News developments
The EU has announced it has decided to remove Oman from their List of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. Their removal follows the reforms by the Sultanate to improve their tax policy framework.
News developments
Kuwait’s Education Ministry has announced non-Kuwaiti employees cannot transfer their residency permit to the civil sector. There are four exemptions to this. The list of exemptions has been sent by the Ministry to the country’s Manpower Authority. Husbands and children of female Kuwaiti nationals, individuals born in Kuwait, Palestinians who have documents or technical professionals working in the health sector in establishments licensed to operate health services are exempted.
News developments
The Dubai International Financial Centre has announced the Centre has become the region’s first fully accredited member of Global Privacy Assembly. The Centre will work with Global Privacy Assembly Members to implement global best practice in data protection and privacy to support sustainable business growth and shape the future of finance, whilst effectively fulfilling privacy mandates. It follows the enactment of the Centre’s Data Protection Law (DIFC Law No. 5/2020). It also reinforces key privacy principles including accountability, safeguards for international transfers and support of data subjects’ rights especially in terms of emerging technology issues.
News developments
Bahrain’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority together with the Information and e-Government Authority has launched a licensing services system. The system includes a number of services which can be used through the national Bahrain.bh portal. It includes a group of important electronic services for real estate professionals, including brokers and sales agents. It also includes facilities to issue licenses and pay fees, enquiring about the status of applications, renewing expired licenses, displaying all licenses approved by the institution and presenting the documents required for issuing or renewal.
News developments
The Head of Abu Dhabi’s Judicial Department has issued a Decision approving the guidelines for performance orders in commercial matters. The aim is to enhance the business environment in the Emirate and boost the Emirate’s position as an attractive environment for foreign investment and capital. This will also be achieved by activating fair and simplified litigation systems and provide fast and effective mechanisms for dispute resolution. The guidelines address all questions and inquiries, so court officers can familiarise themselves with these provisions in a way which guarantees the issuing of the payment order and the access by interested parties to their rights without delay.
Weekly Spotlight
Oman’s Sultan has approved Oman Sultani Decree No. 121/2020 issuing the Sultanate’s VAT Law. Under the Law, the tax will be imposed on most goods and services with specific exceptions detailed in the Law and subsequent regulations. It will be applied at every stage of the supply chain and on the import of goods into the Sultanate with specific exceptions specified in the Law and subsequent regulations. It will be levied at 5% and the Sultani Decree has been issued in line with a VAT Agreement signed by the GCC countries in November 2016.
Under Article 2 of Oman Sultani Decree No. 121/2020 the Chairman of the Tax Authority will issue the Implementing Regulations to the Law within six months of the Law being enforced. They will also issue the necessary decision to implement it. Anything which contravenes or contradicts it will be repealed.
The relevant Sultani Decree will be published in the Official Gazette and it will come into force 180 days after it is published in the Gazette.
News developments
Saudi Arabia’s Public Prosecution has issued a clarification on the Kingdom’s Wiretapping Law. Under the clarification, correspondence, letters, publications, parcels or phone conversations cannot be intercepted or monitored unless it is authorised by the Law and the Public Prosecution have given a warrant or permission in line with Article 57 of Saudi Arabia Cabinet Decision No. 200/1422 (the Criminal Procedure Law). Even in these circumstances, monitoring should only be carried out for up to ten days initially although this can be renewed and in connection with a crime which has actually occurred.
News developments
The EU has announced it has decided to remove Oman from their List of non-cooperative jurisdictions for tax purposes. Their removal follows the reforms by the Sultanate to improve their tax policy framework.
News developments
Lebanese judicial authorities have requested international arrest warrants for the owner and captain of the Moldovan-registered ship accused of being responsible for the bomb blast in Beirut on 4 August. The ship contained a shipment of ammonium nitrate. It is alleged to be the Rhosus which set sail from Georgia and was heading for Mozambique but was stopped in Beirut Port in 2013. It was facing technical problems and security officials said it was impounded after a Lebanese company filed a lawsuit against its owner. Its cargo was moved from the ship to a warehouse which allegedly had structural defects. The blast killed over 190 people, injured thousands and damaged large parts of the city. Cypriot police questioned the ship’s owner in August but an investigation by the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project found the real captain was a Cypriot shipping magnate but this was denied. The names of the accused have been passed on to the public prosecution and they have referred them to Interpol and asked them to issue an international warrant for their arrests. So far arrested 25 people have been arrested as part of the Lebanese investigation, including top port and customs officials.
News developments
Kuwait’s National Assembly has approved a draft law to support and enable local banks to support customers adversely affected by the repercussions of Coronavirus financially. The aim is to reduce the risks of indirect effects as a result of the interlocking of economic sectors. The explanatory note to the draft law mentions incentives will be offered to banks to provide the necessary financing to affected individuals and companies to prevent their temporary lack of liquidity from becoming a prolonged problem.
