The Abu Dhabi government estimates that its commercial transactions conducted online are to climb from 9 percent in 2009 to 35 percent in 2012, the online publication business24-7.ae reports.

Abu Dhabi is looking at doubling its online revenues to more than Dh40 million by the end of this year as the UAE capital embarks on a more aggressive marketing campaign, a senior government official said.

The Abu Dhabi Government aims that 35 per cent of its commercial transactions would be made via online by 2012. Currently, only nine per cent of the transactions are done via e-services.

"Last year, we had 9,000 transactions representing six per cent of the total commercial transactions. Although it's only six per cent we were nevertheless able to make Dh20m as income, which goes to the government," Abdalrhman Saif Al Khader, Head of Online Services Section at the Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development told Emirates Business on the sidelines of the 15th GCC eGovernment and eServices
Forum.

He said the government is now looking at increasing the coverage to 14 per cent, which will in turn see more than Dh40m in revenues. Currently the coverage has risen to nine per cent from 6 per cent last year.

"The first two years are the most difficult, especially because most of the people are still not aware and some are
hesitant to use credit cards via online transactions. But we will meet the 35 per cent target by 2012," Al Khader said.

Source: http://www.business24-7.ae

Abu Dhabi, online transactions, double online eCommerce