Mohammed bin Rashid chairs first UAE Cabinet meeting in person since February

Vice President, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, chaired today the first cabinet meeting in person after several remote meetings.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid used the landmark meeting at the Presidential Palace to announce that the UAE Cabinet would be returning to work a month early amid "exceptional circumstances" facing the nation.

At the beginning of the meeting, His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid hailed UAE's success in operating the first peaceful nuclear reactor in the Arab world and the successful launch of Hope Probe, confirming that both achievements are another landmarks success led by UAE youth.

Sheikh Mohammed said such were sacrifices needed to ensure the success of the Emirates. "Today, I chaired the first Cabinet meeting at the Presidential Palace after a series of remote meetings. It is also the first meeting after the latest UAE Government formation," Sheikh Mohammed said.

“Our Cabinet work continues this summer due to the unprecedented circumstances. Our projects will continue. The government’s new season begins from August, not September. Our excellence and achievements are dependent on our enduring and relentless work efforts.

“We restructured several councils and issued several new appointments. We also discussed the government’s formation during the coming period and the most important new changes to keep pace with the priorities of the upcoming phase."

Sheikh Mohammed stressed the importance of bolstering the economy.

He said 33 initiatives aimed at reinvigorating the economic sector had been approved during the meeting.

During the meeting, the Council of Ministers adopted a policy of freezing red blood cells, its components and rare blood types for emergency and crisis purposes, which aims to support government efforts in crises and disasters, and by providing and managing strategic blood stocks for emergency and crisis situations.

During the meeting, the first after the recent government reshuffle, the Ministerial Development Council has been restructured under the leadership of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs.

The General Federal Budget Committee has also been restructured under the chairmanship of Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance.

The Cabinet has also approved the establishment of Union's General Budget Committee, chaired by H.H. Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance, H.H. Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs, as Deputy Chairperson, and the membership of H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Mohammed bin Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of Cabinet Affairs and Obaid bin Humaid Al Tayer, Minister of State for Financial Affairs.

The Cabinet approved the new structure of the Education Council, chaired by H.H. Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

Furthermore, the Cabinet approved a number of decisions, including, the appointment of Dr. Sultan Al Jaber as Chairman of Emirates Development Bank, the appointment of Suhail bin Mohammed Faraj Faris Al Mazrouei as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Emirates General Petroleum Corporation, the appointment of Sarah bint Youssef Al Amiri as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the UAE Space Agency, the appointment of Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Belhoul Al Falasi as Chairman of the Council for Projects and Small and Medium Enterprises, and the appointment of Ohoud bint Khalfan Al Roumi as Head of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources.

The Cabinet has mandated Dr. Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoud, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, for retaining and attracting talent, and Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises, with the role of boosting the tourism industry in the country.