Keeping abreast of the changes

The recent reshuffle of the UAE Cabinet can only be seen as a move in the right direction adopted by the country's leadership. And hence, the changes that have been brought about should facilitate changes in how the government carries out its role of taking its developmental drive forward.

The reshuffle, endorsed by President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and presented by His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has expanded the ministerial portfolio from 22 to 24 ministers. The main changes include the creation of the post of three state ministers, the inclusion of two more women and the establishment of a new portfolio for foreign trade. In addition, the Ministry of State for Cabinet Affairs has been turned into a full-fledged ministry with new responsibilities.

"We want a modern and effective cabinet with a greater consistency and abilities to improve functioning of the government as a whole and to accelerate development processes. The new cabinet formation took into consideration re-distribution of roles and restructuring of the government in line with the international best practices and in accordance with strategic requirements," Shaikh Mohammad said. "The nation's prosperity would not be possible without progress of the citizens. The [well being of] UAE citizens has always been the main goal of the federal government's strategic plan and the cabinet is shouldering the responsibility of implementing such a plan."

Perhaps the characteristics of the new Cabinet identify the agenda that is to be implemented in terms of policies. For one thing, the newcomers belong to a group of well-educated technocrats who have gained expertise over the years in their respective fields. In addition, the structural re-organisation that had been carried out in some of the ministries has highlighted an understanding on the part of the leadership of the importance of keeping abreast with the overall changes taking place in the country.

But the Cabinet reshuffle is not only about departing ministers, and the inclusion of new faces. Neither is it about artificial structural changes. Instead, the recent changes are about how the government can best serve the citizenry through best practices, transparency, constructive attitude and timely action. In order to meet such tasks, Cabinet members are challenged to keep abreast with the aspirations of the country's leadership, as well as those of its citizens.