Benjamin Filaferro, Author at LexisNexis Middle East

Saudi Arabia: Excise Tax Declaration Deadline Announced

16/05/202117/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Arab News, 13 May 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has announced an excise tax declaration deadline.

Declarations for March and April have to be submitted by 15 May.

Taxpayers who do not submit their returns on time will have to pay a fine worth 5% of the amount for every 30 days of delay.

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Uncategorized

Oman: Curfew to End

16/05/202117/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Arab News, 13 May 2021: Oman’s Supreme Anti-Coronavirus Committee has announced the curfew will be lifted for individuals and vehicles on Saturday.

A ban on hosting any commercial activities in stores between 8pm and 4am will remain in place and services limited to deliveries.

Grocery stores and supermarkets will be exempt.

They added that stores, outlets, malls, restaurants and cafes will be allowed to open at 50% capacity.

A decision to limit public sector workplaces to 50% capacity in person has been reactivated.

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News developments

Turkey: Coronavirus Vaccine Card to be Issued

16/05/202117/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Hurriyet Daily News, 12 May 2021: The Turkish authorities have announced they are introducing a Coronavirus vaccine card for its citizens.

It will be available through the Hayat Eve Sıgar system which keeps track of Coronavirus contacts.

Those who have had both doses of the Coronavirus vaccine will be able to create a vaccine ID card.

They will also be able to add their passport numbers. This will be included in the ID card.

The cards will be able to be used for international travel.

The information regarding the vaccine status of someone will be accessed with the data on the passports when they enter their destination.

An individual’s identity information, vaccine status, the name and date the vaccine was applied and the safe tourism logo which was introduced by the Culture and Tourism Ministry last year will be included in the card.

There will also be a QR code on the card. This will enable the relevant authorities to visit a website which shows if people are eligible for the vaccine and handles vaccine appointments via the e-Nabız system.

When they scan the QR code, information on the vaccine status of an individual will be available in both English and Turkish on the screen.

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News developments

Saudi Arabia: International Central Securities Depositories Instructions Approved

13/05/202119/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Arab News, 7 May 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority has announced International Central Securities Depositories Instructions have been approved.

They came into force on 6 May 2021.

The instructions regulate the linkage application process and its conditions, related Depository Centre accounts and additional general provisions.

Also reported in Al Madina on 8 May 2021. Full story available here.

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News developments

UAE: Safe Travel Corridor for Vaccinated Travellers with Bahrain Approved

12/05/202112/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Alroeya, 10 May 2021: The UAE has approved a safe travel corridor for vaccinated travellers with Bahrain.

It will allow individuals to travel between the two countries from the first day of Eid al-Fitr without having to self-isolate.

They will have to comply with the relevant anti-Coronavirus measures in the destination country.

They have recently been updated to ensure safer travel for everyone.

Citizens and residents who want to utilise the isolation exemption in both countries will have to provide evidence that they have received the full dose of the Coronavirus vaccine through approved applications and certificates. This is the Al Hosn application in the UAE and the BeAware Bahrain application in Bahrain.

Passengers can also save their PCR test results on the two applications.

For full story see https://www.alroeya.com/173-76/2217723-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%AF-%D9%85%D9%85%D8%B1-%D8%B3%D9%81%D8%B1-%D8%A2%D9%85%D9%86-%D8%A8%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D9%85%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%A7%D8%AA-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A8%D8%AD%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AD%D8%A7%D8%B5%D9%84%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D9%84%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%AD-%D9%83%D9%88%D9%81%D9%8A%D8%AF-19.

Additional reporting from Emirates News Agency.

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News developments

Dubai: International Financial Centre Courts Approves E-seal

11/05/202111/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) Courts has announced it has approved the launch of an e-seal.

It follows their acquisition of the qualified electronic seal solution Ethaq.

This is a paperless initiative which enables digital authenticity of documents supported by the UAE PASS together with Smart Dubai. This is the secure national digital identity platform for the UAE.

It provides an end-to-end signing solution which combines both electronic seal and e-signature solution based on digitally verifiable identities.

It is powered by Dubai Electronic Security Centre and its Root Certificate Authority. The Courts are the first Dubai entity to acquire the entirely paperless certificate which enables court documents to be electronically signed, issued and authenticated.

It will also reinforce the security and integrity of the documentation and prevent official documents from being tampered with. It will enable users to digitally verify the authenticity of any legal documents through the DIFC Courts website.

The functionality will be implemented in phases.

It will initially be rolled out for all court user service documents, like DIFC Courts Judgments and Orders. It will then be rolled out for all internal and operational documentation in the Courts.

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News developments

UAE: No Weekend Changes Announced

09/05/202109/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Gulf News (United Arab Emirates), 6 May 2021: The UAE’s authorities have announced no weekend changes have been approved.

They were responding to rumours on social media.

They suggested the weekend was going to be changed from Friday and Saturday to Saturday and Sunday.

They also dismissed rumours employees in Government and Federal departments will have to work 12 hours a day on Fridays.

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News developments

Qatar: Draft Intellectual Property Law Approved

09/05/202109/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Gulf Times, 6 May 2021: Qatar’s Cabinet has approved a draft protection of trademarks, copyright and neighbouring rights of the International Football Association law.

Among other things, the Law contains provisions on the registration of FIFA trademarks, the deposit of works, audio recordings, performances of performers and FIFA radio programmes with the office at the request of FIFA or its representative for this purpose.

The power of attorney also has to be notarised.

They have referred it to the Shoura Council to consider.

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News developments

Dubai: International Financial Centre Amends Founding Law

09/05/202109/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Gulf News (United Arab Emirates), 6 May 2021: Dubai’s Ruler has issued Dubai Law No. 5/2021 repealing Dubai Law No. 9/2004 which was the founding law of the Dubai International Financial Centre.

It provides clarity on the duties and responsibilities of the President, the Governor and entities in the Centre.

It also expands the Centre’s strategic objectives to include ‘advancing sustainable economic growth for Dubai, developing and diversifying the economy and increasing the GDP contribution of the financial services sector, to promote investment into Dubai and to attract regional and international entities to establish themselves in the Dubai International Financial Centre as their principal place of business’.

The new Law allows the Centre’s President to exempt certain Federal and local government authorities, companies and other entities from any Centre laws applicable to them when present in the Centre. In these cases, only UAE Federal and local laws will apply to them. This will allow the increasing numbers of Federal and local government authorities in the Centre to be exempt from certain Centre laws which were never intended to apply to them.

It also ensures the Centre’s operational, financial and administrative independence.

The Dispute Resolution Authority will be split and operate as two separate bodies. The first will be the Dubai International Financial Centre Courts and the second will be the Arbitration Institute.

In addition, the amendments provide clarity on what establishments may do outside their physical premises in the Centre. They may supply services and products to customers outside the Centre, as long as they are primarily provided out of their premises in the Centre. Marketing and promotion of their activities can be conducted outside the Centre as well.

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News developments

Kuwait: Travel Ban for Non-Vaccinated Criticised for Being Unconstitutional

06/05/202106/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Arab Times, 4 May 2021: Several MPs have objected to the decision by the Cabinet to prevent citizens, who have not been vaccinated against COVID 19, from travelling overseas.

The MPs, including Osama Al-Shaheen, have said the decision is unconstitutional and the Prime Minister and Ministers involved in the decision should be held politically and legally accountable for it.

The Cabinet’s decision was based on the recommendation of health authorities. During the Kuwaiti government’s weekly meeting the travel ban was announced on Kuwaitis, their first-degree relatives and domestic helpers as of May 22 if they did not receive the anti-coronavirus vaccine set by the Ministry of Health.

However, the MPs state it violates international law which states individuals should not be forced to be vaccinated. The MPs also claim it is a violation of the Kuwaiti Constitution which safeguards the citizens’ freedom to travel and move.

Non-Kuwaitis are still banned from entering the country.

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