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More than 113,000 services provided by RAK EPDA in 2017 February 10,2018

The Ras Al Khaimah Environment Protection and Development Authority (RAK EPDA) has provided 113,155 services for customers and the community at large during 2017 based on 23 jurisdictions under Law No. (2) of 2007 as well as its competence to regulate the fishing profession under Law No. (11) of 2015 according to the Annual Governance Report of 2017. 
In line with the Authority’s vision to protect the environment and to sustain its resources, its mission is to innovate and excel in the development of regulation methods, the cultivation of awareness procedures, and to prepare legislation based on specialized research programs that contribute to the protection of the environment and natural resources.  As such, the 35 services provided to the various segments of the community are reflective of such visions and missions of the Authority. 
According to Dr. Saif Mohammed Al Ghais, Executive Director of EPDA RAK: “During 2017, the Authority issued 1,119 professional fishing licenses, 778 recreational fishing licenses, 218 fishermen accommodation units for 1035 workers, 1186 fishing ports, and 454 fishing yards. Industrial and professional establishments received 3,237 environmental permits that were conveniently issued electronically, alongside 398 non-objection certificates (NOCs) for the import of chemicals and 22 for the export of chemicals.” 
As for the environmental awareness package, the Authority organized and launched 148 environmental conferences, community initiatives, lectures and environmental awareness activities, in addition to 54,032 awareness text messages addressed to various segments of the society. In addition, the Authority was keen to celebrate 20 local and international environmental events to raise awareness surrounding the importance of preserving the environment and of sustaining its resources. Through the implementation of the Estidama smart phone application launched in 2017, nearly 3,395 users benefited from the services of this innovative application. 
Within the framework of the Measurement and Environmental Survey Package, the number of air-quality measurement reports in the various regions of Ras Al Khaimah totaled 17,516 reports. These reports included surveying industrial areas, quarries, cement factories, governmental and educational establishments and homes. The 9,595 samples of water tanks, soil and fish were also taken to ensure a healthy and sustainable environment for the population of the Emirate. 
In line with its One Million and One Tree Initiative, the Authority planted 20,895 local low-water use Ghaf, Sidr and Samar trees. The trees were distributed to several governmental and educational institutions, houses and the vicinity of mosques under a 2017 partnership agreement with the General Authority for Islamic Affairs and Endowments (GAIAE). The Authority also conducted 37 environmental impact assessment studies and facilitated the delivery of desalinated water to 68 farms for irrigation in order to sustain groundwater in the Adhen and Al Ghail regions, which contributed to improving the production of agricultural crops. EPDA RAK also successfully processed 27 environmental complaints and eradicated their root causes. 
As part of its efforts to strengthen the National Agenda for the UAE Vision 2021 and the RAK Government Strategy 2018-2030, EPDA RAK developed 29 projects and strategic initiatives to achieve 11 strategic objectives between 2017-2020. Such efforts are headed by priorities including the establishment of a sustainable environmental concept in industrial enterprises and sectors; the development of institutional support capacities; the promotion of a culture of innovation and transparency; the reduction of RAK’s environmental footprint; the promotion of the participation of society in environmental control and awareness; the sustainability of fisheries, livestock and agriculture; and the protection of biodiversity and natural habitats and the protection and management of groundwater. 
Accordingly, and in order to achieve these ambitious environmental strategy goals with the utmost efficiency and effectiveness in a matter that achieves the happiness of its customers, employees, partners, suppliers and various groups of society; the Authority developed 17 innovative projects and initiatives. Among which was the International Conference on Global Warming, Delicate Control for a Sustainable Environment Initiative, the Student Environmental Protection Teams Initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Education, Environmental Carnival, One Million and One Tree Initiative, Environmental School Innovation Competition, Estidama and the smart Inspector application (Bayrak) smart phone applications, Drones for Environmental Surveys Project, Environmental Happiness Building Project, Innovate in an Environmental Session initiative, the Environment Does Not Sleep 24/7, a literary and technical contest for school students to develop environmental awareness, My Authority is My Identity Initiative and the Mobile Central Operations and Environmental Emergencies Room. 
In accordance with the Fourth Generation of Government Excellence System, it was possible to list and classify the 205 institutional capacities of the Authority amongst its laws, conventions, decrees, methodologies, work systems, policies, regulations, guides, initiatives, projects, intelligent applications, measurement systems and analyses. These competencies were described in terms of efficiency, effectiveness, learning and development as well as managing and calculating the results of hundreds of indicators and related strategic and operational measures and to clarify the nature and leading position of the Authority in the light of the results. 
One of the most prominent capabilities in which EPDA RAK achieved a leading position in terms of results was the International Conference on Global Warming consecutively organized for four editions between 2011 and 2017. In April 2017, EPDA RAK organized the conference to address the productivity of ecosystems and the impact of global warming, during which 29 research papers were presented alongside the most prominent recommendations following the study of the various ecosystems in the UAE. The conference also announced scientific findings by some of the participating researchers, which were published for the first time during the conference, that there are indications that the climate in the Arabian Peninsula might change into a tropical wet climate. 
The Authority also achieved a global leading position for its Delicate Control for a Sustainable Environment Initiative, which is an innovative, unique and global initiative launched in Ras Al Khaimah to empower women to volunteer in environmental audits and to provide environmental measurement and awareness services to contribute in achieving a sustainable environment. 
Accordingly, and for the first time, women were invited by a government agency to play a supervisory role in the fish markets, restaurants, coasts and shores, as well as in the provision of air and water tank quality services for restaurants, houses, government and educational institutions. In 2017, the number of volunteers reached 126 volunteers from nine nationalities and various Emirates; representing 18 governmental, educational and social institutions sectors and housewives. The volunteers have implemented 86 inspections and environmental surveys of houses, restaurants, markets, fish shops, fish landing areas, coasts, shores and other government bodies thus far. 
As for the happiness rates of the volunteers towards this innovative initiative and its implementation, numbers stand at 86%, while that of the community was 89% and the Authority’s staff at 83.55%. 
The initiative significantly contributed in the Authority’s leading rank in the Happiness Index of the RAK Government. Whereas, the Community Control for Sustainable Environment initiative ranked second in the priorities of the strategic initiatives and projects launched by the Authority during 2017. It is noteworthy that the Initiative was the most important technical means to achieve the requirements of the Authority's clients through the analysis of quality as a tool and as an analytical capacity for strategic planning of quality and the redesign of services. Twenty-seven organizations provided significant support to the success of the initiative, led by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) office in the UAE, which agreed to sign a strategic partnership agreement, which mainly relied on the Delicate Control for a Sustainable Environment Initiative. 
In terms of the Career Satisfaction Index, the Authority ranked first in the government departments and authorities category in Ras Al Khaimah for: work environment; employee relations;  work life balance - taking into account family circumstances; available opportunities to participate in community initiatives, to interact with social and environmental issues and to benefit from human expertise; alongside satisfaction with the nature of work; and satisfaction with the fairness of rewards. 
In addition, the Authority has also achieved a leading position for the Student Environmental Protection Teams Initiative in partnership with the Ministry of Education. In which, 17 private and public schools and kindergartens were represented by 735 students in order to strengthen the National Agenda of the 2021 Vision and to fulfill the RAK Government Strategy to achieve sustainable development, protect the environment and sustain its natural resources and enhance the Authority’s role as the best supporting institution for education in Ras Al Khaimah for 2017. 
The initiative offers students a new approach to environmental awareness through education, based on transferring environmental awareness to schools and various social groups through instilling the environmental concept in young people--the future leaders who will be responsible for continuing the nation’s renaissance and the advancement of its society. 
Moreover, the initiative is uniquely characterized as the sole venture to encourage students to protect and preserve the environment by wearing the Authority’s uniform. The uniforms were distributed to 438 boys and girls and formed awareness teams in each school and kindergarten to promote the environmental protection, sustainability of natural resources and to simultaneously enhance the 2021 Vision. EPDA RAK also provides those teams with technical support through free training courses at their schools. The initiative also included providing lecture for 469 students and teachers in eight schools, which were presented by the Executive Director of EPDA RAK alongside other accredited lecturers. In further coordination with the school administrations, representatives of EPDA RAK participated in the organization of environmental awareness activities and events both within and outside of the schools. 
Furthermore, the initiative included nine areas for innovative student environmental initiatives, competitions and activities, namely the School Environmental Innovation Award, the Environmental Carnival, the Mobile Marine Environmental Exhibition, the Literary and Artistic Competition for students to develop environmental awareness, the Delicate Control for a Sustainable Environment Initiative, environmental awareness level in the educational field, One Million and One Tree Initiative, air quality measurement in educational institutions and the quality of water tanks in educational institutions. Such efforts correspond to the additional 45 indicators set in place to measure the quality of services provided to schools through this Initiative. 
With regard to the Environmental Carnival, the Authority achieved a leading local position with this innovative event, which was adopted in the UAE Innovation Month agenda and implemented in a large public presence on the Al Qawasim Corniche. The Carnival witnessed the participation of around 300 boys and girls from various grades and the display of 10 paintings representing environmental systems, as well as the participation of several schools in various environmental models. 
Likewise, the Authority also achieved a leading position among the government entities in the Emirate for asset and property management capacity. In 2017, the volume of its assets and properties doubled, cumulating in the management of 7 buildings for fishermen in fishing ports alongside the Emirate’s coast; doubling the area of its headquarters; increasing its logistic transportation fleet by 5 cars, 3 boats, 3 drones; and lowering 603 caverns in coastal waters for the development of fisheries within the framework of the Coral Reef Project as fish habitats. Thus, the Authority was one of the leading entities to lower the artificial caves in coastal waters. 
In terms of the capabilities of measurement systems and the analytical and planning tools, the Authority has been a pioneer in the use of the quality tool as a strategic planning tool for quality to identify and analyze the strategic priorities and key requirements of customers in its provided operations and services. The Authority used the standard comparisons capability, through which it launched the Estidama application, which includes the carbon emissions calculator in industrial establishments, houses and the services sector. The equations and calculation methods were modified in accordance to UAE procedures, and by doing so, the Authority thus holds a leading position in national and regional levels. 
EPDA RAK has a significant track record in Excellence Awards, winning the first place as the Best Government Department in the 2014 Ras Al Khaimah Government Excellence Award; and the Best Education Support Award in Ras Al Khaimah under the 2017 RAK Award for Educational Excellence. The Authority's Environmental Control, Policy Studies and Community Relations have all been ranked first as the Best Outstanding Sections for three consecutive years 2013-2015 within the Ras Al Khaimah Government Excellence Award.