Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani ordered a cabinet reshuffle on Tuesday, appointing Sheikh Saud bin Abdulrahman bin Hassan Al Thani as the country’s deputy prime minister and minister of state for defence affairs.
According to the decree cited by state news agency QNA, the reshuffle includes seven ministries. It was announced after the public overwhelmingly backed a constitutional referendum replacing Shura Council elections with appointed roles.
The reshuffle mostly included existing cabinet members, and a few newcomers.
As part of a cabinet shuffle, the emir appointed Sheikh Faisal bin Thani bin Faisal Al Thani as the country’s new minister of commerce and industry.
Sheikh Faisal is the Qatar Investment Authority’s chief of Asia-Pacific and Africa investments and the chairman of Qatari telecoms group Ooredoo. It is unclear if he will remain in those roles.
Additionally, the emir appointed Lolwah bint Rashid Al-Khater as the new education minister. She served previously as minister of state for international cooperation and led Qatar’s global humanitarian efforts, especially in Gaza and Lebanon.
She also spearheaded Qatar’s role in brokering the return of dozens of Ukrainian children from Russia or Russian-occupied territory.
Succeeding Khater, Mariam bint Ali bin Nasser Al Misnad was appointed as the new minister of international cooperation.
The emir also appointed Buthaina bint Ali al-Nuaimi as the minister of social development and family, Mansur bin Ibrahim Al Mahmoud as the minister of general health, and Muhammad bin Abdullah bin Muhammad Al Thani as the new minister of transportation.
Mohammed Al Sowaidi was also appointed as the CEO of the Qatar Investment Authority. Al Sowaidi served as the $510 billion sovereign wealth fund’s chief of investments in the Americas and previously established the fund’s offices and investment team in New York.
He replaces Mansour Ibrahim al-Mahmoud as the QIA’s CEO, whom the emir appointed as Qatar’s next minister of health.
