| UAE President Sheikh Khalifa ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan, in his capacity as ruler of the emirate of Abu Dhabi, has restructured the government of Abu Dhabi by merging several departments and revamping a key committee entrusted with administering the emirate. The move is seen aimed at pre-empting duplication of work and overlapping of responsibilities and services offered to nationals and expatriates. Sheikh Khalifa appointed his step-brother and Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Sheikh Mohammed ibn Zayed Al-Nahayan as chairman of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council. The council was revamped into seven departments and nine members instead of 12 departments and 14 members. Sheikh Khalifa himself used to chair the council in his capacity as crown prince of Abu Dhabi until he became the ruler of Abu Dhabi and president of the UAE following the Nov. 2 death of Sheikh Zayed ibn Sultan Al-Nahayan. |