Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has automated its Business Continuity Management System and integrated it with both the Crisis Management & Corporate Risk Management Systems, becoming the first public entity in Dubai to automate the Business Continuity Management System.

The process guarantees the continuity of operations and the delivery of all services and products, be it during the normal routine work, emergency cases or crises. The step is part of RTA’s efforts to upgrade the Business Continuity Management System which was introduced in 2013 and paved the way to win ISO 22301 in 2014, rendering RTA the first government entity to obtain such certification.

“RTA's Business Continuity Management System is primarily based on an annual Business Impact Assessment that covers all RTA’s departments and agencies. The civic body has assessed 700 operations & services across all RTA’s departments to identify the most vital and critical services, and determine the continuity and flexibility requirements,” said Naser Bu Shehab, CEO of Strategy and Corporate Governance Sector.

“Fulfilling all Business Continuity Management System requirements constituted a major challenge, given the increasing administrative requirements in this discipline as well as the sophistication and diversity of RTA's business,” added Bu Shehab. “To overcome these challenges, the Crisis Management and Business Continuity Section at Safety, Risk, Regulation and Planning Department has come up with an initiative to automate RTA’s Business Continuity Management System.


“Based on various researches and studies, the Electronic Application Model was selected to automate the Business Continuity Management System at RTA, and the model was customised to the peculiar nature of RTA’s Business Continuity. Works covered automating audit, approvals, periodic notifications for completing annual audit to update the business impact assessment, business continuity strategy, and business continuity plans. It also covered the planning of drills & annual tests to ensure timely execution,” continued Bu Shehab.

Nada Jasim, director of Safety, Risk, Regulation and Planning said: "For optimal utilisation of the system, we have integrated the business continuity e-system with the corporate risks management e-system to ensure that all critical services and business continuity plans are linked to the relevant specific risks. The process has provided an integrated business continuity management mechanism for those risks which may invoke emergencies cases or crises.”

"After completing necessary tests on the Business Continuity Management System, we transferred all approved information and documents to the system, which are now available for the 2018 system audit. The business continuity automation process at RTA is highly dynamic, and provides full access to updated documents to ensure response and recovery during emergency cases and crises,” Jasim concluded. – TradeArabia News Service