Mohammed bin Rashid announces changes in the UAE government and appoints his son as Minister of Defense

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Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, announced a new ministerial 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: "After consulting with my brother Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed, President of the State, and after his blessing and approval.. We announce today a new ministerial formation in the country 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 portfolio 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 Aca demy "Sandhurst" in Britain. In 2006, he held the official position of Chairman of the Dubai Executive Council, which is responsible for developing and implementing the emirate's strategic development plans. Among the other notable ministerial changes announced by Mohammed bin Rashid was 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 Emirates would 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 would 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 Source: National Iraqi News Agency