Abdullah Ghobash said farewell to more than three decades in banking on Tuesday when he was appointed to the Cabinet as a Minister of State.
It was hardly what he was expecting as he started his working week at the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD).
While he said he had "no idea" what portfolios he would be given as the Minister of State, his background made business roles a natural fit.
Mr Ghobash started his career in 1981 as a young Emirati volunteer with the Central Bank, moving a year later to a permanent job at NBAD. He has remained there since, also serving on the boards of the developer Emaar, Emirates Institute of Banking and Financial Studies, Nasdaq Dubai, Bourse Dubai, the Emirates Banks Association and Etisalat.
Mr Ghobash also became the higher board director of Dubai International Financial Centre.
"This is an honour for me and I am proud for this great responsibility," he said. "Hopefully it is a responsibility which I will be able to fulfil wholeheartedly."
* Ola Salem
The National's picks
4.35pm: Tilal Al Khalediah
5.10pm: Continous
5.45pm: Raging Torrent
6.20pm: West Acre
7pm: Flood Zone
7.40pm: Straight No Chaser
8.15pm: Romantic Warrior
8.50pm: Calandogan
9.30pm: Forever Young
Like a Fading Shadow
Antonio Muñoz Molina
Translated from the Spanish by Camilo A. Ramirez
Tuskar Rock Press (pp. 310)
Our legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
Electric scooters: some rules to remember
- Riders must be 14-years-old or over
- Wear a protective helmet
- Park the electric scooter in designated parking lots (if any)
- Do not leave electric scooter in locations that obstruct traffic or pedestrians
- Solo riders only, no passengers allowed
- Do not drive outside designated lanes
Day 1 results:
Open Men (bonus points in brackets)
New Zealand 125 (1) beat UAE 111 (3)
India 111 (4) beat Singapore 75 (0)
South Africa 66 (2) beat Sri Lanka 57 (2)
Australia 126 (4) beat Malaysia -16 (0)
Open Women
New Zealand 64 (2) beat South Africa 57 (2)
England 69 (3) beat UAE 63 (1)
Australia 124 (4) beat UAE 23 (0)
New Zealand 74 (2) beat England 55 (2)
Veil (Object Lessons)
Rafia Zakaria
Bloomsbury Academic
Skewed figures
In the village of Mevagissey in southwest England the housing stock has doubled in the last century while the number of residents is half the historic high. The village's Neighbourhood Development Plan states that 26% of homes are holiday retreats. Prices are high, averaging around £300,000, £50,000 more than the Cornish average of £250,000. The local average wage is £15,458.