Dubai Customs officials say the department has recently participated in Knowledge and E-Government Management Conference in Dost Dubai Hotel. The event was organized by DATAMTX and attended by representatives from more than 150 local and GCC government agencies.  It attracted local and international attendees.

We have many fond memories of the Dubai airport, a.k.a. The World’s Biggest Sleepover, and that wonderful eight-hour layover Emirates seems to build into their flights; they give you a free hotel room if your layover is nine hours or more. Or if you’re flying with three small children and the lady at the desk takes pity on you. It’s worth trying, trust us.

Jumaa’s presentation discussed two types of knowledge, explicit knowledge and tacit knowledge. The former refers to codified knowledge and it is found in books, magazines, memos, notes programs, database and online sources. The latter refers to intuitive knowledge that is largely experience based, such as skills, capabilities, experience, expertise, ideas, innovation and activities.

Head spokesmen Hosam Jumaa Mohammed, manager of Corporate Business Design Section, on behalf of the Customs Development Division presented a working paper titled “Knowledge and Educational Institution Management,” which said one of Dubai Customs’s objectives is “authenticating and spreading knowledge among all employees for optimal use of intellectual capital in the process of timely decision-making, supporting corporate performance and drafting out solutions to enhance developmental, innovative and creative domain.”

According to Jumaa, Dubai Customs has implemented initiatives for the purposes of spreading awareness of culture and boosting the adherence to knowledge management among employees by introducing intensive awareness program via internal networks, the organization of awareness workshops, training courses programs and creation of a special website on knowledge.

Jumaa explained that the objective of the department behind implementing knowledge management is “to develop corporate performance on the premises of coordinated sustainable efforts towards supporting and improving knowledge environment.”

The need for such initiatives is greatly increased when productivity is low, lacking in efficiency and quality and the performance level has declined, he noted.