العربية
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History & Timeline

  • About the Ministry
  • History & Timeline
History of the Ministry

History of the Ministry

At the beginning of the seventies, the State administrative apparatus was regulated by Decree No. (1) of 1970 establishing the State Council, which was then the cabinet. The State Council was mandated to carry out all tasks and responsibilities relating to the administration and organization of all executive affairs of the country, including State finance affairs, namely the preparation of the State budget as well as State public plan for the development of national economy and taking the necessary measures to implement them in accordance with the provisions of the laws-in-force. That Decree was subsequently followed by the issuance of many decrees and resolutions that regulate the Government executive apparatus. The following is a summary of the most important decrees and legislations relating to the organization of the Ministry of Finance and National Economy from its establishment till the present time.

Decree No. (17) of 2021

Issued to reorganize the Ministry of Finance and National Economy. To include 24 directorates.

2021

2011 - 2020

Decree No. (1) of 2019

Regarding the reorganization of the Ministry of Finance and changing its name to the Ministry of Finance and National Economy.

2019

Decree No. (47) of 2018

Reorganizing the Ministry of Finance, whereby the Public Debt Management Office was created, as well as the position of Assistant Undersecretary for Joint Financial Services and its affiliated (Central Internal Control Directorate, Central Administration of Government Procurement, Central Efficiency Directorate, and a number of From the directors of financial resources to assume the tasks of common financial services in government agencies), in addition to creating the Public Revenue Development Directorate and the Financial Information Directorate, and making them dependent on the Assistant Undersecretary for Public Revenue Development and Policy.

Decree No. (49) of 2018

Transferring the Directors and Heads of financial resources departments in all ministries of the Kingdom to the Ministry of Finance.

Appointment 2018 - Present

Appointment of H.E. Shaikh Salman bin Khalifa Al Khalifa as Minister of Finance and National Economy.

2018

Decree No. (24) of 2017

Establishing the Public Revenue Policies Directorate.

2017

2000 - 2010

Decree No. (28) of 2010

Creating the Directorate of Government Property Affairs.

2010

Decree No. (51) of 2009

Issued to create the Corporate Tax Directorate and the Value Added Tax Directorate.

2009

Decree No. (9) of 2007

Minister (Customs Affairs, Ports and Free Zones)

Undersecretary of the Ministry of Finance (Control and Follow-up Department)

Assistant Undersecretary for Economic Affairs (Department of Foreign Economic Relations, Department of Economic Studies and Research, Department of Government Investments, Department of Privatization and Contracts)

Assistant Undersecretary for Financial Affairs (Budget Department, Project Department, Treasury Department, Financial Systems Development Department).

Assistant Undersecretary for Resources and Services (Human and Financial Resources Department, Financial Information Department) Central Stores Department.

2007

Decree No. (31) of 2005

Amending some provisions of Decree No. (9) of 2003 by establishing and organizing the Economic Development Board, through which some of the responsibilities and competencies of the Ministry were transferred to the Economic Development Council.

Appointment 2005 - 2018

Appointment H.E. Shaikh Ahmed bin Mohammed Al Khalifa as the Minister of Finance (2005 - 2018).

2005

Decree No. (35) of 2003

Whereby a general administration for free zones was established in the affairs of customs and ports at the Ministry of Finance and National Economy.

2003

1990 - 1999

Appointment 1999 - 2005

Appointment of H.E. Mr. Abdulla Saif as the Minister of Finance and National Economy (1999 - 2005).

1999

Decree No. (4) of 1994

Reorganizing the Ministry of Finance and National Economy

Assistant Undersecretary for Financial Affairs (Budget Department, Project Department, Accounts Department, and Treasury Department).

Assistant Undersecretary for Economic Affairs (Economic Relations Department, Economic Planning Department, Government Contributions Department, Investment Department).

Assistant Undersecretary for Operations (Administrative and Financial Affairs Department, Financial Information Department, Central Stores Department). 

1994

1980 - 1989

Decree No. (2) of 1983

Issued to restructure the Ministry of Finance and National Economy, which included the following departments: Customs Department, Ports Department, Central Warehouse Department, Financial and Administrative Affairs Department, Accounting Operations Department, General Budget Department, Financial Planning and Programming Department, Evaluation and Economic Research Department of Economic Relations and Investment Management.

1983

1970 - 1979

Decree No. (14) of 1979

Accordingly, the Central Stores Department was added to the Ministry’s structure.

1979

Decree No. (8) of 1976

Accordingly, the Department of Planning and Economic Affairs was added to the Ministry's structure. 

Decree No. (5) of 1976

Issued to rename the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Commerce, Agriculture and Economy, whereby the Ministry of Finance was renamed to be the Ministry of Finance and National Economy.

Appointment 1976 – 1999

Appointment of H.E. Mr. Ebrahim Abdulkareem as the Minister of Finance (1976 – 1999).

1976

Decree No. (26) of 1975

Whereby the Ministry of Finance was organized to include (7) departments: the Customs, the Port, the General Budget, the Property and Financial Relations Departments, the General Authority for the Pension Fund Department, the Accounts Department, and the Statistics Department.

Decree No. (15) of 1975

Issued to split the Economy and merge it with the Ministry of Trade and Industry, which was renamed to become the Ministry of Trade, Agriculture and Economy.

1975

Appointment 1973 - 1976

Appointment of H.E. Mr. Mahmood Al-Alawi as the Minister of Finance.

1973

Decree No. (3) of 1971

Issued to restructure the Department of Finance and National Economy, and the Department of Labor and Social Affairs. During this amendment, the Housing Department was separated from the Department of Finance and National Economy and appended to the Department of Labor and Social Affairs.

1971

Decree No. (1) of 1970

Issued to establish the State Council. The Council was entrusted with carrying out all tasks and responsibilities to managing and organizing all executive affairs of the country, including matters related to state finances represented in preparing the state’s general budget and developing the national economy.

1970

1960 - 1969

Appointment 1960 - 1969

Appointment of H.R.H. Shaikh Khalifa bin Salman Al Khalifa as the First Chief of the Government’s Finances.

1960