Sheikh Hamdan, Sheikh Abdullah sworn in as new deputy prime ministers: Watch

Image credit: Government of UAE/X

Newly appointed ministers Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister, and the country’s new Minister of Defence; Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, newly appointed Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs; along with other ministers in the UAE Cabinet, were sworn in on Thursday.

The ceremony took place at Qasr Al Watan in Abu Dhabi in the presence of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President, Prime Minister, and Ruler of Dubai, and Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Vice President, Deputy Prime Minister, and Chairman of the Presidential Court.

أمام صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن زايد آل نهيان رئيس الدولة “حفظه الله” وبحضور صاحب السمو الشيخ محمد بن راشد آل مكتوم نائب رئيس الدولة رئيس مجلس الوزراء حاكم دبي “رعاه الله”، وسمو الشيخ منصور بن زايد آل نهيان نائب رئيس الدولة نائب رئيس مجلس الوزراء رئيس ديوان الرئاسة.. عدد من الوزراء… pic.twitter.com/PTfAiIOffe

— UAEGOV (@UAEmediaoffice) July 18, 2024

Other newly appointed ministers include Ahmad Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of Sports; Sarah bint Yousef Al Amiri, Minister of Education; Dr. Abdulrahman bin Abdulmannan Al Awar, Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation and Acting Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research; and Alia bint Abdullah Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Entrepreneurship.

New leadership

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan expressed his best wishes to the newly appointed ministers, emphasising their national duty to advance and enhance their respective sectors. He highlighted the importance of their contributions to strategic national plans that will positively impact the UAE’s development and meet the needs of its people.

“Our unwavering approach in the UAE is to continuously develop and improve in order to build upon our achievements. To serve the interests of current and future generations, we must keep pace with global best practices, especially in the areas of education, science, and technology,” stated Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed.

“Improving the education system in the UAE is the only way to achieve our ambitious goals of a sustainable, knowledge-based economy. This will be possible through intensified efforts and innovative ideas,” he added.

Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum noted that the UAE leadership is committed to driving government performance to excellence through ongoing improvements and the appointment of qualified talents capable of leveraging their expertise to achieve the desired outcomes.

“Modernisation has always been an inherent aspect of the UAE government’s approach. There is no limit to our ambitions in serving our nation and our people. The UAE continues to lead as we rely on our human capital to drive the next phase of comprehensive, sustainable development,” he said.

شهدت اليوم رفقة أخي رئيس الدولة حفظه الله أداء القسم للتشكيل الحكومي الجديد في دولة الإمارات.

مسيرة التحديث مستمرة .. التطوير والتغيير لن يتوقف .. راية الوطن ستبقى عالية خفاقة من جيل إلى جيل .. وقادم دولتنا أعظم وأجمل بإذن الله .

وفق الله الجميع لخدمة البلاد والعباد . pic.twitter.com/xGGKVq4MCf

— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) July 18, 2024

Passing of the baton

Sheikh Hamdan succeeds his father Sheikh Mohammed as the country’s Minister of Defence. Sheikh Mohammed was instrumental in establishing and leading the security and defence infrastructure of the UAE, since the country’s formation, in 1971.

Read: UAE cabinet reshuffle: here’s what you need to know