The United Arab Emirates now has a Minister of Happiness

The prime minister of the United Arab Emirates says "national happiness isn't a wish," and in order to make good on his promise, he's appointed a minister of state for happiness.

On Wednesday, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum announced his new cabinet, which includes five women. Ohood Al Roumi, the director general of the prime minister's office and former head of economic policy for Dubai, will keep her current job but also take on the role of minister of state for happiness. In this new position, she'll be tasked with aligning and driving "government policy to create social good and satisfaction," NBC News reports.

The prime minister is making it clear that this role is not just ceremonial. "Happiness in the UAE is not just a hope, there will be plans, projects, programs, and indicators," he said. Happiness will become "part of our lifestyle," he added, and to get the people motivated, he wrote a poem titled "Happiest Nation" and posted it to his website.

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