Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has named the best and worst government departments when it comes to bureaucracy.
Sheikh Mohammed has long been vocal about the negative impact of excessive bureaucracy, calling it “the art of turning simple things into complex ones.” He believes government systems should focus on results, not just paperwork and rigid rules.
This year’s top three least bureaucratic departments are:
- Department of Justice
- Department of State
- Department of Energy and Infrastructure
These offices were praised for prioritizing efficiency over unnecessary procedures and for making government services more accessible to the public.
On the other hand, the three departments with the most red tape and inefficiencies were:
- Emirates Post
- Pensions Authority
- Ministry of Sports
These agencies were called out for outdated processes that slow down services and hinder progress.
Sheikh Mohammed made it clear that poor-performing departments must improve — fast. He warned that ineffective systems and outdated rules can be replaced within days through bold decisions and leadership changes.
This ranking is part of an ongoing initiative that Sheikh Mohammed started in 2021 to hold government offices accountable. Previous evaluations have even led to dismissals of officials failing to meet expectations.
