The Role of Political Leadership in Driving Citizens’ Engagement Through Social Media: The Case of Dubai’s Public Sector

Abstract

This chapter examines the use of social media in Dubai’s government from a public policy perspective. It traces its development and the intrinsic role of political leadership in encouraging and creating a virtual space for brainstorming important policy matters with a wider public audience. The chapter argues that the technological advancement Dubai and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) (Dubai is one of the seven Emirates that form the United Arab Emirates. Other Emirates in alphabetical order are Abu Dhabi (which serves as the capital), Ajman, Dubai, Fujairah, Ras al-Khaimah, Sharjah, and Umm al-Quwain.) achieved in the past few decades, has facilitated the exploitation of social media tools and allowed the engagement of the public in policy making. This is a result of the political leadership’s firm willingness to modernize its public administration and involve the public in shaping public policy. Dubai currently serves as a catalyst for other governments of the Gulf and the wider Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region to utilize social media to formulate public policies that are supported and co-formed by the public.