UAE reshuffles cabinet, doubles women to 4
Also names new economy, labor ministers
The United Arab Emirates reshuffled the cabinet on Sunday, naming new economy and labor ministers and doubling to four the number of women ministers.
Sheikha Lubna al-Qassimi, the former economy minister, was named to head the new foreign trade ministry, while Sheikh Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansouri became economy minister, the official WAM news agency reported.
Social Affairs Minister Mariam al-Rumi retained her post while Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum, ruler of Dubai, brought in two more women as ministers of state, the official WAM news agency reported.
They are Maitha al-Shamsi, assistant to the deputy head of UAE University for scientific research, and Reem al-Hashemi, who served as deputy ambassador to Washington and assistant to the foreign minister for economic affairs.
The UAE ambassador to Washington, Saqr Ghubash, was named minister of labor, succeeding Ali al-Kaabi, who was dropped from government.
Labor is a key portfolio in a country where expatriate workers and their dependents make up nearly 80 percent of the population of more than four million.
The board chairman of the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Obaid al-Tayer, entered the cabinet as minister of state for financial affairs.
There was no change in the key ministries of energy, foreign affairs and interior. The defense portfolio has long been held by Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed, who also serves as vice president of the seven-member Gulf federation.
The changes come amid high levels of inflation and spiraling cost of living, with inflation officially put at 9.3 percent in 2006.
New lineup
- Vice president, prime minister and defense minister: Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammad bin Rashed al-Maktoum
- Deputy prime minister: Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed al-Nahyan
- Deputy prime minister: Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahyan
- Finance minister: Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashed al-Maktoum (previously held industry portfolio, now attached to economy ministry)
- Interior minister: Sheikh Saif bin Zayed al-Nahyan
- Presidential affairs minister: Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan
- Foreign minister: Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan
- Higher education and scientific research minister: Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan
- Public works minister: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan
- External trade minister: Sheikha Lubna al-Qassimi (moved from economy)
- Cabinet affairs minister: Mohammad Abdullah al-Gergawi (promoted from state minister for cabinet affairs, also put in charge of public sector development)
- Energy minister: Mohammad bin Dhaen al-Hamli
- Economy minister: Sultan bin Said al-Mansouri (moved from public sector development)
- Social affairs minister: Mariam al-Rumi
- Education and teaching minister: Hanif Hassan Ali
- Health minister: Humaid Mohammad Obeid al-Qutami
- Culture, youth and community development minister: Abdul Rahman Mohammad al-Owais
- Labor minister: Saqr Ghubash (new)
- Minister of state for foreign affairs: Anwar Mohammad Gargash (keeps previous functions as minister of state for Federal National Council affairs)
- Justice minister: Hadef Jouan al-Dhaheri (new)
- Environment and water minister: Rashed Ahmad bin Fahd (new)
- Minister of state for financial affairs: Obaid al-Tayer (new)
- Minister of state: Maitha al-Shamsi (new)
- Minister of state: Khalifa Bkhit al-Falasi (new)
- Minister of state: Reem al-Hashemi (new)