Overview
emaratech is the leading technology and management consulting firm in the Arab world. Its services span border control, government eServices, payment gateways, and ERP solutions for both private and public sectors.
Objective
The Vision 2015 project aimed to synchronize immigration data across the United Arab Emirates and modernize the outdated legacy system. A key focus was automating visa processing and streamlining border control operations at Dubai’s key entry points.
Challenges
- The existing system (Oracle D2K) was outdated and incompatible with modern platforms
- No automation existed for inter-state immigration data synchronization
- Previous attempts failed, leading to multi-year delays and budget overruns
Our Role & Approach
To turn Vision 2015 into reality, we transformed the project delivery model from traditional Waterfall to Agile using the Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe).
Key elements included:
- Formation of cross-functional, product-aligned teams
- Agile ceremonies using Scrum and Kanban in 3-week sprints
- Setup of Release Trains and stakeholder governance boards
- Rollout of JIRA for tracking and communication
- Training programs for developers, testers, and business stakeholders to support Agile adoption
Outcomes & Impact
- 90% of client back-office visa processing transitioned to web-based systems
- 65% automation of passenger entry/exit at Dubai Airport (T1, T2, T3)
- Real-time data synchronization within SLA benchmarks
- 85% of the legacy system decommissioned within 18 months
- Recovered a 7-year delayed project and delivered under budgeted timeline
Timeline & Budget Summary
- Original Timeline: Over 7 years delayed
- Completion: Achieved in 18 months
- Budget: $100 million+