Benjamin Filaferro, Author at LexisNexis Middle East

Saudi Arabia: Two-day Weekend Could be Introduced

20/05/202220/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Gazette, 16 May 2022: Saudi Arabia’s Human Resources and Social Development Ministry is understood to be considering introducing a two-day weekend for private sector employees.

They are considering amending the Labour Law’s provisions on working hours to allow this.

If approved, a two-day weekend would be introduced.

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News developments

Saudi Arabia: Regulatory Status of NEOM Clarified

18/05/202218/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Arab News, 16 May 2022: NEOM’s Chief Investment Officer has clarified the regulatory status of NEOM.

They issued the clarification following comments by NEOM’s Head of Tourism at the Arabian Travel Market.

They suggested residents in NEOM will have a special status.

The Investment Officer clarified the $500-billion future city will have its own regulations based on global best practices which will allow businesses to grow and develop.

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News developments

Bahrain: Penal Code Amendment Approved

18/05/202218/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Alayam, 15 May 2022: Bahrain’s King has ratified and promulgated Bahrain Law No. 18/2022 amending Article 231 of Bahrain Decree-Law No. 15/1976 (the Penal Code).

Under Article 1, Article 231 will be amended to read:

‘Anyone, while practicing a medical or health profession, examines a dead person or provides first aid to a severely injured person and finds signs indicating that his death or injury is a felony or misdemeanour, or other circumstances exist that call for suspicion of its cause, and he does not inform the public authority of that, will be liable to imprisonment and a fine or to one of these two penalties.’

The Prime Minister and the relevant ministers will be responsible for implementing it. It will be published in the Official Gazette and come into force the day after it is published. For full story, click here.

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News developments

UAE: Controls for Collecting Personal Information of Customers Clarified

18/05/202218/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Alroeya, 12 May 2022: The UAE’s Central Bank has clarified the controls for collecting personal information by entities which practice marketing, issuing and managing insurance policies.

The Central Bank has issued a Circular to this effect.

They have issued it to all insurance companies, insurance agents and brokers and banks which market insurance policies operating in the country.

It includes guidelines on the personal information which may be collected for insurance policies.

All insurance companies, insurance agents, brokers and banks which market insurance policies must comply with the guidelines when collecting personal information through application forms, service offers, claim forms, or any other type of document. provided by the customer, whether in writing, electronically, or through call centres.

The Bank clarified the instructions apply to collecting information related to all types of insurance and Takaful products, including life insurance, fundraising, health insurance, property and liability insurance and any other type or category of insurance products.

The personal information collected by the parties involved in the marketing, issuing and/or management of insurance policies should be limited to specific, explicit and legitimate purposes.

The aim is to ensure compliance with the regulatory and legal requirements and provide adequate advice to recommend appropriate insurance products when necessary.

For full story, click here.

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News developments

Oman: Flexible Working System Clarified

18/05/202218/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Atheer, 12 May 2022: Oman’s Labour Ministry has issued Oman Circular No. 5/2022 regarding the flexible working system in units in the State’s administrative apparatus which apply the Civil Service Law and its Implementing Regulations.

The Circular has been issued to implement the Sultan’s directives to apply the flexible working system in these units.

Employees must work seven consecutive hours a day.

The working hours will be between 7.30am and 4.30pm, provided they are calculated from the time they come to work until they leave.

Units which provide direct services to the public will announce the working hours allocated for providing these services, so the total of those hours will not be less than seven hours a day.

Each unit, together with its employees, manages and organises their daily working hours in a way which does not affect the completion of their work and tasks and the provision of services to the public and beneficiaries, or their connection to the dates of meetings, seminars, workshops or training programmes scheduled for them.

The flexible working system will be implemented from the day after the Circular was issued. For full story, click here.

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News developments

UAE: Penalties for Abstaining from Submitting Documents to Judiciary Clarified

13/05/202218/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Al Bayan, 10 May 2022: The UAE’s Public Prosecution has clarified the penalties which will be imposed on those who don’t submit documents to the judiciary.

Under Article 317 of Federal Decree-Law No. 31/2021, anyone who is assigned by law to submit a document or anything else which is useful in proving a fact submitted to the judiciary and don’t do so, will be jailed for up to six months.

Alternatively they may be fined up to 5,000 AED.

For full story, click here.

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News developments

Abu Dhabi: Sick Leave Electronic System Updated

11/05/202211/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Alroeya, 10 May 2022: Abu Dhabi’s Health Department has issued Abu Dhabi Circular No. 104/2022 on updates to the electronic sick leave system.

It has been addressed to all health facilities and licensed doctors.

The Circular states it has been decided to update the electronic sick leave system in the Department, so all doctors have to issue sick leave using the electronic sick leave system on the Tamm platform only.

The Circular was issued following a Circular from the Human Resources Authority, Abu Dhabi Circular No. 6/2022. This Circular was issued on 27 April 2022.

The Circular requires all doctors not to issue sick leave to Abu Dhabi Government employees for one to two days, as the closed electronic sick leave system cannot be accessed for this type of leave.

The Department has also issued Abu Dhabi Circular No. 103/2022 on temporary licenses for health facilities, related to temporary licenses issued to health facilities coinciding with the Covid-19 pandemic to practice medical activities. This includes field hospitals, temporary tents and kiosks.

The temporary license issued by the Department of Health is valid for up to six months. This period is calculated from the issued date. For full story, click here.

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News developments

UAE: Penalties for Providing Illegal Content Online Clarified

11/05/202211/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Alroeya, 7 May 2022: The UAE’s Public Prosecution has clarified the penalties for providing illegal content and refraining from removing it.

Under Article 53 of Federal Decree-Law No. 34/2021, anyone who uses a website or an electronic account will be fined between 300,000 and 10,000,000 AED, if they store or publish illegal content and do not take the initiative to remove it or prevent access to this content within the period specified in the orders issued to them and the Decree-Law.

The same penalties will be imposed on those who refuse to comply, in whole or in part, with one of the orders issued to them under the Decree-Law, without an acceptable excuse.

For full story, click here.

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News developments

LexisNexis Middle East and D&C Legal Services hosted insightful webinars exploring trending legal topics within the Middle East and GCC

11/05/202211/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

LexisNexis Middle East, in collaboration with D&C Legal Services, hosted three insightful webinars exploring trending legal topics within the Middle East and GCC.

The first webinar on ‘Growing and Protecting Your Brand in the Middle East and GCC’ took place on 28 September 2021 and provided attendees guidance on growing their brand and protecting it from improper use. Our expert speaker, Aurore Deeb, Senior Associate at D&C Legal Services, considered topics such as opposition, the registration process of trademarks, legal actions for infringement, unfair competition, and more.

The second webinar on ‘Intellectual Property, Social Media, and Google Ads’ took place on 19 December 2021. Our expert speaker, Rana Moustafa, Associate at D&C Legal Services, provided insights into the interconnection between social media and intellectual property. Topics such as digital policies on social media platforms, Google Ads, keywords advertising, were discussed.

The final webinar on ‘Global Legal Protection of Geographical Indications (GI)’ took place on 7 March 2022. During this webinar, GI and its international legal protection was discussed. Our expert speaker, Nasser Messaike, Associate at D&C Legal Services, explored GI in its entirety, including its security, enforcement, and more.

LexisNexis Middle East thanks D&C Legal Services for their constant support and partnership, making these webinars a success from the start.

Thank you for joining us while we continue to host these informative training and events. Visit www.lexis.ae/training-events/ to keep an eye out for future courses which are of interest to you.

News developments

UAE: Annual Emiratisation Rate Increased

11/05/202211/05/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s Cabinet has approved a Decision to increase the annual Emiratisation rate in the private sector.

The increase will have to be applied to high-skilled jobs in companies which employ 50 or more people.

It is hoped the amendment will create 12,000 employment opportunities for Emiratis.

Companies who do not comply will have to pay 6,000 AED annually from January next year for every citizen who has not been employed.

The figure will increase to 10% by 2026.

The Decision was one of several resolutions and incentives approved by the Cabinet to improve the participation of Emiratis in the private sector.

They were approved as part of the NAFIS Programme. This is a federal programme which aims to increase the competitiveness of the Emirati workforce and facilitate UAE citizens being employed in the private sector.

They also approved a reduction in Human Resources and Emiratisation Ministry service fees by 80% for private sector entities, who achieve major recruitment and training of Emirati citizens goals.

It offers various benefits including the Emirati Salary Support Scheme which offers UAE citizens a one-year salary support of up to 8,000 AED a month during training and monthly support of up to 5,000 AED for up to five years for university graduates.

It also provides UAE citizens who specialise in specific fields like coders, nurses and accountants with a top-up on their existing salaries.

In addition, it offers a subsidised five-year Government-paid contribution on the company’s behalf against the cost of pension plans for Emirati employees and full support for the Emirati’s contribution across the first five years of their employment.

It offers Private Sector Child Allowance Scheme as well. The scheme consists of a monthly grant made to Emirati staff working in the private sector of up to 800 AED per child up to a maximum of 3,200 AED a month.

Also reported in Alroeya on 9 May 2022, For full story, see:

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