Senior UAE ministers welcome major Cabinet reshuffle

The restructuring aims to build a more collaborative approach to government

Suhail Al Mazrouei, the current Minister of Energy, who oversees oil production among other areas, was made Minister of Energy and Infrastructure. The Ministry of Infrastructure was merged into his new department. Victor Besa / The National

Noura Al Kaabi was made Minister of Culture and Youth, with Shamma Al Mazrui serving as Minister of State for Youth. Courtesy: Ministry of Culture and Youth

Dr Sultan Al Jaber was made Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology. He was a Minister of State in the previous Cabinet. Victor Besa / The National

Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi was made Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and is one of three ministers to serve in the Ministry of Economy. He was Minister of Environment in the previous Cabinet. Victor Besa/The National

Ahmad Al Falasi was made Minister of State for Business and SMEs, serving in the Ministry of Economy. He was previously Minister of Higher Education and Advanced Skills, which is responsible for universities and other training centres. Courtesy: Dubai Media Office

Sarah Al Amiri was made as President of the UAE Space Agency. Ms Al Amiri, who was Minister of State for Advanced Sciences in the previous Cabinet, is a computer science graduate who worked on satellites before entering government. She steps into the job as the country prepares to launch the Mars Hope space probe on July 15

Saeed Al Attar was appointed head of all government communications. He was previously director general of the Office of Public Diplomacy

Mohamed Hamad Al Kuwaiti was made head of cyber security. He was previously executive director of the National Electronic Security Authority

Huda Al Hashimi was appointed as head of government strategy and innovation. She has worked in the Prime Minister’s Office and the Ministry of Cabinet Affairs and The Future, planning and executing major projects including UAE Vision 2021

Abdullah Al Nuaimi was made Minister of Climate Change and Environment, with special focus on working with farmers to boost local food production. He is a mechanical engineer by training, with a degree from University of Wisconsin–Madison, and was Minister of Infrastructure Development between 2013 and 2020

Shamma Al Mazrui, one of the youngest members of the Cabinet, will serve as Minister of State for Youth in the Ministry of Culture and Youth

Ahmed Majed Al Badawi was made Assistant Secretary-General to the Cabinet

Mohammed Sultan Al Obaidly was made Head of Legal Affairs in the UAE Government. He served as Assistant Secretary General to the Cabinet since 2007, after briefing working as a private lawyer in Dubai. He began his career at the Ministry of Labour in 1988, resolving disputes and labour complaints

Hamad Al Mansoori was made Head of Digital Government. He was previously head of the telecoms regulator TRA

Ahmed Juma Al Zaabi was reconfirmed as Minister of the Federal Supreme Council at the Ministry of Presidential Affairs

Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak was reconfirmed as Minister of Tolerance

Senior UAE ministers have welcomed a major restructuring of government portfolios as the country seeks to streamline its decision-making.

Officials said the reshuffle, announced on Sunday, was intended to create a more collaborative and flexible approach to implementing its agenda.

The move comes as the government seeks to step up efforts to revitalise key sectors of the economy following disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Ministers said the changes provided them with a “clear mandate” on how to move forward, help to drive efficiency and promote growth.

Noura Al Kaabi, who worked as the Minister of Culture and Knowledge Development, has now become Minister of Culture and Youth.

We can work more together as a federal system. There is more of a clear mandate.

Meanwhile, existing Minister of State for Youth, Shamma Al Mazrui, will continue in her present role – working in close collaboration with Ms Al Kaabi.

Ms Al Kaabi also becomes responsible for the country’s National Media Council, a body which works to develop the UAE’s media sector.

“Since Covid-19 hit there has been more clarity in terms of what we do,” said Ms Al Kaabi.

“It has shifted to a different kind of gear that focuses on how we can work more together as a federal system. There is more of a clear mandate.

“Youth and the media complement what we do as a ministry. I’ll be working closely with her Excellency Shamma Al Mazrui.

“Our job is to enable the sector and strengthen it with policies that will make it thrive. The merger will solidify an already existing co-operation and give it a stronger base.”

Abdulla Al Nuaimi, who took over as Minister of Infrastructure Development in 2016, has been made Minister of Climate Change and Environment, leading the country’s charge towards a greener economy.

Mr Al Nuaimi described the restructuring as an important and decisive move towards creating a more “unified” government.

He said the changes would create greater flexibility in helping tackle key issues now facing the nation.

“The government in the UAE today is one bundle,” he said. “So when a minister is handed the portfolio of another ministry, it is like he is stepping from the living room to another room of the same unified house and this illustrates the desired flexibility.

“So far I have achieved what I could in [terms of] infrastructure and housing. Maybe the government saw that [I had the] flexibility and agility to manage the ministry of Climate Change and Environment.”

Among the changes made under the reshuffle are:

- Fifty per cent of government service centres will become digital portals within two years;

- The establishment of a Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology, led by Dr Sultan Al Jaber;

- Merging the Ministry of Energy and Industry and the Ministry of Infrastructure Development to become the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, led by Suhail Al Mazrouei;

- The Ministry of Economy will have three senior ministers – Abdulla bin Touq as Minister of Economy, Ahmad Al Falasi as Minister of State for Business and SMEs, and Dr Thani Al Zeyoudi as Minister of State for Foreign Trade;

- A new Ministry of Culture and Youth will be led by Noura Al Kaabi as Minister of Culture and Youth, and Shamma Al Mazrui as Minister of State for Youth;

- The Federal Water and Electricity Authority, Emirates Post, Emirates Transport and Emirates Real Estate Corp are now attached to the Emirates Investment Authority;

- Ohoud Al Roumi is made Minister of State for Government Development and the Future. Her previous duties on quality of life and happiness as Minister of State for Happiness will move to the Ministry of Community Development;

- Omar Al Olama will become Minister of State for Digital Economy and Artificial Intelligence, overseeing strategies to develop work-from-home;

- Hamad Al Mansoori is appointed as Head of Government Digital Services, with a mission to create one portal for all services. He was chief of the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority earlier;

- The National Media Council will come under the Ministry of Culture and Youth. State news agency Wam will function under the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.