Vice-President and Prime Minister of UAE and Ruler of Dubai His Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum stressed that strengthening of economic and political relations with all countries of the world is the major path of UAE’s development plan.

He also said that these relations are developing day by day because of the UAE’s established principles on foreign relations laid down by its founders, and thanks to the direct follow-up by President His Highness Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

These relationships are constantly evolving as they are based on consolidating the gains of the people and their interests as well as mutual respect and effective contribution to the humanitarian and common international issues.

Sheikh Mohammed was speaking while chairing the cabinet meeting today in the presence of Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Lt.General HH Sheikh Saif Bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Presidential Affairs HH Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayed Al Nahyan.

The cabinet decided to restructure the Board of Directors of the Zayed Housing Programme and ratified a number of economic and political agreements with other countries.

The cabinet also discussed the financial report on the 2011 federal budget and reviewed a number of other items on the agenda.

The cabinet meeting held at the Presidential Palace approved the restructuring of the Zayed Housing Programme under the chairmanship of the Minister of Public Works Sheikh Hamdan Bin Mubarak Al Nahyan.

The cabinet also gave approval to a number of agreements which encourage investment and avoidance of double taxation between UAE and some world countries.

The cabinet also ratified the agreements with Poland and Seychelles for mutual exemption of pre-visa requirement for the holders of diplomatic passports.