Abdullah Ghobash said farewell to more than three decades in banking on Tuesday when he was appointed to the Cabinet as a Minister of State.
It was hardly what he was expecting as he started his working week at the National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD).
While he said he had "no idea" what portfolios he would be given as the Minister of State, his background made business roles a natural fit.
Mr Ghobash started his career in 1981 as a young Emirati volunteer with the Central Bank, moving a year later to a permanent job at NBAD. He has remained there since, also serving on the boards of the developer Emaar, Emirates Institute of Banking and Financial Studies, Nasdaq Dubai, Bourse Dubai, the Emirates Banks Association and Etisalat.
Mr Ghobash also became the higher board director of Dubai International Financial Centre.
"This is an honour for me and I am proud for this great responsibility," he said. "Hopefully it is a responsibility which I will be able to fulfil wholeheartedly."
* Ola Salem
