) the departmental level mechanisms that might be used to facilitate GIS diffusion within Dubai government? (5) the potential social and political consequences of GIS diffusion within Dubai government? (6) the factors that have influenced GIS implementation by Dubai public organizations? This study suggests a slow increase in Dubai public sector GIS diffusion, with most departments aware of GIS but only a few adopting it as no staff training was provided. Thus, GIS remains at an initial early adoption stage of the diffusion process. Dubai Municipality (DM) recorded less GIS users than it has strategically planned, with few users in other government departments. In 2008, interviews with public officials indicated 11 of 18 Dubai government agencies had adopted GIS (less than 60 percent), but only five had implemented GIS unit. As expanding interdepartmental e-service links may boost GIS diffusion within Dubai government, this study provides a crucial assessment of the impact of human factors on GIS adoption.