In a major cabinet reshuffle, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Crown Prince of Dubai is the new Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence corresponding to an announcement made on Sunday.
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed also became Deputy Prime Minister while holding the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs at the same time.
The Vice President and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid said he discussed the matter with President Sheikh Mohamed.
“We announce today the formation of a new ministerial position as follows: The joining of Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum in the UAE government as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence in the UAE Cabinet,” Sheikh Mohammed said.
Regarding the addition to the government, he expressed the following words: ‘Sheikh Hamdan is a leader who loves people, and the people love him’.
“We also announce today, as part of the government amendments, the appointment of Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan as Deputy Prime Minister, in addition to his duties as Minister of Foreign Affairs.”
Sheikh Hamdan in his brief response said he welcomed the decision on Sunday afternoon and restated his priority to uphold the principles of the union.
“We thank His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum for this precious trust and assignment,” he wrote on X.
“And we renew the pledge and promise to our wise leadership and our dear people to continue following the path of Zayed and Rashid, so that the flag of the Union remains flying and that we work in the spirit of one team.”
Education
Among the changes was the reshuffling of the Council for Education, Human Resources and Community Development in the UAE.
Sheikh Abdullah will chair the council; he is accompanied by his deputy Sheikha Mariam bint Mohamed bin Zayed; who was appointed as the president of the National Centre for Quality Education.
“The Council of Education, headed by Sheikh Abdullah and with Sheikha Mariam as Vice-President, represents a guarantee of the stability and continuity of education plans and strategies,” said Sheikh Mohammed.
“The Council will supervise our national human capital, under the guidance and vision of the President of the State, may God protect him, from early childhood through general education and higher education, all the way to employment and nationalization, and ending with a stable family capable of graduating generations that adhere to their identity … preserving the values of their society … and keeping pace with all future scientific and technical changes.”
Other recent government reshuffles were accompanied by the unification of the Emirates Foundation for School Education and the Federal Agency for Early Education with the Ministry of Education in the UAE; Sarah Al Amiri became the Minister of Education in the UAE. Ms Al Amiri was Minister of State for Public Education and Advanced Technology.
Ms Al Musallam became the Minister of State for early education for the newly formed Federal Authority for Early Education established in 2022.
Sara Al Musallam was appreciated “for her work during the past era,” and Sheikh Mohammed expressed the hope she would continue to succeed in her work for her country.
Abdulrahman Al Awar was appointed as the acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research apart from being the Minister of Emiratization and Human Resources for the federal level.
Further nominations
Ahmed Belhoul was nominated as the Minister of Sports and Chairman of the Board of the Higher Colleges of Technology as well as the President of the Esa.
The new Minister of State for Entrepreneurship, who was named was Alia Al Mazrouei.
“Alia has distinguished experience in the private sector and the government sector in the country, and her role is to create greater economic opportunities for the sons and daughters of the nation to benefit from the great growth witnessed by our national economy,” said Sheikh Mohammed.