The new 27-member government headed by Nader Dahabi was sworn in before His Majesty King Abdullah on Sunday and held its first Cabinet meeting later in the day.

The final list includes four women, three of whom are newcomers.

The team includes 13 first-time ministers, eight who were members of the previous Cabinet and six who served as ministers in earlier governments.

Dahabi, whose last post was president of the Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority, held the transport portfolio in the government of former premier Ali Abul Ragheb.

The lineup also saw ministry secretaries general becoming ministers, including Minister of Education Tayseer Nueimi and Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research Omar Shdeifat.

Dahabi told his team during their meeting to draw up plans to implement the King's directives entailed in the Letter of Designation, including a mechanism of evaluation of the progress in these blueprints.

In the letter, the King said the coming stage should focus on socio-economic development. His Majesty tasked the new government with putting in place a social safety network that covers education, health, housing and seeks to improve incomes of civil servants, military and security personnel.

Earlier today, His Majesty met with outgoing prime minister Marouf Bakhit and former Cabinet members. He expressed appreciation for their work over the past two years.

During the meeting at Raghadan Palace, King Abdullah pointed out that the government of Bakhit worked at a critical and difficult time and exerted its utmost to enhance the socio-economic conditions of the citizens.