Benjamin Filaferro, Author at LexisNexis Middle East

Saudi Arabia: Citizens to be allowed to travel soon

04/05/202104/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Almadina, 3 May 2021: The Interior Ministry has stated nationals will be permitted to travel abroad from 17 May 2021 according to specific guidelines.

An official stated that the ministry has issued a statement on the deadline to lift the travel ban, open up land, sea, and air borders fully starting which will start from 1AM on 17 May.

This permission will be given to certain groups only including those who have been vaccinated with either two or one dose of the vaccine (14 days before departure), nationals who have recovered from COVID-19.

Children between the ages eight and 18 are exempt from the vaccination rule, but must present travel insurance from the Saudi Central Bank (SAMA) that will ensure COVID-19 medical care.

Based on health information provided on the Tawakkalna app, citizens who have been infected must have recovered at least six months prior to travel.

The he General Authority of Civil Aviation (GAC)A has sent to all airlines operating from the Kingdom’s airports, including private aviation businesses, details of the procedures, requirements and recommendations for people travelling abroad.

Those travelling overseas will also need to check any requirements at their destination.

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

Dubai: E-scooter Ban Announced

02/05/202110/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates), 29 April 2021: The Dubai Municipality have announced a ban on e-scooters in public parks in the Emirate.

Motorbikes will also not be allowed in parks and visitors will not be allowed to walk on bicycle tracks.

The speed limit for cyclists is 15 kilometres an hour.

They made the announcement on Twitter.

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: DP World Launches E-commerce Platform

02/05/202102/05/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Al Bayan, 29 April 2021: DP World has announced it has launched an ecommerce platform.

DUBUY.com will be a global electronic wholesale platform and has been launched in Rwanda.

It will be rolled out across Africa and the world.

It will add digital commercial corridors to the actual commercial channels established by DP World across Africa through its investments in ports, terminals and logistics operations.

It also relies on cooperation with local companies and the Rwandan Government to help provide small and medium-sized Emirati enterprises with access to global markets by making use of the integrated supply chain services of the DP World Group This will allow them to meet export orders and receive goods. The platform provides international companies with the opportunity to find new business partners in Africa and serve them in a way which opens up a wide range of access to fast-growing markets.

For full story see https://www.albayan.ae/economy/uae/2021-04-29-1.4152857.

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: Income Tax Will Not be Introduced

29/04/202129/04/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Gulf News (United Arab Emirates), 28 April 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince has announced income tax is not going to be introduced in the Kingdom.

They added last year’s decision to increase VAT from 5% to 15% will only be in place for five years.

They made the announcement and issued the clarification during a TV interview to mark the fifth anniversary of the Saudi Vision 2030.

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: Transportation of Goods in Special Zones to be Zero-rated for VAT Purposes

28/04/202129/04/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman Daily Observer, 27 April 2021: Oman’s Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones has announced the Special Economic Zone at Duqm and the free zones in Salalah, Sohar and Al Mazunah are classified as Special Zones in line with Article 102 of Oman Decision No. 53/2021 which issued the Implementing Regulations to Oman Sultani Decree No. 121/2020 (the VAT Law).

In line with the conditions specified in Article 103 of Oman Decision No. 53/2021 all these special zones will be zero-rated for VAT purposes.

Under Article 54 of Oman Sultani Decree No. 121/2020, supplies of goods or services to or from the Special Zones, or within them, may be zero-rated, following the conditions laid down in Articles of 101, 102, 103, 104, 105, 106 and 107 of Oman Decision No. 53/2021.

All companies, enterprises, businesses and establishments operating in these zones should comply with the conditions in the Implementing Regulations, until the Tax Authority publishes detailed procedures for applying VAT at zero percent in the Special Zones. These include VAT Registration and VAT Administration.

In line with the Implementing Regulations, companies, establishments, enterprises, or those working in Special Zones and whose entire supplies of goods or services are taxable at the zero rates, must apply to the Tax Authority for authorisation and VAT registration.

Applications may be submitted at https://www.taxoman.gov.om/. The applicant must attach a copy of the commercial registration certificate and a copy of the license certificate issued by the relevant Special Zone Authority for carrying out economic activity in the Zone to the application.

For supplying or transporting goods to or within these Special Zones, Article 103 of Oman Decision No. 53/2021 states the customer or the recipient is subject to tax and the customer or the recipient be licensed and registered by the operating and supervising authority of the Special Zone to conduct the activity within the Zone. Under the same provision, the customer or the recipient should receive the goods for the purposes of the activity within the Special Zone and the goods will not be among the goods excluded from the right of deduction in line with Article 56 of Oman Decision No. 53/3021.

Under Article 103 of Oman Decision No. 53/2021, documents proving the transfer of goods to, within or between the Special Zones must be kept so as they can be certified by the entity operating and supervising the Special Zone with regard to the supply of goods within the Zone. This also applies to documents issued by Oman Customs, with regard to the supply and transportation of goods to the Special Zone or from one Special Zone to another one.

In terms of the supply of services, the customer has to be registered for VAT in line with the registration rules and the client must be licensed and registered by the Authority operating and supervising the Special Zone. They must also have received services for the purposes of activity in the Special Zone. These services do not include restaurant and hotel services, food and beverage undertakings and cultural, artistic, sports, education and entertainment services provided for in Article 24(5) of Oman Sultani Decree No. 121/2020.

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: New Waste Management Law Approved

28/04/202128/04/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Al Riyadh, 26 April 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council has approved a new Waste Management Law.

It includes jail terms and/or fines up to 30 million Riyals for anyone who stores, burns, treats, or disposes off any waste which represent in any way or form a risk to the public health or damages the environment.

The aim of the law is to regulate the activity of collecting, transporting, sorting, storing, importing, exporting, treating and safely disposing of waste including the necessary care for sites.

Under the law, it is also forbidden to dump waste of any type or bury, burn or throw it outside the designated areas.

For full story see https://www.alriyadh.com/1882550.

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: Commercial Companies Law Amendments Being Considered

26/04/202126/04/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Undersecretary for Foreign Trade and Industry at the Economy Ministry has announced amendments to the country’s Commercial Companies Law are being considered. If approved, they will allow 100% foreign ownership of onshore companies in the UAE.

The amendments are being finalised. It will enable investors and business in 10 sectors of strategic importance to benefit from the Law.

The relevant sectors and the associated regulations will be included in a Cabinet Decision which will be issued soon.

They added the cancellation of the national service agent requirement came into force on 1 April. It means all existing businesses in the UAE can amend their statuses in line with the Commercial Company Law amendments approved last year.

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

Dubai: No Gambling Licenses Being Issued

25/04/202125/04/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates), 22 April 2021: Dubai’s Government Media Office has said no gambling licenses are being issued.

They were responding to rumours on social media saying these licenses had started to be issued.

Also covered in Al Bayan on 22 April 2021. For full story see https://www.albayan.ae/uae/news/2021-04-22-1.4147590.

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

Bahrain: Bahrain Signs Mutual Recognition of Vaccination Agreement with Israel

25/04/202125/04/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain has signed a mutual recognition of vaccination and green passports agreement with Israel.

It is the first agreement of its kind between the two countries and is a global precedent for a bilateral agreement on mutual recognition of vaccination certificates.

Under the agreement, those who have been vaccinated in both countries and received vaccinations recognised in the other country will be exempt from isolation rules and be able to enter places which require a green passport. In the second phase, arrangements will be made for people who have been vaccinated with a vaccine which is not recognised by one of the two countries.

The identification process will be carried out digitally. This will facilitate entry into both countries. It is expected to strengthen tourism, trade and economic relations between the two countries.

It follows recent talks between the Bahraini Foreign Affairs Minister and their Israeli counterpart, Gabi Ashkenazi.

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: Penalties for Trademark Counterfeiting Announced Saudi Arabia: Penalties for Trademark Counterfeiting Announced

25/04/202125/04/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Gazette, 22 April 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Ministry has announced the penalties for trademark counterfeiting.

Offenders will be jailed for up to one year and/or fined up to one million Riyals.

The same penalties will be imposed on those who violate the Trademark Law.

This will include those who forge registered trademarks or exhibit, sell or possess products bearing a forged or counterfeit trademark.

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/.