Dubai Ruler chairs first cabinet meeting in person since COVID-19 outbreak

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, has chaired the first UAE Cabinet at the Presidential Palace on Monday.

The members of the Cabinet were seen wearing masks and maintaining physical distancing guidelines.

Since February, the sessions were being held remotely as part of efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus.

Taking to Twitter, Sheikh Mohammed announced that the UAE Cabinet is returning to work a month earlier than expected due to "relentless work efforts".

"The government’s new season begins from August, not September," he wrote.

.@HHShkMohd: Our Cabinet work continues this summer due to the unprecedented circumstances. Our projects will continue. The government’s new season begins from August, not September. Our excellence and achievements are dependent on our enduring and relentless work efforts. pic.twitter.com/tEJKPrhtRp

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 3, 2020

It's also the first meeting after the last government formation that's aimed at "keeping phase with the priorities" of a post-COVID future.

.@HHShkMohd: We restructured several councils and issued several new appointments. We also discussed the government’s formation during the coming period and the most important new changes to keep pace with the priorities of the upcoming phase. pic.twitter.com/tONy22bnqp

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 3, 2020

Sheikh Mohammed also added that 33 new economic initiatives were approved by the Cabinet on Monday.

.@HHShkMohd: We began the session with message of congratulations for the #UAE making history with the Hope Probe’s launch to Mars. And during the meeting, the Cabinet approved 33 new economic initiatives. pic.twitter.com/h8kQUr7Dxv

— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice) August 3, 2020