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C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 06 ABU DHABI 000453 
 
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NOFORN 
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STATE FOR NEA/ARPI AND INR/B 
STATE PASS TO USTR FOR AUSTR DONNELLY, DOUG BELL 
NSC FOR NIK RAMCHAND 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 02/09/2016 
TAGS: PINR PGOV ETRD KISL KDEM AE
SUBJECT: NEW UAE FEDERAL CABINET ANNOUNCED 
 
REF: A. ABU DHABI 430 
     ¶B. 05 ABU DHABI 4905 
     ¶C. 04 ABU DHABI 3955 
 
Classified By: Classified by Ambassador Michele J. Sison, reasons 1.4 ( 
b) and (d). 
 
 ¶1. (C) Summary: The UAE leadership announced a ministerial 
reshuffle late February 9.  The reshuffle preserves key U.S. 
Mission interlocutors, especially Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed 
al-Nahyan (AbZ), who becomes Minister of Foreign Affairs. 
The UAE's new Prime Minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid 
al-Maktoum (MbR), retains the defense portfolio, although the 
real decision-maker on military issues continues to be Abu 
Dhabi Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE 
Armed Forces, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan (MbZ). 
Holdovers also include the UAE co-chairs at our FTA 
negotiations, Economy Minister Sheikha Lubna al-Qassimi and 
Minister of State for Financial Affairs Mohammed Khalfan bin 
Kharbash; Labor Minister Ali bin Abdullah al-Ka'abi, who has 
worked with us on labor issues of concern; Interior Minister 
Sheikh Saif bin Zayed, an important interlocutor on security 
related matters; and Higher Education Minister Sheikh Nahyan 
bin Mubarak al-Nahyan, well-known for his educational reform 
initiatives.  Educational reform also gets a boost with the 
selection of Dr. Hanif Hassan Ali, the Vice Chancellor of the 
all-women's Zayed University, as Education Minister.  The 
decision to split up the Ministry of Justice, Islamic 
Affairs, and Endowments is a signal that the UAE leadership 
wants to devote more resources to ensuring that moderate 
Islam is preached and taught in mosques and schools.  The 
creation of a Ministry of Federal National Council (FNC) 
affairs under the reform-oriented Dubayyan Anwar Gargash 
should ensure that President Khalifa's announcement of 
limited elections for half the consultative body is 
implemented. 
 
¶2. (C) Summary continued: In the reshuffle, Dubai and the 
Northern Emirates pick up more portfolios than before.  We 
will watch to see to how the strong and ambitious MbR manages 
the Cabinet and whether that may encourage rule by 
institutions rather than personality.  All told, the 
23-member Cabinet includes eight new members, including the 
second female minister.  Five portfolios are new (government 
sector development, Federal National Council affairs, social 
affairs, environment and water, and culture, youth and social 
development), and four have been abolished (information, 
communications, agriculture and fisheries, and supreme 
council and GCC affairs.)  The Cabinet is scheduled to be 
sworn in on February 11.  End Summary. 
 
¶3. (C) The first Cabinet of Ministers under already named 
Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid includes eight new 
faces, additional technocrats, two women, and a relatively 
better balance of representatives from the different 
emirates.  Abu Dhabi emirate's ruling al-Nahyan family still 
holds many of the important portfolios (deputy prime 
minister, foreign affairs, interior, presidential affairs, 
higher education, public works).  The newly constituted 
Cabinet preserves most of our principal interlocutors, with 
the exception of Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahyan (HbZ), who 
sheds the title of MinState for Foreign Affairs and will 
concentrate on his role as a deputy prime minister.  However, 
the al-Nahyans will be very much present on the international 
scene with HbZ's younger brother, Sheikh Abdullah, taking 
over the reins of the foreign ministry.  AbZ's appointment 
comes as no surprise to us (ref A).  He has handled several 
of the tough issues, including Syria/Lebanon, Palestinians, 
and more recently, the UN, and has been the UAE's principal 
interlocutor at many of our bilateral meetings during the 
past three years.  He is favorably regarded in Washington 
circles and, unlike HbZ, speaks fluent English.  Al-Sha'ali, 
HbZ's successor as MinState for Foreign Affairs, should also 
be an excellent interlocutor in the future, having served as 
the UAE's Ambassador to both Washington (1992-1999), the UN 
and UNSC (1986-1987), and UN-Geneva. 
 
---------------------- 
The new Cabinet lineup 
---------------------- 
 
¶4. (C/NF) The following is a description of the newly 
 
ABU DHABI 00000453  002 OF 006 
 
 
reconstituted Cabinet of Ministers, including brief profiles 
of each Minister: 
 
Prime Minister/Minister of Defense 
---------------------------------- 
 
UAE Vice President Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum is 
the Ruler of Dubai, the second most powerful emirate in the 
UAE.  A dynamic and pro-business leader, MbR inherited the 
title of Ruler of Dubai upon the death, January 3, of his 
older brother, UAE Vice President and Prime Minister Sheikh 
Maktoum.  The Supreme Council of rulers selected him to 
succeed Maktoum as Vice President and Prime Minister.  One of 
our most important contacts, MbR is expected to work closely 
with Abu Dhabi emirate's al-Nahyan ruling family, and HbZ in 
particular, to strengthen the federal government,s role. 
MbR retains the defense portfolio, but the real 
decision-maker in the military will continue to be Sheikh 
Mohammed bin Zayed. 
 
Deputy Prime Minister 
--------------------- 
 
Sheikh Sultan bin Zayed al-Nahyan continues in this role.  He 
is the second eldest son of the President.  Sultan has a 
history of alcohol and chemical dependency and has spent some 
time in psychiatric institutions.  The appointment of his 
younger half-brother MbZ as Deputy Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi 
in November 2003, effectively took him out of the running to 
be Ruler of Abu Dhabi.  In the past few years, his official 
duty in chairing the Council of Ministers in the absence of 
the late Prime Minister Maktoum has been largely titular. 
 
Deputy Prime Minister 
--------------------- 
Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed al-Nahyan continues in this role. 
HbZ is a son of the late President Sheikh Zayed and Sheikha 
Fatima.  He was the de facto Foreign Minister since 1990 and 
one of the USG's primary interlocutors.  Since his 
appointment as Deputy Prime Minister in fall 2003, HbZ has 
played a critical role in coordinating policy among the seven 
emirates and exerting discipline in the Cabinet.  It remains 
to be seen whether Sheikh Hamdan will carry on as a key 
interlocutor with former Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi and 
on the UAE-Saudi border issue. 
 
Minister of Finance and Industry 
-------------------------------- 
 
Dubai Deputy Ruler Sheikh Hamdan bin Rashid al-Maktoum 
continues in the role of titular Finance Minister, though 
Minister of State for Finance Kharbash (a fellow Dubayyan) 
actually fills most aspects of the Finance Minister role for 
the UAE.  Hamdan concentrates on municipal and financial 
affairs of Dubai emirate. 
 
Minister of Interior 
-------------------- 
 
Major General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed al-Nahyan continues in 
this same role.  He is a graduate of UAE University in 
al-Ain, and he studied English in the UK where he also 
attended a training program for police at Scotland Yard.  He 
is a good friend of the U.S. and pay close attention to 
Embassy security.  Sources inside his ministry and Abu Dhabi 
police speculate that he would be replaced over a 
disagreement with MbZ over a security communications contract. 
 
Minister for Presidential Affairs 
--------------------------------- 
 
Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed al-Nahyan continues in his role as 
Minister.  He is one of the six sons of Sheikh Zayed and 
Sheikha Fatima.  He is Deputy Chairman of the Sheikh Zayed 
Charitable Foundation, and Chairman of the International 
Petroleum Investment Corporation.  Mansour was an English 
student at Santa Barbara Community College in 1989.  He 
speaks English well, but his academic record was poor. 
 
Minister of Foreign Affairs 
--------------------------- 
 
 
ABU DHABI 00000453  003 OF 006 
 
 
Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan replaces Rashid Abdullah 
al-Noaimi, a figurehead whose role was largely confined to 
representing the UAE in international fora and ceremonial 
gatherings.  (Al-Noaimi's son, Abdullah Rashid, is the under 
secretary and a key interlocutor of ours.)  AbZ is the 
 
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youngest of the sons of Sheikh Zayed and Sheikha Fatima.  AbZ 
was being groomed for his new portfolio in recent years, 
capped last fall by his attendance at the UNGA where he gave 
the UAE's plenary speech.  AbZ also has led UAE diplomatic 
efforts in Syria, Lebanon, and the Palestinian territories. 
He will have the task of coordinating the UAE's positions on 
difficult issues )- such as natural resources -) in the 
ongoing FTA negotiations with the U.S., and possibly the 
contentious UAE-Saudi border issue.  As Minister of 
Information and Culture from 1997, he had a moderating 
influence on UAE media and expanded free press in the UAE. 
Now that the Information Ministry has been abolished, the 
functions of the foreign media will be handled by MFA, and 
the Cabinet will soon decide to set up a Supreme Council for 
Media, which will be responsible for setting and developing 
media policies.  With the abolition of the Information 
Ministry AbZ has been a reformer by nature.  He has chaired 
the bilateral Strategic Partnership meetings, has many 
contacts in the U.S., and speaks English fluently. 
 
Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan held this title prior to 
the Cabinet reshuffle that took place in November 2004.   He 
oversaw the merger of the Education and Higher Education 
portfolios during the past 16 months.  He is the Chancellor 
of all the public universities in the UAE.  He is a leading 
advocate of education reform in the UAE who is sometimes 
attacked by religious conservatives for his emphasis on 
women,s education and refusal to limit access to the 
Internet. 
 
Minister of Public Works 
------------------------ 
 
Sheikh Hamdan bin Mubarak al-Nahyan continues in this role. 
He is a younger brother of the Minister of Higher Education. 
 
Minister of Economy 
------------------- 
 
Sheikha Lubna al-Qassimi continues in her role as Minister, 
although she will no longer have the Planning portfolio.  The 
Cabinet apparently will establish a Supreme Council for 
Planning.  She was the first female Minister appointed to the 
UAE Cabinet in November 2004.  She is an excellent contact of 
the U.S. Embassy and Consulate General.  She was previously 
Chief Executive Officer of Tejari.com, an online marketplace. 
 Educated at California State University at Chico, she is a 
dynamic and highly intelligent leader who has cultivated 
close ties with many U.S. officials and business leaders. 
She is a true believe in open economies and free trade, and 
has played an important role in U.S.-UAE FTA negotiations as 
UAE co-chair with Dr. Kharbash.  A protege of MbR, Sheikha 
Lubna is actually a member of Sharjah emirate's ruling family. 
 
Minister of Justice 
------------------- 
 
Mohammed bin Nakhira al-Daheri has been Minister of Justice, 
Islamic Affairs, and Endowments since 1997.  He left the 
military to become UAE Attorney General in 1992 and served in 
that position until he was promoted to his present position. 
The Ministry is being split up to guarantee that sufficient 
resources are devoted to ensuring that moderate Islam is 
preached and taught in UAE mosques and schools.  Islamic 
Affairs and Endowments will become a separate organization, 
but without cabinet status. 
 
Minister of State for Financial and Industrial Affairs 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
Dr. Mohammed Khalfan bin Kharbash, an important player in the 
U.S.-UAE FTA negotiations, continues in his role as the 
Minister of State (and de facto Minister of Finance).  His 
departure had been rumored by more than one Embassy contact, 
 
ABU DHABI 00000453  004 OF 006 
 
 
in part because of health problems.  He is a well-regarded 
reformer who appears to have the support of both the Abu 
Dhabi and Dubai ruling families.  He is also Chairman of the 
Dubai Islamic Bank. 
 
Minister of Energy 
------------------ 
 
Mohammed bin Dha'en al-Hamili continues in his role as 
Minister.  A good interlocutor on oil issues, al-Hamili is 
from the Emirate of Abu Dhabi and was the director of 
Marketing and Refining for the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company 
(ADNOC) before his appointment to the Cabinet in November 
¶2004.  He was formerly the UAE governor to OPEC.  He is a 
Harvard Business School graduate. 
 
Minister of Labor 
----------------- 
Dr. Ali bin Abdullah al-Ka'abi continues in his role as 
Minister.  Prior to his Cabinet appointment in November 2004, 
he was a manager at the UAE Offsets Group.  An excellent 
interlocutor on labor issues, he holds a PhD in engineering 
management, and software and information system management 
from George Washington University.  He is also a graduate of 
Sandhurst University Military College.  He has previously 
worked as an IT adviser with the UAE Armed Forces, an IT 
manager in the Washington office of the Abu Dhabi Investment 
Authority, and an IT manager in the office of the UAE 
military in Washington.  In the past 16 months, al-Ka'abi has 
had to tackle the difficult labor issues facing the UAE, 
including stiffening regulations against unscrupulous 
employers. 
 
Minister of Governmental Sector Development 
------------------------------------------- 
 
Sultan bin Saeed al-Mansouri, appointed in November 2004 as 
Minister of Communications, sees his old Ministry dismantled 
and takes over a new Ministry.  He is from Dubai and is 
Chairman of the Dubai Islamic Insurance and Reinsurance Co. 
and a Vice Chairman of Dubai Islamic Bank.  From 1998 until 
his appointment to the Cabinet, he was a managing partner of 
al-Nabooda Group.  He holds a degree in mechanical 
engineering from the University of Michigan. 
 
Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs 
------------------------------------- 
 
Mohammed Abdullah al-Gergawi replaces Saif Khalfan al-Ghaith. 
 He is MbR's closest adviser, especially on issues of 
governance and quality control.  His appointment is a strong 
signal that MbR intends to play a very active role as Prime 
Minister.  Born in 1963, he has held the positions of 
Secretary General of Dubai Executive Council, Executive 
 
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Chairman of Dubai Holding, Chairman of Dubai Development and 
Investment Authority, and Managing Director at Dubai Media 
Corporation.  He supervised the launch and implementation of 
many projects in Dubai, including Dubai Internet City, Dubai 
Media City, the Knowledge Village, Dubai Land, Dubai Medical 
City, and Dubai Press Club.  He studied business management 
in Michigan. 
 
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 
------------------------------------- 
 
Mohammed Hussain al-Sha'ali succeeds HbZ, one of the USG's 
key interlocutors on foreign affairs the past decade.  He is 
a thoughtful person who believes in increasing public 
participation in government.  From Ajman emirate, al-Sha'ali 
holds a BA degree in administration and economy from the Arab 
University in Beirut.  After completing his degree, he began 
work at the MFA, where he served as Director of Arab World 
Department (1982-1985), Ambassador to the UN and non-resident 
Ambassador to Canada (1986-1987) where he also acted as UAE's 
representative to the UNSC, Ambassador to Washington 
(1992-1999).  He was then appointed as UAE Permanent 
Representative to the UN office in Geneva.  In recent years, 
he has been serving as chairman of the Arabian Marine 
Industry Association and president of Gulf Craft, an 
Ajman-based company that manufactures boats and luxury 
yachts.  He was born in 1950. 
 
 
ABU DHABI 00000453  005 OF 006 
 
 
Minister of Social Affairs 
-------------------------- 
 
Mariam Mohammed Khalfan al-Roumi will be responsible for a 
new ministry charged with finding solutions to social 
problems and developing social security and social 
organizations.  Al-Roumi was born in 1957 and holds a BA in 
English Literature from the UAE University.  She has held 
many positions in the educational, academic, and social 
fields.  She was on the board of directors for Dubai Health 
Care City.  She has been serving as under secretary for the 
Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs since 1999. 
 
Minister of Education 
--------------------- 
 
Dr. Hanif Hassan holds a BA in Islamic studies from the UAE 
University and a master's degree in Islamic Shari'a.  In 1991 
he earned a PhD from Umm al-Qura in Saudi Arabia and since 
September 2005 has been a member and Director General of the 
Abu Dhabi Education Council.  He has served as Vice 
Chancellor of the all-women's college, Zayed University, and 
Chairman of the Committee for Degree Equivalency at the 
Ministry of Higher Education.  He is a member of the board of 
trustees of the al-Maktoum Foundation, and a member of the 
UAE Emiratization Council. 
 
Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs 
--------------------------------------------- --------- 
 
Dr. Anwar Mohammed Gargash will oversee implementation of 
steps leading toward the first limited election of FNC 
members in UAE history.  President Khalifa announced in 
December 2005 that the UAE would hold indirect elections for 
half the FNC membership and continue to appoint the other 
half (ref B).  Election details will be announced in the 
coming weeks.  A good contact of the Embassy and Consulate 
General, he is very thoughtful and a strong believer in 
democratization and reform.   He is very proud of his Persian 
heritage.  Gargash was professor of political science at UAE 
University until 1995.  He is a member of the Dubai Economic 
Council and a board member of Emirates Media Group.  He has a 
BA in political science from George Washington University and 
a master,s degree and PhD from Cambridge University. 
 
Minister of Health 
------------------ 
 
Humaid Mohammed Obaid al-Qutami replaces Hamad al-Midfa.  He 
was born in 1959 and holds a master's degree from Western 
Michigan University.  He had held many positions, among them 
director general of the Emirates Institute for Banking and 
Financial Studies.  He has played a role in the 
nationalization strategy of the UAE, and is a founder of the 
Accountants and Auditors Association, the Consumer Protection 
Society, and the Human Rights Society in the UAE. 
 
Minister of Environment and Water 
--------------------------------- 
 
Dr. Mohammed Saeed al-Kindi will take over a Ministry that 
replaces the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.  Al-Kindi 
has a BA and master's degree in political science, and a PhD 
in public administration from the University of California. 
He joined the MFA in 1984 and was a member of the UAE,s 
permanent delegation to the UN from 1986 to 1995.  Between 
1995 and 1997 he was charge d'affaires in the UAE Embassy in 
Indonesia.  He is a member of the consultative committee of 
the GCC's Supreme Council and has worked as the director of 
the office of the Ruler of Fujairah.  He was born in 1955. 
 
Minister of Culture, Youth and Community Development 
--------------------------------------------- ------- 
 
Abdul Rahman Mohammed al-Owais graduated from the UAE 
University in 1989 with degrees in accounting and IT.  Since 
2001 he has been a member of the board of Emirates Media 
Corp.  He is a member of the Sharjah Chamber of Commerce and 
Industry and a member of the Emirates Property Bank.  He was 
born in Sharjah in 1967. 
 
Comment: 
 
ABU DHABI 00000453  006 OF 006 
 
 
------- 
 
¶5. (C) This reshuffle, the second in 16 months (ref C), 
strengthens the al-Nahyans' firm grip on the UAEG while also 
introducing several dynamic technocrats and MbR confidants 
from Dubai and the Northern Emirates, offering a real chance 
to improve the functioning of the UAE's loose federal system. 
 Until now, UAEG Ministers have largely taken their marching 
orders from the UAE President in Abu Dhabi (who of course 
consulted broadly with other rulers and with his own family 
members).  We will watch to see if there is a shift to a 
bipolar system, in which the Cabinet reports ultimately to 
the President but is managed by a strong Prime Minister.  If 
that were to happen, it would require a good deal of 
adjustment for all involved.  Over time it would be a 
positive change, one that might encourages rule by 
institutions rather than personality, and which leads to 
greater transparency and accountability.  The appointment of 
AbZ as foreign minister, while not a surprise, is an 
excellent development for the USG.  AbZ has already 
established strong contacts in our government and is fluent 
in English, something his older brother HbZ is not.  AbZ's 
new role as Foreign Minister frees up Hamdan to devote his 
time to domestic issues, including inter-emirate relations, 
and further improvements to federal institutions.  The 
appointment of Mariam al-Roumi is a further positive 
development in the UAE,s stated commitment to empower women. 
SISON