The UAE Cabinet adopted a draft law for establishing an ‘International Centre for Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism’ or Hidaya with aims to set up a global platform that catalyses discussion and cooperation among countries of the world to confront extremism.
Lt. General Shaikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior; and Shaikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs, also attended the meeting.
A new comprehensive control system for drinking water in the UAE was also approved during the meeting. The new system aims to improve water standards in terms of quality by unifying control mechanisms on drinking water, which include production, processing, packaging and distribution. The prime minister stressed that “Water is life… and ensuring safe and high quality drinking water is a top priority”.
Shaikh Mohammed underlined the importance of concentrating federal and local government efforts in unifying standards in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment and Water, Ministry of Health, Federal Customs Authority, local customs authorities, UAE University, Abu Dhabi Food Control Authority, municipalities in the emirates, in addition to main water production companies in the country. The system will be fully implemented six weeks after its publishing in the official gazette.
The cabinet also decided to set up the Board of Directors of the Supreme Council for Motherhood and Childhood under the chairmanship of Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak, Chairperson of the General Women’s Union and Chairwoman of the Family Development Foundation. The new board will also have 14 members and will serve a three-year renewable term.
During the meeting, Shaikh Mohammed highlighted the leading role of Shaikha Fatima bint Mubarak in support of the issues of women, family and children.
In addition, the cabinet decided to restructure the Board of Directors of the Federal Authority for Nuclear Regulation under the chairmanship of Dr Ahmed Mubarak Al Mazrouei in addition to eight members.
During the meeting, a modified financial regulations system for the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology was approved to guarantee a higher degree of efficiency in managing the authority’s budget. Additionally, new standardisations were approved for a number of products.
The 2013 operating budget for the Emirates Investment Authority was also approved. The cabinet meeting also approved an agreement for cooperation in the field of peaceful uses of nuclear energy with Argentina, in addition to an air transport agreement with Mali.
On the diplomatic side, the cabinet approved to establish an embassy in the Ukraine and upgrade consulates in Brazil, Spain, USA, Italy and Iraq to become general consulates.
