Dubai – Masaader News
The United Arab Emirates announced a broad government restructuring on Sunday for more “agile and swift” decision-making following the coronavirus pandemic, merging government entities and appointing new economy and industry ministers, according to Reuters.
The head of Abu Dhabi’s national oil company ADNOC, Sultan al-Jaber, was named as industry and advanced technology minister and Abdullah al-Marri was appointed economy minister.
The restructuring was announced by UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum on his official Twitter account.
The energy and infrastructure ministries were merged under a single portfolio to be headed by current energy minister Suhail Al Mazrouei.
An ADNOC spokesperson said al-Jaber would retain his post as ADNOC chief executive.
“The aim … is a government that can more quickly make decisions and deal with changes and more adeptly seize opportunities in dealing with this new stage in our history; a swift and agile government,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
He gave it a year to achieve priority targets for the country, which is the region’s business, trade and tourism hub.
Changes include abolishing half of government service centers and converting them to digital platforms within two years and merging around half of federal agencies.
The Federal Water and Electricity Authority, Emirates Post, Emirates General Transport Corp, and Emirates Real Estate Corp were placed under the Emirates Investment Authority.
The economy ministry got two ministers of state — Ahmed Belhoul for business and small and medium enterprises, and Thani al-Zeyoudi for foreign trade. Omar al-Olama was named minister of state for digital economy and artificial intelligence.
“The future working environment in medicine, education and trade will change dramatically and we aim to be at the forefront of these changes,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
In June, the central bank forecast that the oil-exporting country’s economy would likely contract by 3.6% this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The non-oil private sector grew in June for the first time this year, emerging from months of contraction as coronavirus restrictions were lifted.
“The appointment of Brother Mohammed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti as head of cyber security in the government of the UAE .. The security of our digital government is an essential part of our comprehensive national security .. and the protection of our digital national borders is an integral part of protecting our entire national soil.”
Here’s a list of new ministers and heads of new departments announced today:
• Sultan Al Jaber: Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology
• Suhail Al Mazroui: Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
• Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri: Minister of Economy
• Ahmed Belhoul: Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and SMEs
• Thani Al Zeyoudi: Minister of State for Foreign Trade
• Shamma Al Mazrouei: Minister of State for Youth
• Noura Al Kaabi: Minister of Culture and Youth
• Obaid Al Tayer: Head of National Social Security Fund under umbrella of Emirates Investment Authority
• Ohood al-Roumi: Minister of State for Government and Future Development
• Sultan Sultan Al Jaber: President of the Emirates Development Bank
• Omar Al-Ulama: Minister of State for Digital Economy, Artificial Intelligence and Remote Work Applications
• Hamad Al-Mansoori: Head of the digital government in the UAE
• Ahmed Jumaa Al-Zaabi: Minister of Supreme Council Affairs
• Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak: Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence
• Mariam Mohammed Almheiri: Minister of State for Food and Water Security
• Abdullah Al-Naif Al-Naimi: Minister of Climate Change and Environment
• Sarah Al-Amiri: President of the Emirates Space Agency
• Saeed Al-Attar: Head of media office for the Emirates government
• Hoda Al Hashemi: Head of government strategy and innovation
• Mohammed Hamad Al-Kuwaiti: Head of cyber security