Abu Dhabi: A new Cabinet tasked with building a utopian society, a tolerant environment, educated generations and equal economic opportunities for all was approved by UAE President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, yesterday announced the largest ministerial structural shake-up in the history of the UAE.
“Brothers and sisters, after consulting with brother Mohammad Bin Zayed and the approval of the President, we announce, with the grace of God, the new Cabinet,” Shaikh Mohammad said on his Twitter account.
Shaikh Mohammad told his millions of followers on Twitter the new Cabinet is a new phase, entitled future, youth, happiness, development of education and addressing the climate change to protect our environment.
The 29 members of the Cabinet include seven young women. The two newly created portfolios, happiness and tolerance, were held by Ohoud Khalfan Al Roumi who was appointed Minister of State for Happiness and Shamma Suhail Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Youth.
The Minister of State for Happiness will channel policies and plans to achieve a happier society.
“We introduced the post of Minister of State for Happiness whose mission is to channel policies and plans to achieve a happier society,” Shaikh Mohammad tweeted.
Shaikh Mohammad added happiness in our country is not a wish anymore; rather, it will incorporate programmes, plans, and performance indexes. It will be part of the daily functioning of all our ministries, as well as a part of our lifestyle.”
“Al Mazrouei will also be Chairperson of the Youth Council, which will represent the youth’s ambitions and issues; we will provide her with authorities and I expect genuine accomplishments from her and her council.”
The council will have a group of male and female members who will serve as advisers to the government on youth issues.
Similarly, a council of Emirati scientists, researchers and academics has been created to provide scientific advice and knowledge to the government.
Shaikh Mohammad said Shaikha Lubna Bint Khaled Al Qasimi has been appointed Minister of Tolerance, and “I hope she can play a regional role, not just a local one.” The portfolio was created to establish tolerance as a fundamental value of UAE society.
Noora Al Kaabi, a former member of the Federal National Council, has been appointed Minister of State for FNC Affairs. Shaikh Mohammad said: “Noora was a member of the House and she is the best to promote its relationship with the Cabinet.”
Shaikh Mohammad warned that there will be a zero tolerance for poor performance in education. “The Ministry of Education now has three ministers, and an institution managing its school, and a higher council supervising it. We will monitor this higher council from the Board of Minsters, so that no one would have an excuse [to perform poorly] from now on,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
Shaikh Mohammad added Jamila Salem Al Muhairi, Minister of State for General Education, with 20 years of experience, has a task ahead of her that requires much more than what she has achieved.
Shaikh Mohammad held the portfolio of defence, but a new position of Minister of State for Defence was taken by Mohammad Al Bawardi. “Al Bawardi is the object of my trust; his record is rife with accomplishments and a history of working to safeguarding the country and its achievements,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
“Dr Thani Al Zayoudi, Minister of Climate change and environment, at 32 years of age, holds a PHD in renewable energy, and has represented us [UAE] at IRENA.”
Najla Mohammad Al Awr has been appointed minister of community development. “My sister Najla, a mother of three, previously held the position of secretary general of the cabinet, and is part of my team,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
Shaikh Mohammad offered his thanks and appreciation to “my brother, Hamdan Bin Mubarak, and sister Mariam Al Roumi. Their work is remembered, and their history known; the need for their service to their country will remain.”
Shaikh Mohammad said this was the twelfth Cabinet of the United Arab Emirates, “the team we’ll rely on to achieve the dreams of our people. Success is only God’s to grant.”
New UAE Cabinet
His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister of Defence
Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior
Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs
Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Minister of Finance
Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation
Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan, Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development
Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, Minister of State for Tolerance
Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future
Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri, Minister of Economy
Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of Health and Prevention
Saqr Bin Gobash, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation
Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs
Obaid Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs
Reem Ebrahim Al Hashemi, Minister of State for International Cooperation
Suhail Mohammad Faraj Al Mazrouei, Minister of Energy
Hussain Ebrahim Al Hammadi, Minister of Education
Dr Abdullah Mohammad Belhaif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Infrastructure Development
Sultan Saeed Al Badi, Minister of Justice
Najla Mohammad Al Awar, Minister of Community Development
Mohammad Ahmad Al Bawardi, Minister of State for Defence Affairs
Thani Ahmad Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment
Jameela Salem Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Public Education
Ahmad Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education
Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber, Minister of State
Maitha Salem Al Shamsi, Minister of State
Dr Rashid Ahmad Bin Fahd, Minister of State
Ohoud Khalfan Al Roumi, Minister of State for Happiness
Nora Mohammad Al Kaabi, Minister of FNC Affairs
Shamma Suhail Faris Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Youth.
gulf news/RI