In his 11 months in office, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has kept many of the faces in his Cabinet who were familiar to his predecessors.
He originally sought to build what he called a Cabinet of “all the talents” in an attempt to restore credibility in government after the fall of two prime ministers – Boris Johnson and Liz Truss – in a matter of weeks.
In a February reshuffle, Mr Sunak announced four new or redesigned government departments.
They were the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero, the merged Business and Trade department, the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
Some of the biggest jobs have stayed with the same person – such as Home Secretary and Chancellor – but others, such as the defence post, have welcomed new faces.
Here is a look at who’s who in the Cabinet.
Chancellor of the Exchequer
Chancellor Jeremy Hunt was brought in to steady Ms Truss’s ailing government and has been working towards a highly anticipated Halloween fiscal statement.
He was selected by Mr Sunak to keep the keys to No 11 and try to stabilise jittery markets.
The Chancellor is one of the most important roles in government and the economic record is always a key reason for voting at general elections.
Foreign Secretary
James Cleverly was kept on as Foreign Secretary by Mr Sunak, a signal the PM was not breaking entirely with the set-up of the previous two administrations.
On his appointment, Mr Cleverly said he would continue to support the UK’s allies around the world “especially standing with Ukraine”. He has made recent visits to the Middle East and China.
Defence Secretary
Grant Shapps was moved to defence after being named Mr Sunak's first net-zero secretary. He has also been business secretary, transport secretary and briefly home secretary under Ms Truss.
He is regarded as calm in a crisis, and a skilled, expert communicator with a pragmatic approach.
His predecessor Ben Wallace, who resigned from the post having served for four years, had played a key role in the UK’s response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and was a close ally of Boris Johnson.
Deputy Prime Minister
Oliver Dowden, the MP for Hertsmere. He is also Secretary of State in the Cabinet Office and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster.
Home Secretary
Suella Braverman was appointed Home Secretary less than a week after she was dropped from Liz Truss’s government over a breach of the ministerial code.
Ms Braverman had been asked to resign for mishandling an official document and left with a parting shot that the government was failing its manifesto pledges on immigration.
Her return only six days later was condemned by opposition MPs, who said it breached Mr Sunak's promise at the door of No 10 Downing Street to restore trust and integrity.
The Home Secretary is one of the key drivers of the government's "stop the boats" policy, under which it is trying to swiftly bring down the number of people arriving in the country via the English Channel in often-unseaworthy boats.
Chief Whip
Simon Hart was brought in as Chief Whip to restore party discipline.
Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster
Oliver Dowden.
Justice Secretary
Alex Chalk, MP for Cheltenham. He also serves as Lord Chancellor.
Energy Security and Net Zero Secretary
Claire Coutinho, MP for East Surrey, took over from Grant Shapps when he was moved to defence.
Science, Innovation and Technology Secretary
Chippenham MP Michelle Donelan.
Levelling Up Secretary
Michael Gove returned to the Cabinet after being sacked by Boris Johnson. He is also minister for Intergovernmental Relations.
Health Secretary
Steve Barclay. He is MP for North East Cambridgeshire.
Leader of the House of Commons
Penny Mordaunt was thrust into the limelight within days of taking up the post due to its prominence when there is a new monarch. She was praised for her roles at King Charles's accession and coronation ceremonies.
Leader of the House of Lords
Lord True is Lord Privy Seal and Leader of the House of Lords.
Business and Trade Secretary
Kemi Badenoch, MP for Saffron Walden. She is also Minister for Women and Equalities, and President of the Board of Trade.
Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Therese Coffey.
Works and Pensions Secretary
Mel Stride, an ally of Mr Sunak in his leadership contest, was appointed Works and Pensions Secretary.
Education Secretary
Gillian Keegan.
Transport Secretary
Mark Harper.
Culture, Media and Sport
Lucy Fraser.
Minister without portfolio
Gareth Hands.
Northern Ireland Secretary
Chris Heaton-Harris.
Scotland Secretary
Alister Jack.
Wales Secretary
David TC Davies.
Chief Secretary to the Treasury
John Glen.
Attorney General
Victoria Prentis.
Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office
Jeremy Quin.
Immigration Minister
Robert Jenrick.
Security Minister
Tom Tugendhat.
Minister for Development in the Foreign Office
Andrew Mitchell.
Veterans’ Affairs Minister
Johnny Mercer.
The years Ramadan fell in May
Company: Instabug
Founded: 2013
Based: Egypt, Cairo
Sector: IT
Employees: 100
Stage: Series A
Investors: Flat6Labs, Accel, Y Combinator and angel investors
Ten tax points to be aware of in 2026
1. Domestic VAT refund amendments: request your refund within five years
If a business does not apply for the refund on time, they lose their credit.
2. E-invoicing in the UAE
Businesses should continue preparing for the implementation of e-invoicing in the UAE, with 2026 a preparation and transition period ahead of phased mandatory adoption.
3. More tax audits
Tax authorities are increasingly using data already available across multiple filings to identify audit risks.
4. More beneficial VAT and excise tax penalty regime
Tax disputes are expected to become more frequent and more structured, with clearer administrative objection and appeal processes. The UAE has adopted a new penalty regime for VAT and excise disputes, which now mirrors the penalty regime for corporate tax.
5. Greater emphasis on statutory audit
There is a greater need for the accuracy of financial statements. The International Financial Reporting Standards standards need to be strictly adhered to and, as a result, the quality of the audits will need to increase.
6. Further transfer pricing enforcement
Transfer pricing enforcement, which refers to the practice of establishing prices for internal transactions between related entities, is expected to broaden in scope. The UAE will shortly open the possibility to negotiate advance pricing agreements, or essentially rulings for transfer pricing purposes.
7. Limited time periods for audits
Recent amendments also introduce a default five-year limitation period for tax audits and assessments, subject to specific statutory exceptions. While the standard audit and assessment period is five years, this may be extended to up to 15 years in cases involving fraud or tax evasion.
8. Pillar 2 implementation
Many multinational groups will begin to feel the practical effect of the Domestic Minimum Top-Up Tax (DMTT), the UAE's implementation of the OECD’s global minimum tax under Pillar 2. While the rules apply for financial years starting on or after January 1, 2025, it is 2026 that marks the transition to an operational phase.
9. Reduced compliance obligations for imported goods and services
Businesses that apply the reverse-charge mechanism for VAT purposes in the UAE may benefit from reduced compliance obligations.
10. Substance and CbC reporting focus
Tax authorities are expected to continue strengthening the enforcement of economic substance and Country-by-Country (CbC) reporting frameworks. In the UAE, these regimes are increasingly being used as risk-assessment tools, providing tax authorities with a comprehensive view of multinational groups’ global footprints and enabling them to assess whether profits are aligned with real economic activity.
Contributed by Thomas Vanhee and Hend Rashwan, Aurifer
Classification of skills
A worker is categorised as skilled by the MOHRE based on nine levels given in the International Standard Classification of Occupations (ISCO) issued by the International Labour Organisation.
A skilled worker would be someone at a professional level (levels 1 – 5) which includes managers, professionals, technicians and associate professionals, clerical support workers, and service and sales workers.
The worker must also have an attested educational certificate higher than secondary or an equivalent certification, and earn a monthly salary of at least Dh4,000.
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Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
Sholto Byrnes on Myanmar politics
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Uefa Champions League semi-finals, first leg
Liverpool v Roma
When: April 24, 10.45pm kick-off (UAE)
Where: Anfield, Liverpool
Live: BeIN Sports HD
Second leg: May 2, Stadio Olimpico, Rome
Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
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In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
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In numbers
1,000 tonnes of waste collected daily:
- 800 tonnes converted into alternative fuel
- 150 tonnes to landfill
- 50 tonnes sold as scrap metal
800 tonnes of RDF replaces 500 tonnes of coal
Two conveyor lines treat more than 350,000 tonnes of waste per year
25 staff on site
The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
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Torque: 405Nm at 1,750-3,500rpm
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Name: Yousef Al Bahar
Advocate at Al Bahar & Associate Advocates and Legal Consultants, established in 1994
Education: Mr Al Bahar was born in 1979 and graduated in 2008 from the Judicial Institute. He took after his father, who was one of the first Emirati lawyers
