All key ministers retain portfolios

Abu Dhabi: A Cabinet reshuffle was announced on Monday, bringing in two new deputies to the Prime Minister and switching the portfolios of Education and Health.

All key ministers, including defence, interior, foreign affairs and energy have retained their portfolios.

President His Highness Shaikh Khalifa Bin Zayed Al Nahyan decreed the new Cabinet reshuffle, the second since His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, took over as Premier more than three years ago.

Shaikh Khalifa approved the new Cabinet as proposed by Shaikh Mohammad, WAM reported yon Monday.

The reshuffle saw the appointment of two new deputies to the Prime Minister - Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Interior, and Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Presidential Affairs, who also retained their portfolios.

Shaikh Sultan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Shaikh Hamdan Bin Zayed Al Nahyan, both senior deputies to the prime minister, left the Cabinet.

In the fourth Cabinet, formed in 1979, Shaikh Sultan was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister, while Shaikh Hamdan was appointed as Deputy Prime Minister in 2003.

Restructuring of the seventh Cabinet since the establishment of the UAE Federation in 1971 also saw Dr Hanif Hassan, former Minister of Education, taking over as Minister of Health. Former Minister of Health, Humaid Al Qutami, was given the portfolio of Education.

The Cabinet, headed by Shaikh Mohammad, was reduced in size from 24 ministers to 22, as two ministers now hold the position of deputy prime minister in addition to their portfolios.

In addition to the premiership, Shaikh Mohammad has been re-appointed as Minister of Defence. Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum retained his post as Minister of Finance, as did the other key ministers.