Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced a new cabinet formation and the appointment of his son Hamdan bin Mohammed, Crown Prince of Dubai, as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defense.
Mohammed bin Rashid wrote on the “X” platform today, Sunday: “Brothers and sisters… after consulting with my brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, President of the State, may God protect him, and after his blessing and approval… we announce today a new ministerial formation in the state as follows: Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum joins the government of the United Arab Emirates as Deputy Prime Minister and his appointment as Minister of Defense in the United Arab Emirates.”
Thus, Hamdan bin Mohammed became the second Minister of Defense in the history of the Emirates after his father, Sheikh Mohammed, assumed the Defense Ministry since the founding of the Union in 1971, when he was 22 years old.
Sheikh Hamdan (41 years old) graduated in 2001 from the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Britain. In 2006, he assumed for the first time an official position as Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, which is responsible for developing and implementing strategic development plans in the emirate.
Among the most prominent other ministerial amendments announced by Mohammed bin Rashid is the appointment of Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan as Deputy Prime Minister in addition to his duties as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
It was also announced that the Education, Human Resources and Community Development Council in the UAE will be reconstituted, headed by Abdullah bin Zayed and Vice-Chairman of the Council, Sheikha Mariam bint Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and the Ministry of Community Development will be included under the umbrella of the Council, in addition to the Ministry of Education, Higher Education, Federal Universities, and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation.