Benjamin Filaferro, Author at LexisNexis Middle East

Meet our Silver Sponsor of the Qatar Business Law Forum Conference 2022 – 7th Edition!

15/08/202215/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

LexisNexis Middle East is pleased to announce that Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners will participate as Bronze Sponsors at the Qatar Business Law Forum Conference 2022 – 7th Edition held on 12 October 2022.

The conference is specifically designed for in-house counsel and will cover Qatar’s latest legal developments and trends. It will be held in English and Arabic (simultaneous translation).

We hope you will join us for this unique and exclusive opportunity to meet existing and potential clients on 12 October 2022 in Doha, Qatar. For more information, visit: www.qatarbusinesslawforum.com.

News developments

Oman: Incorrect Weather Forecasters to be Fined

11/08/202211/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Times of Oman, 8 August 2022: Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority has announced that incorrect weather forecasters will be fined.

Institutions and individuals should not publish unauthorised forecasts and warnings during weather which affects the Sultanate.

Those who do violate Article 30 of the Civil Aviation Law could be jailed for up to three years and/or fined between 15,000 and 50,000 Rials.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

Abu Dhabi: Personal Status Court Starts Issuing Bilingual Judgments

11/08/202211/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Case decisions have started to be issued in the new Abu Dhabi bilingual personal status court for non-Muslims established due to Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021. The court will also have bilingual proceedings.

In a case on 21 July 2002, a claimant submitted a divorce application per Articles 6 and 7 of Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021.

The parties had been married in the Saint George Maronite Cathedral in Beirut. The claimant requested that the defendant would be required to pay fees and expenses.

The defendant filed a response requesting the application of the Lebanese law and dismissal of the case for nonterritorial jurisdiction. He also stated that his marriage relationship with the claimant was a religious, not a civil relationship.

The claimant’s attorney sustained the divorce request, application of Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021 and the defendant’s payment of fees and costs.

The defendant sustained application of the Lebanese Law and requested time to submit it. The court decided to adjourn the case to 19/07/2022 for the defendant to submit a duly attested copy of the law they sought to apply.

However, the duly attested law of their home country was not supplied only by some non-attested laws.

Decision

The court decided to close the case for judgment on 21/07/2022.

As the court had given the defendant a chance to submit the laws of his home country, but he did not, Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021 applied.

To effectuate a Divorce, it was sufficient that one of the spouses declared their willingness to separate before the Courtand to end the marital relationship, without the need to justify such a request, prove any damage suffered or blame the other party.

The conditions in Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021 had been fulfilled.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

Qatar: New Building Permit Requirements Guide Issued

11/08/202211/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Peninsula, 7 August 2022: Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality has announced it has issued the first edition of the Guide of Requirements and Services for the Building Permit System in Qatar.

They have issued the third edition of the Building Requirements Guide.

They have been issued to support the real estate sector in the country.

The Guide of Requirements and Services for the Building Permit System in Qatar is aimed at introducing a list of engineering documents and requirements and the permits required from other service authorities when building applications are submitted.

The third edition of the Building Requirements Guide aims to clarify the list of documents, information, plans and engineering drawings which must be attached when submitting applications, as well as the other service authorities required to obtain permits and approvals from them and the forms used by them, according to the types of buildings in the building applications submitted through the electronic building permit system.

The main reasons for rejecting building applications in the electronic building permit system are also mentioned in the guide.

Also reported in Lusail on 6 August 2022. For the full story, click here.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

Meet our Bronze Sponsor of the Qatar Business Law Forum Conference 2022 – 7th Edition!

09/08/202223/09/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

LexisNexis Middle East is pleased to announce that DLA Piper will participate as a Bronze Sponsor at the Qatar Business Law Forum Conference 2022 – 7th Edition held on 12 October 2022.

The conference is specifically designed for in-house counsel and will cover Qatar’s latest legal developments and trends. It will be held in English and Arabic (simultaneous translation).

News developments

Saudi Arabia: New Regulations for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies Issued

07/08/202207/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Gazette, 4 August 2022: Saudi Arabia’s Council of Universities Affairs has issued two new regulations for undergraduate and postgraduate study and examinations.

The regulatory changes will be implemented from 2022 to the 2023 academic year.

They will regulate procedures and have been issued to keep up with developments in undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

They aim to increase the operational efficiency of Saudi Arabian universities and improve the quality of education output in line with labour market demands.

This will boost the recruitment of talented and innovative students and foster distinction and competition between universities.

Universities will have broad powers regarding academic procedures based on governance and a flexible institutional framework.

Under the new regulation for study and examinations, universities can change the semester, level or year schedule at the undergraduate level. They outline a different assessment system will be imposed. The system is compatible with the regulations followed by world-leading universities.

In terms of the regulatory changes affecting undergraduate studies, universities can promote a flexible education system for students, allowing them to earn degrees other than a bachelor’s degree.

For example, those who did not meet the requirements for a bachelor’s degree can be awarded a diploma in the specialism they are pursuing.

The same flexibility will be given to postgraduate students.

Universities will allow students to earn a lower academic degree than the programme they enrolled in.

Joint programmes for postgraduate studies will be able to be established between universities in or outside the Kingdom.

Students enrolled at a non-Saudi university will have the opportunity to enrol in courses at a Saudi university. They may earn a degree or certificate approved by two educational institutions with a joint programme. Students can enrol in two programmes simultaneously or from a previous stage. In addition, students can calculate equivalent courses within their cumulative average.

Various entities helped draft the regulations. They included the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, multiple universities and specialists and Government agency officials who are members of the Council of Universities Affairs.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Central Bank Launches Public Consultation on Amendments to Implementing Regulations to Insurance Companies Control Law

07/08/202207/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Central Bank has launched a public consultation on amendments to the Implementing Regulations to the Insurance Companies Control Law. The consultation lasts for 15 days.

The amendments have been proposed following amendments to the Insurance Companies Control Law.

The aim is to provide a comprehensive and flexible legal framework.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

UAE: Central Bank Issues Guidance for Licensed Financial Institutions on Politically Exposed Persons Risks

07/08/202207/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s Central Bank has issued new guidance for Licensed Financial Institutions on Politically Exposed Persons risks.

The guidance will help these institutions understand risks, effectively implement their statutory anti-money laundering and terrorist financing obligations, and take Financial Action Task Force standards into account.

Under the guidance, Licensed Financial Institutions must demonstrate they have complied with its requirements within one month.

Customers who are Politically Exposed Persons and transactions involving these Persons may expose these Institutions to an increased risk of money laundering, terrorist financing and other illicit finance.

These Institutions must carry out specific mandatory due diligence measures on these Persons and their direct family members or close associates, as well as the standard customer due diligence required for all customers.

Institutions providing services to these Persons must develop risk-based policies to ensure they appropriately identify these Persons or related customers before starting the business relationship and risk rating and applying commensurate customer due diligence measures.

They must also conduct ongoing monitoring of the business relationships. In addition, they should maintain transaction monitoring systems equipped to identify unusual or suspicious activity patterns and report any behaviour linked to money laundering, terrorist financing or another criminal offence to the UAE’s Financial Intelligence Unit via the goAML portal.

They should integrate these preventive measures into their anti-money laundering and terrorist financing compliance programme and support it with appropriate governance and training.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Investment Marketing Authority Established

07/08/202207/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Okaz, 2 August 2022: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet has decided to establish a Saudi Investment Marketing Authority.

The Authority will be responsible for upgrading all business and services related to investment marketing and achieving cooperation between the authorities.

It will also be responsible for marketing and attracting investments to Saudi Arabia.

In addition, it will be responsible for preparing plans and programmes related to marketing locally and internationally to make investing in Saudi Arabia more attractive.

For the full story, click here.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

Oman: Hotel Regulations Amended

03/08/202203/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Times of Oman, 1 August 2022: Oman’s Heritage and Tourism Ministry has announced it has amended the construction of hotel establishments regulation.

The amendments relate to the controls for establishing hotels to ensure greater compliance with classification and quality standards and the rules specified in the Implementing Regulations to the Tourism Law on the organisation of hotel and tourist establishments.

The amendments will apply to all new orders to set up hotel establishments.

The amendments have been approved to improve standards and support the sector’s development in the Sultanate.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.