Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum.

Gulf Today, Staff Reporter

His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE, in his capacity as Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai, issued a decision merging the Dubai Economy and the Department of Tourism under the umbrella of a new department called the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

Sheikh Mohammed appointed Hilal Saeed Al Marri as the head of the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism.

The move comes within the framework of the plan adopted by Sheikh Mohammed to develop the government sector system in an effort to enhance the efficiency and flexibility of business and keep pace with future developments, in a way that enhances Dubai’s leading position in various fields.

It will aslso contribute in maintaining a high level of quality and performance in providing services to members of the community.

"The new department's job is to support the economic and tourism transformations of the emirate," said Sheikh Moahmmed.

Sheikh Mohammed also said: "Dubai's economic history has gone through many stages through which it has become a model for economic development and a preferred destination for tourism... Today our ambitions are greater and our priorities are different... And global competition with us requires new thinking."