UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum chaired a meeting of the cabinet at the Presidential Palace in Abu Dhabi earlier today.

The meeting was held with the attendance of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lt. General Sheikh Saif bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Presidential Affairs Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

During the meeting the cabinet approved plans to open a new UAE embassy in Chile, after which the council of ministers signed off on the Zakat (charity) Fund and Marriage Fund budgets for 2010

The cabinet also approved amendments to the law governing the Department of Awqaf and Islamic Affairs, and went on to ratify an extradition treaty between the UAE and the Republic of Uzbekistan, as well as tax accords between the UAE and Greece.

After endorsing aviation agreements with Serbia and South Korea, the cabinet authorised the renewal of a further agreement between the UAE and the Islamic Banking Development Group until 2014. 

The cabinet meeting concluded with ministers approving a number of appointments and promotions at government entities, followed by a review of a financial report about the federal budget 2009.