SHARJAH, 10 December 2004 — 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.

Under the revamping, the departments of procurements and customs have been merged into the department of finance; the departments of works, municipality and town planning of both Al-Ain and Abu Dhabi as well as the Al-Ain agriculture and animal wealth department were merged into a single body called the department of municipalities and agricultural and the departments of planning and economy were merged into the department of planning and economy.

The departments of civil aviation, seaports, social services and commercial buildings, organization and administration were also restructured.

Another decree issued by Sheikh Khalifa created the post of secretary-general, which has to be filled, of the Abu Dhabi Executive Council and he named Mohammad Ahmad Al-Bowardi to the post as chairman of the department.

Another decree named Mohammed Habroush Mohammad Al-Suwaidi as adviser to the president with the rank of minister.