Dubai: H.H. Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum honoured the winners of the GovTech Prize and the Global Best M-Gov Award at the Government Services Forum, held as part of the World Governments Summit (WGS) in Dubai.
According to Emirates News Agency, during the ceremony, H.H. Sheikh Mohammed recognised Germany's Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Development with the 'Best Use of AI in Government Services' award. This recognition was for its AI-powered infrastructure permit platform, which secured the GovTech Prize. The platform uses generative and agent AI applications to expedite government approval procedures for federal-level infrastructure projects and transform legal texts into machine-readable logic, while maintaining human oversight. It includes features like full traceability to enhance transparency and minimise repeated requests, achieving a 90% reduction in transaction processing time and supporting energy and infrastructure project acceleration.
Denmark's National Digital Post project was honoured with the 'Best Simplification in Government Services' award for its contributions to strengthening digital government infrastructure. As the GovTech Prize runner-up, the platform facilitates secure, legally binding electronic communication between authorities, citizens, and businesses, achieving a 95% usage rate among adults. Mandatory access for citizens aged 15 and over resulted in 250 million messages in 2025, with customer satisfaction at 81% and satisfaction rates for firms at 60%.
The 'IremboGov' team from Rwanda was awarded the 'Best Government Service in the World' for its centralised digital platform for government services. As the second runner-up of the GovTech Prize, the platform provides access to over 240 services, supports e-wallet payments, and handles nearly 500,000 requests each month, with 80% of transactions completed online. It has saved over 1.5 billion working hours and reduced service completion times from five days to two hours, supporting over 7,000 digital entrepreneurs.
H.H. Sheikh Mohammed also honoured winners of the 'Global Best M-Gov' Award. The 'Bakame AI' team from Texas Christian University in the USA received first place for developing an AI-powered solution offering educational content to communities with limited smartphone access. The solution operates through interactive voice systems on existing mobile networks and toll-free numbers, eliminating the need for an internet connection.
The 'Your Voice' app, developed by a team from Lao Hong University in Vietnam, secured second place. The AI-powered app translates sign language into text and speech and vice versa in real time, using advanced computer vision and 3D animated avatars to enable seamless dialogue.
The 'Spoon Share' project from the Deogiri Institute of Engineering and Management Studies in India secured third place. The application addresses food wastage by connecting individuals and businesses with excess food to nearby communities in need, facilitating real-time food sharing.
The WGS 2026, held in Dubai, gathers more than 60 heads of state and government, over 500 ministers, and 6,250 participants, including government leaders, experts, scientists, futurists, representatives from major international companies, entrepreneurs, and innovators.
