The Municipal System in cooperation with Abu Dhabi Systems and Information Center supported by the GPC group launched the Common NOC Solution within Cityscape Abu Dhabi earlier this year. The Program was initially triggered by the rapid pace of urban development in Abu Dhabi which fuels an average of 15,000 permits and approvals transactions annually. These result in approximately 100,000 No-Objection-Certificate (NOC) transactions being prompted every year by public, private and government entities, with each having to endure the processing complexities of the system. Such complexity consumes excessive time and effort by involved parties, thus adding financial burden on investors. Therefore, the prime objectives of the program focused on protecting valuable infrastructure assets, enhancing integrated government business processes, raising customer satisfaction and improving the overall investment environment.
The launch of the Common NOC Solution comes as a significant milestone of the NOC Program planning and implementation, which was launched by the Government in 2011, and designed by Abu Dhabi Systems & Information Centre in collaboration with the Municipal System and 19 relevant entities. As part of the launch, the Municipal System has reached agreement with 13 public and private entities concerned with the issuance of NOCs in respect of public utilities and the infrastructure of Abu Dhabi Emirate. This agreement aims at simplifying operations, and cutting short procedures of obtaining NOCs by individuals and companies.
In addition to the Department of Municipal Affairs and the three municipalities of the Emirate (Abu Dhabi City, Al Ain City, and the Western Region Municipality), the agreement governs related NOC transactions across the stakeholder entities including: Abu Dhabi Water and Electricity Authority, Abu Dhabi Sewerage Services Company, District Cooling Company (Tabreed), Department of Transport, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation, General Command of the Armed Forces, General Command of Abu Dhabi Police, Abu Dhabi Monitoring & Control Center, Abu Dhabi Airports Company, Abu Dhabi Ports Company, Emirates Telecommunications Corporation (Etisalat), and Emirates integrated Telecommunications company (Du).
The program aims at simplifying the operational procedures of issuing NOCs and meeting the requirements of entities participating in the program in a way compatible with their individual needs and job nature. It also seeks to standardize, improve and simplify all related processes and avail an online link to all concerned bodies in the Emirate. The program will be run across various sectors to meet the needs of approving customer transactions as well as permits in a more effective manner and affordable costs such that it can contribute substantially to enhancing the efficiency of transactions of processing related permits and approvals.
Prior to the launch of the NOCs program, extensive strategic planning of the detailed executive stages led way to ensure the success of the program. NOCs for facilities and infrastructure are key requisite of works that require permit or approval in fields such as land transactions, building and service structures, and various other infrastructural works.
The NOCs program enables the automation of procedures relating to the issuance of NOCs, boosting cooperation between stakeholders and harmonizing their systems relating to NOCs, setting up a unified service and call center to locate the sites of facilities and infrastructure, and coordinated decision making opportunities. The program also supports the principles of governance and transparency, boosts the performance and productivity of relevant parties, nurtures an environment conducive to investment, and bolsters the efforts made to achieve sustainable development and on the whole – improve the quality of life in the Emirate.