The previous cabinet, which had been formed just a year ago, resigned on October 30 amid a dispute with members of parliament who filed a no-confidence vote against a senior minister over violations of budgetary and legislative rules. However, ministers agreed to continue in post until a new cabinet could be formed.

The new finance minister is Nayef Falah Al-Hajraf and Bakhit Al-Rashidi was appointed as oil minister, the agency said.

The former finance minister Anas Al-Saleh had been in the role since early 2014.

Al-Hajraf has been the chair of the Board of Commissioners of the Capital Markets Authority, the securities regulator, and has also serves as an acting finance minister in the past.

Al-Saleh was appointed deputy prime minister and state minister for cabinet affairs in the reshuffle.

Sheikh Nasser Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Sabah was made the new defence minister. He is the eldest son of the country’s the ruling emir, Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah.

Kuwait, a major oil producer, has the oldest legislature among the Gulf Arab states and experiences frequent cabinet reshuffles.