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Nine out of every 10 people who used government facilities in Dubai were satisfied with the service they received, according to the results of the emirate's first-ever Happiness Meter, which surveyed more than two million users across 28 different departments.
"Achieving welfare and happiness for nationals and expatriates is what drives our national agendas for all sectors," Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, who is also vice president and prime minister of the United Arab Emirates, said in a statement issued by state news agency WAM on Sunday.
The report found 89 percent of around two million respondents were happy with the service they received from 28 different government departments.
The best performing government department was found to be Dubai Customs, with the Dubai Electricity and Water Authority, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority, Dubai Courts and Dubai Police also rated highly.
"Data is being analysed to know why 10am every Tuesday was the happiest hour for the public," the statement said.
The Happiness Meter was launched two years ago as part of a wider focus on increasing happiness among citizens and residents in the Gulf Arab emirate, which included the appointment of a dedicated minister of state for happiness.
Sheikh Mohammed instructed that the meter should be expanded to include every private sector company as part of the next phase of development, WAM reported without giving a timeline.
The Dubai ruler also launched the Happiness Agenda, which will include 82 projects across a number of themes, including "explore, change, educate and measure", according to the statement, which gave no details on the agenda or projects. It said the Dubai Culture and Arts Authority was the first partner to sign up to the agenda.
(Writing by Shane McGinley)
© Zawya 2016
