UAE Cabinet holds first meeting in person since Covid-19 outbreak

The UAE Cabinet held its first meeting in person on Monday following a series of virtual meetings due to the Covid-19 outbreak.

Chairing the meeting at the Presidential Palace, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, said the cabinet would be returning to work a month early amid “exceptional circumstances” facing the nation.

He said such sacrifices were needed to ensure the success of the Emirates.

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.https://t.co/DChRysDfmw pic.twitter.com/RGkBhPTVxj

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 3, 2020

“Our Cabinet work continues this summer due to the unprecedented circumstances,” Sheikh Mohammed said.

“Our projects will continue. The government’s new season begins from August, not September. 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.”

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.https://t.co/DChRysDfmw pic.twitter.com/RGkBhPTVxj

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 3, 2020

During the meeting, Sheikh Mohammed hailed UAE’s success in operating the first peaceful nuclear reactor in the Arab world and the successful launch of Hope Probe.

He also stressed the importance of bolstering the economy and said 33 initiatives aimed at reinvigorating the economic sector had been approved.

Also read: Sheikh Mohammed announces new government structure with merged ministries

Ministers also approved 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.

The meeting, the first after the recent government reshuffle, also saw the restructuring of the Ministerial Development Council, the General Federal Budget Committee and the Education Council.

The cabinet also approved the establishment of Union’s General Budget Committee; 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 Emirates General Petroleum Corporation; the appointment of Sarah bint Youssef Al Amiri as chairman of the UAE Space Agency; the appointment of Dr. Ahmed bin Abdullah Belhoul Al Falasi as chairman of the Council for Projects and SMEs, and the appointment of Ohoud bint Khalfan Al Roumi as head of the Federal Authority for Government Human Resources.