New ministry is created as UAE reshuffles cabinet
QNA/Abu Dhabi
UAE President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan has approved the new cabinet formed under the chairmanship of Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, the Vice President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai.
The new cabinet includes four new members, while a new ministry of development and international co-operation has been created. The ministries of foreign trade and economy have been merged.
Among the changes, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan becomes minister of culture, youth and community development, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan minister of higher education and scientific research and Sheikha Lubna al-Qassimi minister of development and international co-operation. New entrant Abdullah bin Mohamed Belhaif al-Nuaimi becomes minister of public works.
Sheikh Mohamed said that the new cabinet has been formed “in alignment with our preparations for the new phase of government action, during which we seek to accelerate development in our country and achieve the aspirations of our people, as well as expanding our relations with the world around us.”
The introduction of new faces to the government team, he said, would introduce fresh ideas, enabling the government to keep up to date and to deal with the national issues that are considered a priority for all the people of the UAE.
The formation of the new ministry of development and international co-operation, headed by Sheikha Lubna, is intended to enable the country to handle the crucial role in development that it plays around the world, with the aim of broadening the scope of such activities, whether on a country-to-country basis or through the various international organisations active in this field.
The new cabinet will also help to consolidate the status of the UAE as an important donor and key player in the process of global human development, as well as its relations with nations undergoing development.
The Office for Co-ordination of Foreign Aid will become part of the new ministry which will begin to perform its functions immediately with regards to a variety of issues, including the development of public policy on overseas development aid.
In other appointments, Abdul Rahman Mohamed al-Owais becomes minister of health, new entrant Suhail Faraj Faris al-Mazrouei becomes minister of energy and new entrants Dr Sultan Ahmed al-Jaber and Abdullah bin Mohamed al-Ghabbash becomes minister of state.
The new appointments are intended to inject new blood, particularly from those who have previously demonstrated efficiency and professionalism in either the private or public sectors.
The following is the line-up of the new cabinet:
Prime Minister, Defence Minister: Dubai ruler and Vice President Sheikh Mohamed bin Rashed al-Maktoum
Interior Minister and Deputy Premier: Sheikh Saif bin Zayed al-Nahyan
Deputy Prime Minister for Presidential Affairs: Sheikh Mansur bin Zayed al-Nahyan
Finance: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashed al-Maktoum
Foreign Affairs: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan
Culture, Youth and Community Development: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan
Higher Education and Scientific Research: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan
Development and International Co-operation: Sheikha Lubna al-Qassimi
Cabinet Affairs: Mohamed Abdullah al-Gergawi
Economy, External Trade: Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansuri
Social Affairs: Mariam al-Rumi
Education and Teaching: Humaid Mohamed Obeid al-Qutami
Health: Abdul Rahman Mohamed al-Owais
Labour: Saqr Ghubash
Justice: Hadef Jouan al-Dhaheri
Environment and Water: Rashed Ahmad bin Fahd
Energy: Suhail al-Mazrouie
Public Works: Abdullah Belhaif al-Nuaimi
Minister of State for foreign and federal affairs: Anwar Mohamed Gargash
Minister of State: Maitha al-Shamsi
Minister of State: Reem al-Hashemi
Minister of State: Sultan bin Ahmed al-Jaber
Minister of State: Abdullah bin Mohamed al-Ghabbash
