UAE cabinet reshuffle: 3 women among 6 new ministers

News Network
October 20, 2017

Dubai, Oct 20: Six new ministers, including three women, have been named as members of the UAE cabinet by His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai.

During a cabinet reshuffle on Thursday, some of the major appointments announced in addition to the six new members was the creation of three new posts.

27-year-old Omar bin Sultan Al Olama was named the Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence, 30-year-old Sara Al Amiri was named Minister of State for Advanced Sciences, while Mariam Al Muhairi was named Minister of State for Food Security.

One of the youngest members to be introduced to the cabinet, Al Olama previously held the role of Director of the World Government Summit Organisation.

As two of the three new women introduced to the cabinet, Al Amiri has served as Chairperson for the UAE Council of Scientists and is associated with the Mohammad bin Rashid Space Centre. And throughout her career, Al Muhairi - who began her professional journey with the UAE Ministry of Environment and Water - has helped lead some major projects in the field of sustainability in the UAE.

The three additional new members taking on previously instated roles includes Nasser bin Thani Al Hameli, who was appointed as Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation, Zaki Nussaibah as Minister of State and Hessa bint Bu Humaid who will now take on the role of Minister of State for Community Development.

With the new additions, the 13th UAE Cabinet now has 31 members, an increase of two members from the 12th UAE Cabinet.

And with five of the six new members only in their twenties and thirties, it is yet another nod towards the UAE's shift in empowering the country's youth.

Following the Government's recent annual meetings and the launch of the UAE Centenial plan 2071, Sheikh Mohammed took to Twitter to announce details of the new structural shake-up on Thursday afternoon. With a change in portfolio for two existing ministers, Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan has now been appointed as the Minister of State for Tolerance (he was previously the Minister of State for Culture and Knowledge Development). He will be taking the reigns from Sheikha Lubna Al Qasimi, who was the previous Minister of State for Tolerance in the UAE 12th Cabinet.

Noora Al Kaabi will take up the position of Minister of State for Culture and Knowledge Development. She previously held the position of Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs.

Two current ministers have also had additional portfolios added to their current post. Ahmad Abdullah Humaid Belhoul Al Falasi, Minister of State for Higher Education will now be Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills, while Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais, Minister of State for Health and Prevention will now hold the title: Minister of State for Health and Prevention, Federal National Council (FNC) Affairs.

New cabinet announced on October 19, 2017

1. His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum
Vice President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Defence

2. Lieutenant General Shaikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior

3. Shaikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs

4. Shaikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum 
Deputy Ruler of Dubai and Minister of Finance 

5. Shaikh Abdullah Bin Zayed Al Nahyan
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

6. Shaikh Nahyan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan
Minister of Tolerance  

7. Mohammad Abdullah Al Gergawi 
Minister of Cabinet Affairs and the Future

8. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Mansouri 
Minister of Economy

9. Abdul Rahman Mohammad Al Owais 
Minister of Health and Prevention
Minister of Federal National Council (FNC) Affairs 

10. Dr Anwar Mohammad Gargash 
Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

11. Obaid Humaid Al Tayer 
Minister of State for Financial Affairs

12. Reem Ebrahim Al Hashemi 
Minister of State for International Cooperation

13. Suhail Mohammad Faraj Al Mazroui
Minister of Energy and Industry 

14. Hussain Ebrahim Al Hammadi 
Minister of Education

15. Dr Abdullah Mohammad Bel Haif Al Nuaimi
Minister of Infrastructure Development

16. Sultan Bin Saeed Al Badi 
Minister of Justice

17. Mohammad Ahmad Al Bawardi
Minister of State for Defence Affairs

18. Noora Mohammad Al Kaabi 
Cultural and Knowledge Development

19. Thani Ahmad Al Zeyoudi
Minister of Climate Change and Environment

20. Nasser Bin Thani Al Hameli
Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation

21. Hessa Bint Eisa Bu Humaid 
Minister of Community Development

22. Jameela Salem Al Muhairi
Minister of State for Public Education

23. Ahmad Abdullah Humaid Bel Houl Al Falasi
Minister of State for Higher Education and Advanced Skills

24. Sultan Ahmad Al Jaber
Minister of State

25. Maitha Salem Al Shamsi 
Minister of State

26. Ohoud Khalfan Al Roumi
Minister of State for Happiness

27. Shamma Suhail Faris Al Mazroui
Minister of State for Youth

28. Zaki Nussaibah
Minister of State

29. Mariam Al Muhairi
Minister of State for Food Security

30. Sara Al Amiri
Minister of State for Advanced Sciences

31. Omar Sultan Al Olama
Minister of State for Artificial Intelligence

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News Network
December 2,2025

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Bengaluru: 'Nati koli saaru' (country chicken curry) considered one of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah’s favourites along with steaming hot idlis was on the breakfast menu at Deputy CM D K Shivakumar’s residence on Tuesday, according to official sources.

The spread also included 'nati koli' fry, vada and pongal, among other items, they said.

In an apparent show of unity, Siddaramaiah visited Shivakumar’s residence for breakfast, just days after the two leaders shared a meal amid a simmering power tussle in the state Congress.

Siddaramaiah drove to the Deputy CM’s residence in Sadashivanagar, where he was received by Shivakumar and his brother D K Suresh, who is a former Congress MP.

Suresh and Kunigal MLA H D Ranganath, a relative of Shivakumar, joined them for breakfast, which featured a mix of vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

Speaking to reporters later, Siddaramaiah said Shivakumar had invited him during his visit to the CM’s residence for breakfast on Saturday.

Asked about the difference between the two meals, the chief minister said, "At his (Shivakumar’s) house it was non-veg, while at my house it was veg. He is a vegetarian, I am a non-vegetarian. I had not prepared non-veg. I told DK to get chicken from the village as you won’t get the original in Bengaluru."

Shivakumar said he had initially invited Siddaramaiah to his residence, but the CM had suggested visiting his place first and reciprocating later. "It was a vegetarian breakfast at the CM’s house on Saturday," he noted.

"Today, I invited him (the CM) to my house. He enjoyed the breakfast, which had his Mysuru taste," Shivakumar added. At this point, Siddaramaiah remarked that Shivakumar’s wife is also from Mysuru.

Saturday’s breakfast at Siddaramaiah’s official residence, held as part of efforts by the Congress high command to ease tensions in the leadership dispute between the two, reportedly included idlis and sambar, according to official sources.

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News Network
November 21,2025

Tejas.jpg

An Indian Air Force (IAF) Tejas fighter jet crashed on Friday, November 21, afternoon during its aerial demonstration at the Dubai Air Show, plunging to the ground at around 2:10 pm local time while performing a manoeuvre before thousands of spectators.

The IAF confirmed the incident, stating that a Tejas aircraft participating in the show had crashed and that further details were being gathered. An Air Force spokesperson said more information would be shared after initial assessments.

The crash sent thick black smoke billowing into the sky near the airport, causing panic among visitors, including families and children who had gathered to watch the display. Authorities have not yet confirmed whether the pilot managed to eject before the aircraft went down. Emergency response teams rushed to the scene, and officials have not released information on casualties or damage so far.

The Tejas is a 4.5-generation, multi-role fighter aircraft developed indigenously by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL). Designed for versatility, it is capable of offensive air support, close combat, ground attack missions and maritime operations. The aircraft family includes single-seat fighters and twin-seat trainers for both the Air Force and Navy.

HAL describes the latest version, the LCA Mk1A, as the most advanced in the series, featuring an AESA radar, an upgraded electronic warfare suite with radar-warning and self-protection jamming, smart multifunction displays, a digital map generator, a combined interrogator–transponder system and a modern radio altimeter. These enhancements significantly improve the aircraft’s combat capability and survivability.

Further updates from IAF and UAE authorities are awaited.

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News Network
November 24,2025

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Israel has launched a new act of aggression on a residential neighborhood in Lebanon's capital, Beirut, killing and injuring about two dozen civilians.

The Israeli regime's military said in a statement that its forces carried out a so-called precise strike in a residential apartment in Dahiyeh in the southern suburbs of Beirut on Sunday.

The aggression targeted residential areas, killing at least five people and injuring more than 28 people, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. 

Hezbollah announced the martyrdom of senior Hezbollah commander Haytham Ali Tabatabai and four resistance fighters.

Lebanese President Michel Aoun condemned the airstrike, calling it a clear demonstration of Tel Aviv’s disregard for repeated international calls to halt violations on Lebanese soil.

“Israel refuses to implement international resolutions and all efforts aimed at ending the escalation and restoring stability,” Aoun said, urging the international community to take action to prevent further aggression.

The Palestinian Islamic Jihad movement also condemned the attack, holding the international community accountable. 

“The international community bears responsibility and continues to provide cover for these attacks as long as it does not restrain the occupiers,” said Ali Abu Shahin, a member of the group’s political bureau.

Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office announced that the Israeli army carried out a strike “in the heart of Beirut."

Netanyahu reportedly approved the operation following recommendations from top Israeli security officials.

Two senior US officials commented on the Israeli strike.

The first official said that Israel did not notify Americans in advance about the attack. "We were informed immediately after the strike was carried out."

The second senior official said that the "US knew for several days that Israel was planning to escalate its strikes in Lebanon, but did not know in advance the timing, location, or target of the strike."

Speaking from the site of the Israeli strike, Lebanese MP Ali Ammar condemned the attack as part of a broader campaign of aggression that has targeted "all of Lebanon since the Washington-sponsored ceasefire."

He stated that "any attack on Lebanon is a violation of red lines; this aggression is part and parcel of the entity that targets Lebanon's dignity, sovereignty, and security of citizens."

Ammar went on to say the resistance is responding with "utmost wisdom, patience, and will confront the enemy at the appropriate time."

"Unfortunately, the enemy is emboldened to commit its aggression by voices within Lebanon that have turned themselves into tools that support its aggression," he added.

The Israeli attack on the southern suburbs of the Lebanese capital is the latest blatant violation of the ceasefire Israel signed with Hezbollah in November 2024, which was intended to end hostilities that had escalated into full-scale war.

An Israeli strike on the Ain al-Hilweh camp near Sidon in southern Lebanon late Tuesday killed at least 14 people. It wounded several others, including young students, according to the Lebanese health ministry.

The military claimed the attack targeted “a Hamas training compound” used to plan and carry out attacks against the regime -- a claim that has frequently been made without evidence.

Hamas rejected the allegations as “a blatant lie aimed at justifying the massacre,” stating it had “no military installations in the Palestinian camps in Lebanon” and that the targeted site was merely “an open sports field.”

According to Lebanese authorities, Israeli attacks have killed approximately 4,000 people and displaced more than 1.2 million residents across the country since October 2023.

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