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(MOHAMMED HISHAM)
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His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has said he intends to carry out a Cabinet reshuffle next month. Sheikh Mohammed also ordered the building of 40,000 villas for needy UAE nationals in all emirates at a cost of Dh15 billion.
During a tour of the central and eastern regions to inspect dams and areas that sustained damage because of the rains, Sheikh Mohammed gave instructions to immediately double to Dh2.2bn from Dh1.1bn the social aid allocations extended by the Ministry of Social Affairs.
Sheikh Mohammed said the anticipated reshuffle of the Cabinet comes as part of efforts made to continuously upgrade the performance of ministries and federal institutions in the country.
Sheikh Mohammed, however, did not elaborate on the nature of the changes or the number of ministerial portfolios the reshuffle will cover.
“Ministers, in general, have not been incompetent, but some were better performers. And we have decided to have a complete reshuffle to ensure comprehensiveness that distinguishes performance of ministries in line with the set strategy.”
On the villas project, Sheikh Mohammed said: “We have ordered the Ministry of Finance to allocate extra funds to build 40,000 villas that will be completed in three years and distributed to those who deserve them the most.” Sheikh Mohammed ordered the Ministry of Public Works to immediately start the construction of the villas.
The project will provide family housing units to nationals with limited income. The move will give a strong push to the local construction sector.
Sheikh Mohammed was accompanied during the tour by Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Chairman of Dubai Executive Council; Mohammed Abdullah Al Gergawi, Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs; Mohammed Khalfan bin Kharbash, Minister of State for Financial and Industrial Affairs and a number of other officials.
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