The new cabinet of the United Arab Emirates (UAE), headed by Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, was sworn in on Saturday as the country's seventh government since its founding in 1971.

President Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed al-Nahayan addressed the swear-in ceremony, expressing his hope that the new government will devote itself to the development of the country and the well-being of the people.

The new cabinet, proposed by Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum, also UAE's vice president and defense minister, was approved by the president on Thursday.

In the new cabinet, eight of whom are newly appointed ministers, the official news agency WAM said

Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum made no change to the defense, finance, or interior portfolios, WAM said. But Information and Culture Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed al-Nahyan has been named the country's new foreign minister.

Two women ministers are included in the new government. Mariam Mohammed Khalfan al-Roumi is appointed the Minister of Social Affairs, and Sheikha Lubna bint Khalid al-Qasimi, who was economics minister in the previous cabinet, now serves as Minister of Public Works, WAM reported.

The cabinet also saw the creation of three new ministries -- the Ministry of Environment and Water, the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Community Development and the Ministry of Governmental Sector Development. Two ministries -- the Ministry of Information and Culture and the Ministry of Justice, Islamic Affairs and Awqaf -- were scrapped.

Source: Xinhua