UAE Cabinet reshuffle: Emirates Post, pension authorities and service centres focus of new mergers

Many local and federal government departments were brought under the direct control of ministers

Emirates Post was among the lowest-scoring public-sector service in a 2019 efficiency survey. It will come under new management. Paulo Vecina / The National

Government departments across the UAE, including Emirates Post and various financial authorities, will be merged as part of a new efficiency drive.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid, Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, outlined the move on Sunday as he selected a new Cabinet.

He said there was a need for a more agile government and a public sector to serve in “a new phase in history”.

Most of the targets were local and federal departments that will be brought under the direct control of ministers. These include:

– Half of all government service centres that serve the public will be closed in the next two years and their services transformed into digital portals;

– The Federal Electricity and Water Authority, Emirates Post, Emirates Transport and Emirates Real Estate Corp will be attached to Emirates Investment Authority;

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

– The National Qualifications Authority will merge with the Ministry of Education;

– The country’s Insurance Authority will be merged with the Securities and Commodities Authority and led by the Minister of Economy;

– The General Authority for Pensions and Social Security will be brought under the Ministry of Community Development, which will provide “modern services for retirees”. In addition, a National Social Security Fund will be overseen by Obaid Al Tayer and come under the umbrella of Emirates Investment Authority;

– Sultan Al Jaber will be appointed President of Emirates Development Bank;

– Zayed Housing Programme and the Federal Authority for Land and Maritime will come under the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, led by minister Suhail Al Mazrouei;

“Constant changes will remain the slogan of the coming period until we reach the best government model that keeps up in this new era and achieves the aspirations of the Emirati people,” Sheikh Mohammed said on Sunday.

Emirates Post came in for criticism by Sheikh Mohammed last year after persistent complaints of inefficiency. The National