The Sharjah Finance Department (SFD) partnered with Sharjah Islamic Bank (SIB) to launch an easy payment service of government transaction fees in the Emirate of Sharjah.

Transactions can be made using the Emirates ID card and SIB’s ATMs, provided that the service has been activated prior to it. This is in line with the Sharjah Finance Department’s strategy to enable digital transformation in all aspects of finance and governance.

The Sharjah government is proactive at the local and regional levels

Huda Al Yasi, Director of Financial System Department at the Sharjah Finance Department, said that the Sharjah government is a pioneer at the local and regional levels, and is the first to accept the Emirates ID card as a preferred method for payment and collection of transactions fees for government services in the emirate.

“This is out of Sharjah government’s keenness to facilitate customers and enable them to obtain its services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, without waiting in lines, from anywhere, and at a convenient time for them.”

She pointed out that the department now provides a wide variety of payment options to offer flexibility and security. These include the smart receipt system called ‘Tahseel’ card, all major credit and debit cards, and global digital payment wallets such as Apple Pay, Google Pay, and Samsung Pay, in addition to transactions through the official website.

Al Yasi further added that the department plans to continue developing its systems and improve its services to enhance the efficiency of the financial system in the Emirate.

Advanced systems in place to keep pace with the needs of government agencies

Waleed Al Amoudi, Head of Digital Banking at Sharjah Islamic Bank, thanked the Sharjah Finance Department for its confidence in SIB and for choosing the bank as its partner to serve the customers of the Government of Sharjah.

He said SIB is keen to facilitate the Sharjah government’s customers, and help them overcome any obstacles they might face in making payments.

He stressed that the bank’s modern and technologically advanced systems help meet the needs of government agencies when it comes to collecting fees and making transactions.

Al-Amoudi praised the cooperation between government agencies in the emirate and Sharjah Islamic Bank, noting that the bank has all the digital capabilities in place to cope up with the increase in demand for advanced digital services.

Enabling digital transformation in all government services in the Emirate of Sharjah

In 2017, the Sharjah Finance Department signed an agreement with the Emirates Identity Authority (currently the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship) to use the Emirates ID card as an electronic payment method for citizens in all Sharjah government-related transactions. This allowed people to open individual and filing accounts, and use their ID cards in several banks and exchange companies – making the entire process quick, safe, and easy.

Making payments with the government-issued Emirates ID card helps reduce the number of cards a person needs to carry at all times. Thanks to the advanced security features of the ID card, users’ data and information remain secure, and they stay safe from fraud.This is the key factor enabling digital transformation in all government services in the Emirates of Sharjah.

The Sharjah Finance Department is working to achieve a number of strategic objectives that include managing, developing and providing cash liquidity; developing a performance budget system; implementing integrated and effective financial policies; building a global model in public finance; enabling smart transformation; and implementing seven-star services, in addition to strengthening the internal control system; empowering national human resources; developing a culture of excellence and innovation; and managing institutional performance.

Sharjah Islamic Bank continuously strives to provide all electronic services and facilities, which are designed to meet the requirements of the retail and corporate customers during the current period. The bank seeks to support the nation’s efforts to contain the Coronavirus under the slogan ” We Commit Until We Succeed,” and aligns with the UAE’s vision 2021, aimed at achieving a competitive and technology based advanced knowledge economy through innovation, along with the bank’s strategy to keep pace with the latest global digital banking technologies.