Lean, resilient, faster government
50% OF FEDERAL AGENCIES MERGED, MINISTRIES CREATED 50% OF SERVICE CENTRES TO GO DIGITAL IN TWO YEARS NEW CABINET HAS A YEAR TO ACHIEVE PRIORITY TARGETS
The UAE yesterday announced a wideranging government shakeup, merging ministries and government entities aimed at creating a more lean, resilient and faster government that can respond to national priorities.
Announcing the new government, His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, ordered the cancellation of 50 per cent of government service centres and converting them to digital platforms within two years, merging 50 per cent of federal agencies with each other or within ministries, creating new ministerial positions, and executive heads in specialised sectors. The head of Abu Dhabi’s national oil company Adnoc, Sultan Al Jaber, was named Industry and Advanced Technology Minister.
3 ministers within the Ministry of Economy
The reshuffle also includes the appointment of three ministers within the Ministry of Economy: Abdullah Bin Touq Al Merri, Minister of Economy, along with Ahmad Bel Houl, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises and Thani Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade. “Our national economy is an absolute strategic priority,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure
The Vice-President ordered merging the Ministry of Energy with the Ministry of Infrastructure to become the Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure and attaching the Zayed Housing Programme and the Federal Authority for Land and Maritime Transport to the new ministry and appointed Suhail Al Mazroui as its minister.
Digital window
Hamad Al Mansouri was appointed as head of the digital government in the UAE. “The goal is one digital window for the government .. and a comprehensive and complete digital transformation .. Recent
changes have proven that digital government is an indispensable strategic choice .. and economic security for business continuity in any circumstances,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
The Vice-President gave the new government a deadline of one year to achieve the new priorities and said the continuous changes will remain the motto of the next stage to achieve the best government model to keep pace with the new era.
Shaikh Mohammad said food security will remain a priority through two ministers: Mariam Al Muhairi and Dr Abdullah Mohammad Bel Haif Al Nuaimi.
We can recover quickly after this pandemic that has afflicted the world … We have great confidence in the Emirates team … We want them to intensify efforts to raise the state’s readiness and enhance its ability to face any emergency in the future...”
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Our goal of structural changes today is a government that is faster in decisionmaking, more up to date with changes and better in seizing opportunities and in dealing with the new stage in our history.”
Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
The UAE yesterday created a leaner government that will respond faster to national priorities. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, reshuffled the Cabinet, merged ministries and changed entities, to achieve the goals.
Shaikh Mohammad said on his Twitter account, “Brothers and sisters, after consulting with my brother Mohammad Bin Zayed, may God bless him, who blessed the new structure of the government and directed to harness all the resources to preserve our gains … and accelerate the development process in our country … After the approval of my brother, the President of the State, we announce today the new structure of the UAE Government.”
Shaikh Mohammad added, “Our goal of structural changes today is a government that is faster in decision-making, more up to date with changes and better in seizing opportunities and in dealing with the new stage in our history … a flexible and fast government whose goal is to consolidate the achievements and gains of the country.”
Shaikh Mohammad ordered cancelling 50 per cent of government service centres and converting them to digital platforms within two years; merging about 50 per cent of federal agencies with each other or within ministries, creating new ministerial positions, and creating executive heads in specialised sectors to march into the future.
Digital government
Shaikh Mohammad appointed Hamad Al Mansouri as head of the digital government in the UAE. “The goal is one digital window for the government … and a comprehensive and complete digital transformation … Recent changes have proven that digital government is an indispensable strategic choice … and economic security for business continuity in any circumstances,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
Media and culture
The National Media Council and the Federal Foundation for Youth has been merged into the Ministry of Culture to be the Ministry of Culture and Youth. It includes two ministers: Shamma Al Mazroui, Minister of State for Youth, and Noura Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, and the Emirates News Agency (WAM) has been attached to the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
Investment authority
The Federal Electricity and Water Authority, Emirates Post Group, Emirates General Transport Corporation and Emirates Real Estate Corporation have been merged into the Emirates Investment Authority, which has been assigned to prepare a new government investment strategy for the next stage.
New posts created
The reshuffle, moreover, created the post of Minister of State for Digital Economy, Artificial Intelligence and Applications for Remote Work and appointed Omar Al Ulama to be in charge of this file. “The future work environment in medicine, education and trade will change greatly … We seek to be at the forefront of these changes and to be the best model globally,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
Ahmad Jumaa Al Zaabi was appointed
Minister of
Supreme Council Affairs, while Shaikh Nahayan Bin Mabarak Al Nahayan was appointed as Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence.
Minister of State for Food and Water Security Maryam Al Muhairi will now report to the Ministry of Presidential Affairs.
Climate and Space
Abdullah Bel Haif Al Nuaimi was appointed as Minister of Climate Change and Environment and Sarah Al Amiri appointed as President of the Emirates Space Agency. “Sarah has led the scientific mission of the Mars probe so ably ... We wish her success in her new assignments. She will start her duties at the beginning of August,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
The shake-up further includes setting up the media office for the UAE government, affiliated to the Cabinet, and chaired by Saeed Al Attar. It included the Public Diplomacy Office, the Government Communication Office and the Media Identity Office, and oversses the internal and external media communication of the UAE Government.
Food security
Shaikh Mohammad said food security will remain a priority through two ministers: Mariam Al Muhairi, Minister of State for Food and Water Security, to follow up on our national food stock and invest in food technology and international relations in this field and Dr Abdullah Mohammad Bel Haif Al Nuaimi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment to support farmers and develop our fish and animal wealth.
Heads of departments
Mohammad Hamad Al Kuwaiti has been appointed as head of cyber security in the UAE Government. “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,” Shaikh Mohammad said.
Hoda Al Hashemi has been appointed as the head of government strategy and innovation. “Hoda has been part of my team for more than 10 years and my confidence in her is high and Mohammad Bin Taleia was appointed as head of government services to lead the federal service system to be among the best in the world,” Shaikh Mohammad said.