The United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced an extensive government restructuring on Sunday for more “agile and fast” decision-making amid the coronavirus pandemic, merging government entities and appointing new ministers of economy and industry.
The head of Abu Dhabi’s national oil company, ADNOC, Sultan al-Jaber, was named minister of industry and advanced technology, and Abdullah al-Marri was appointed minister of economy.
The restructuring was announced by UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum on his official Twitter account.
“The goal … is a government that can make decisions more quickly and deal with change and better take advantage of opportunities to face this new stage in our history – a nimble and nimble government,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
هدفنا من التغييرات الهيكلية اليوم هو حكومة أسرع في اتخاذ القرار وأكثر مواكبة للمتغيرات .. .. وأفضل في اقتناص الفرص وفي التعامل مع المرحلة الجديدة في تاريخنا .. حكومة مرنة وسريعة هدفها تعزيز منجزات ومكتسبات الوطن ..
– HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 5, 2020
Translation: Our goal of structural change today is a government that is faster in decision making … and more up to date with changes … and better at seizing opportunities and dealing with the new stage of our history. .. rapid government whose objective is to consolidate the country’s achievements and profits.
It gave him a year to achieve priority objectives for the country, which is the region’s center for business, commerce and tourism.
The changes include abolishing half of government service centers and turning them into digital platforms within two years, and merging about half of federal agencies.
The energy and infrastructure ministries were merged into a single portfolio to be headed by current energy minister Suhail al-Mazrouei.
A ADNOC spokesman said al-Jaber would retain his position as executive director of ADNOC.
The Federal Water and Electricity Authority, Emirates Post, Emirates General Transport Corp and Emirates Real Estate Corp were placed under the investment authority of Emirates.
The economy ministry has two state ministers: Ahmed Belhoul for companies and small and medium-sized companies, and Thani al-Zeyoudi for foreign trade. Omar al-Olama was appointed Minister of State for the digital economy and artificial intelligence.
Many powerful officials kept their jobs under cabinet restructuring. They include ministers of home and foreign affairs, who hail from the ruling Al Nahyan family in Abu Dhabi, the federal capital that also controls the presidency.
“The future work environment in medicine, education and commerce will change dramatically and our goal is to be at the forefront of these changes,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
Dubai Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, right, sits with the Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, left [File: Reuters]
A woman was named to head the nascent Emirates Space Agency. Sarah al-Amiri is currently leading the UAE’s Hope Hope probe to Mars, which will launch this month from Japan with the aim of providing a new insight into the planet’s climate and atmosphere.
In addition, the culture and youth ministries were merged. The new ministry will oversee the National Media Council which accredits all local and foreign journalists and oversees the media operating in the country. The ministry will be chaired by Noura al-Kaabi, a former culture minister.
In June, the central bank forecast that the oil-exporting country’s economy was likely to contract 3.6 percent this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The private non-oil sector grew in June for the first time this year, emerging from months of contraction as coronavirus restrictions were lifted.
While hundreds of thousands of migrant workers in the United Arab Emirates and across the Gulf from India, Pakistan, the Philippines, Nepal and Egypt have appealed to their embassies for flights home due to a loss of income amid the pandemic, Emirati citizens, which number 1.4 million – Have numerous advantages to cushion economic shocks.
The government provides Emirati citizens with subsidized housing, free medical care, free higher education and scholarships abroad, generous government salaries and pension plans, as well as assistance in finding work and occasional debt relief.
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