Sheikh Mohammed tweeted that happiness is more than just a wish, adding that the position would be guided "plans, projects, programs (and) indices."
"The new cabinet focuses on the future, youth, happiness, developing education and combating climate change," tweeted 66-year-old Sheikh Mohammed.
Last October, Al Roumi was selected for membership in the United Nations Foundation Global Entrepreneurs Council (GEC), becoming the first Arab member of that body.
Tourism, trade, energy, the construction business and financial services represent the main businesses that help Dubai, the largest of the seven states that make up the UAE federation, to grow, despite sharing borders with an unstable region.
Ohood Al Roumi as Minister of State for Happiness. She remains responsible as DG of the Prime Minister’s Office. pic.twitter.com/1Omrzc9b8F
— HH Sheikh Mohammed (@HHShkMohd) February 10, 2016
Only 10 percent of local Arabs have the power to vote for the members of a largely advisory federal council, but not for president, prime minister or other top posts.
Along with the newly elected minister of happiness, 22-year-old-master's program graduate from Oxford University Shamma al-Mazrui was appointed as minister of state for youth affairs, to "represent the hopes of our youth," Sheikh Mohammed said.
Former minister for foreign trade Sheikha Lubna Khalid Al Qasimi was named to the new post of minister of state for tolerance. The prime minister, who expects Dubai to continue being a business-friendly city that will host the World Expo in 2020, stressed he hoped her role would extend to the wider region.
The Cabinet was announced 48 hours after Sheikh Mohammed stated his plans to privatize some public services and merge several government ministries.
