Abu Dhabi: The Cabinet gave approval yesterday for the UAE's decision to join the Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF).

The Gas Exporting Countries Forum is an intergovernmental organisation of 11 of the world's leading natural gas producers made up of Algeria, Bolivia, Egypt, Equatorial Guinea, Iran, Libya, Nigeria, Qatar, Russia, Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela. The Cabinet's ratification, at its meeting chaired by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice-President and Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, made UAE the 12th state to join the forum of the major gas exporting countries in the world.

The Cabinet also gave approval to the decision by the UAE government to join the Arab Union of Land Transport (AULT).

AULT is a pan-Arab organisation representing road transport interests in the Arab League. Its members consist mainly of public and private operators of collective passengers and freight transport, primarily cross-border.

The meeting also ratified the air transport pact signed with Lithuania, discussed a number of items on the agenda and took appropriate decisions.