Bahrain’s His Majesty King Hamad issued a decree yesterday (December 6) appointing the ministers for the new Cabinet, who were nominated by HRH Prime Minister Prince Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa on Wednesday, a report said.

The decree reappointed the Crown Prince, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, as First Deputy Premier, reported the Gulf Daily News, our sister publication.

Shaikh Mohammad bin Mubarak Al Khalifa, Shaikh Ali bin Khalifa Al Khalifa, Jawad Al Arrayed and Shaikh Khalid bin Abdulla Al Khalifa will continue as Deputy Prime Ministers in the new-look Cabinet that now has four new faces.

No changes have been made to the heads of eight ministries - Interior, Foreign Affairs, Finance, Education, Labour, Housing, Health and Justice, Islamic Affairs and Endowments.

Mohammed Al Mutawa has been appointed Minister for Follow-up Affairs and Dr Abdulhussain Mirza is the new Energy Minister while Essam Khalaf heads the newly-combined Ministry of Works, Municipalities and Urban Planning.

Kamal Ahmed, who was Transportation Minister, is now the head of the combined ministry of Transportation and Telecommunications.

Ghanim Al Buainain has been named Minister for Shura Council and Parliament Affairs.

Four new faces in the Cabinet include Major-General Yusuf Al Jalahma, Minister for Defence Affairs; Faeqa Al Saleh, Minister of Social Development; Zayed Al Zayani, Minister of Industry and Commerce; and Isa Al Hamadi, Minister for Information Affairs.

His Majesty issued another decree appointing Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa adviser to the Premier along with Shaikh Isa bin Ali Al Khalifa as adviser on industrial and oil affairs and Abdulla Saif for economic affairs.

The notification added that the Prime Minister shall implement the decrees which take effect as per the date of its issuance and promulgation in the Official Gazette.

Hassan Fakhro was named adviser to His Majesty for economic affairs; Saleh Isa bin Hindi, sport and youth affairs; Nabeel Al Hamer, media affairs; Dr Mohammed Al Sitri, legislative affairs. – TradeArabia News Service