26
ALRAQABA . ISSUE 15
Efforts of the SAI of UAE
The rapid spread of the Coronavirus has certainly
resulted in a high risk to the governments
and the whole world, thereby increasing the
responsibilities of the SAIs with respect to
ensuring the optimal use of resources. In an
attempt to mitigate such a risk, SAIs across the
world have implemented contingency plans,
including the SAI of the United Arab Emirates
(UAE). The plan of the UAE SAI was based on a
number of themes, including:
1. Safety of the SAI’s Staff:
The percentage
of employees to work from the office was
limited to %30 only of the total number of the
SAI’s workforce. All employees with chronic
diseases and those at high risk of exposure
to the Coronavirus were required to work
remotely. In order to ensure the safety of staff
inside the building, sanitizers are provided,
and the employees are required to maintain
social distancing.
2. Use of Technology for Regulating
Attendance:
The SAI of UAE is committed to
adopting up-to-date technologies to monitor
and regulate the attendance of its staff. Such
efforts include the use of a GPS-enabled time
and attendance application, in addition to
installing cameras with thermal technology.
3. Use of Remote Working Technologies:
In
order to facilitate remote working, the SAI of
UAE has provided its staff with the needed
devices, applications, and programs that
are constantly linked with the various work
systems of the SAI.
4. Continuity of the Ongoing and Future
Audit Processes:
The SAI of UAE, with
earnest determination to continue the audit
work in an efficient and effective manner,
managed to coordinate internally within the
SAI and externally with the stakeholders to
ensure the conduct and continuity of work in
accordance with the international standards
and the defined strategies.
5. Use of Technology in the Conduct of Audits
(Smart Audit):
The SAI of UAE is using state-
of-the-art technologies in the conduct of
audits, i.e., Auditee VPN Access, Tableau,
and Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI). The
utilization of such applications has remarkably
contributed to ensuring the continuity of audit
functions during the COVID19- pandemic.
6. Holding a Webinar on “Challenges and
Approaches to Prevent the Prevalence
of Corruption During Times of Crises”
The
Supreme Audit Institution of the United Arab
Emirates organized a webinar on “Challenges
and Approaches to Prevent the Prevalence
of Corruption During Times of Crises” on
December 2020 ,9. The webinar highlighted
the key challenges facing the world amid
the COVID19- crisis and its impact on the
performance of work. During this event, the
participants were introduced to the regulations
and preventive measures to be undertaken
towards reducing corruption during this
pandemic. They have also discussed a
number of topics, including:
• Reflection of the G20 ministerial communique
with respect to the emergency issues: the past
achievements and future challenges;
• How outbreaks of corruption during the
emerging crises would impact the plans and
goals of sustainable development;
• How Supreme Audit Institutions (SAIs) and
Anti-Corruption Authorities (ACAs) can work
together to confront corruption during times
of crises;
• How technology could be utilized to
reduce fraud and corruption during times
of crises; and
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