UAE plans to trim ministries, outsource government services

Dubai: The United Arab Emirates (UAE) plans to outsource most government tasks to the private sector and cut the number of ministries, Vice Preisdent, Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, said on Monday.
The announcement comes as Gulf countries have been hit by low oil prices, encouraging them to streamline institutions and attract more foreign investment.
“We will have a road map to outsource most government services to the private sector ... The new government will have a smaller number of ministries and more ministers to deal with national and strategic issues,” the prime minister said on his official Twitter account.
He announced the formation of a single education ministry, abolishing the ministry of higher education, and fused several other state bodies into related ministries. No time frame was given for the changes.
Gulf oil exporters have for years subsidised food, fuel, electricity and water, keeping prices very low in an effort to maintain social order, though the UAE economy is less reliant on oil revenues.