Dubai ruler surprises public officials in major shake-up

DUBAI’S ruler ordered a shake-up of the city state’s management, including the retirement of nine senior officials, a day after he conducted a surprise spot check of government offices and found a number of employees absent.

His government recently posted a video on Instagram of him making an unannounced visit to a government office and finding it empty, an exercise which a media official said was intended to “send a message”.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum casually wandered around the deserted office, picking up an employee’s book and flicking through it.

Governments around the Gulf are trying to make their bureaucracies more efficient as low oil prices pressure state finances, and the move by Sheikh Mohammed is one of the most dramatic efforts in that direction so far.

Sheikh Mohammed ordered the retirement of nine members of the Dubai Municipality’s executive management, including directors and assistant directors-general in departments such as legal affairs and planning, the United Arab Emirates’ state news agency WAM reported.

Sheikh Mohammed thanked the nine retired officials for their service but said he wanted to allow a new generation of young leaders to take control and provide top-quality services to the public, WAM reported. – Daily Mail