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United Arab Emirates

Key changes announced in the government as virus erodes economic gains

Published:Monday | July 6, 2020 | 12:06 AM
Kayakers race in front of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on June 19, 2020. Dubai has begun allowing organised sports competitions to take place after locking down over the coronavirus pandemi
Kayakers race in front of the Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, off the coast of Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on June 19, 2020. Dubai has begun allowing organised sports competitions to take place after locking down over the coronavirus pandemic and the COVID-19 illness it causes. Competitions held Friday at the Dubai Offshore Sailing Club were among the first events to be held.

DUBAI (AP):

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced a wide-ranging government shake-up on Sunday aimed at creating a more flexible and modern bureaucracy to tackle challenges as the coronavirus and lower oil prices erode what was already sluggish economic growth.

The UAE prime minister and ruler of the emirate of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, published the ministerial changes on his Twitter account, saying the goal was to create a “government that is faster in decision-making and is more up to date with changes”.

Many powerful officials kept their jobs under the Cabinet shake-up. They include the ministers of interior and foreign affairs, who hail from the ruling Al Nahyan family of Abu Dhabi, the federal capital that also controls the presidency.

As part of the shake-up, the ministries of energy and infrastructure were merged and will be led by current Energy Minister Suhail al-Mazrouei. The new ministry will oversee a national housing programme for Emirati citizens, among other federal agencies.

Sheikh Mohammed also announced the creation of a new Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology that will be led by Sultan al-Jaber, who is among the highest-profile figures in the UAE.

Al-Jaber serves as CEO of the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company, board chairman of the government-owned renewable energy company Masdar and chairman of UAE’s National Media Council, in addition to other posts. It was not immediately clear if he would retain those posts as minister.

A woman was named to head the nascent Emirates Space Agency. Sarah al-Amiri is currently leading the UAE’s Hope Probe to Mars, which will launch this month from Japan with the goal of providing a new look at the planet’s climate and atmosphere.

Additionally, the ministries of culture and youth were merged. The new ministry will oversee the country’s National Media Council that accredits all local and foreign journalists and oversees media outlets operating in the country. The ministry will be led Noura al-Kaabi, formerly the culture minister.

A new position overseeing “digital economy, artificial intelligence and remote work applications” will be led by Omar Al-Ulama as a minister of state. The country made waves in 2016 when it created ministry-level posts for happiness and tolerance.

Other plans include converting half of all government service centres into digital platforms in the coming two years.

The UAE is home to airlines Emirates and Etihad Airways, port operator DP World, and the world’s tallest skyscraper, the Burj Khalifa.