The Dubai Department of Economic Development (DED) has launched 'Meydani,' a new advanced portable device to improve the efficiency of trade control and inspection processes conducted at stores.

The device is part of a strategy by the DED’s commercial compliance and consumer protection division to contribute to facilitating Dubai’s growth by providing faster and more efficient services to the public.

"Meydani is a first-of-its-kind initiative in the region and has tremendous features including a 3G interface,” said Omar Bushahab, chief executive officer of the commercial compliance and consumer protection division.

“It will facilitate field work for inspectors and help them issue instant fines and transfer information to the database of the Division electronically. The savings in terms of time will be 70 per cent and productivity will increase by about 30 per cent," explained Bushahab.

Many transactions, he said, could be completed within the shortest possible time.

Bushahab said his division and the IT department at DED worked together to develop Meydani, integrating the electronic fine system and determining the geographical locations of stores using advanced navigation techniques.

The multi-user equipment is equipped with cameras that inspector can use to shoot the location and type of the fine issued.

It enables the inspector to browse internet, check e-mails and respond to them, and use the device as a mobile phone too, said Bushahab.

"We have already recorded the locations of 70 per cent of the stores in Dubai and expect to complete the process by 2012. The new device is capable of issuing at least 60 fines per day,” he added.-TradeArabia News Service