New UAE cabinet announced - with seven new members

Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahyan, president of the UAE, has endorsed the new UAE cabinet.

The cabinet was expanded from 22 to 24 ministers, and three state ministries were created.

Seven new members have joined the cabinet and the number of women in the cabinet has doubled to four.

• Saqr Gobash replaces Dr Ali bin Abdullah al-Kaabi as Minister of Labour

• Anwar Mohammad Gargash is the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, replacing Mohammed Hussain al-Sha'ali

• Gargash will also retain his portfolio as the Minister for Federal National Council (FNC) Affairs

• Rashid Ahmad bin Fahad replaces Mohammad Saeed al-Kindi as Minister of Environment and Water

• Obaid Humaid al-Tayer replaces Mohammad Khalfan bin Kharbash as Minister of State for Financial Affairs

• Maitha Salem al-Shamsi, Khalifa Bakheet al-Falasi and Reem Ibrahim al-Hashimi all become Ministers of State.

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

Other changes to the ministries:

• Industrial Affairs, at the former Ministry of Finance & Industry, has been repositioned to the Ministry of Economy

• The Ministry of State for Cabinet Affairs has become a full-fledged ministry known as the Ministry for Cabinet Affairs

• The former government sector Development Ministry will be attached to the Ministry for Cabinet Affairs.

Meanwhile, in the emirate of Sharjah, Sheikh Sultan bin Mohammed al-Qasimi, UAE supreme council member and ruler of Sharjah, has issued a decree naming Sheikh Abdullah bin Salim bin Sultan al-Qasimi as deputy ruler from 18 Februabry.