Benjamin Filaferro, Author at LexisNexis Middle East

Saudi Arabia: Bankruptcy Officials Can Access Bank Statements

08/02/202007/02/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Monetary Agency has issued a Decision to local banks informing them officials responsible for investigating bankruptcy should be given access to check bank accounts under the Bankruptcy Law and its Implementing Regulations. The Decision was issued after a request from the Justice Ministry to fulfil the requests made by courts responsible for considering bankruptcy cases. The Decision says banks should adhere to the law and should allow officials to obtain the details and follow the necessary procedures related to bank accounts of indebted individuals such as bank statements and enquiries related to their accounts.

News developments

Dubai: Gaming Free Zone Could be Established

08/02/202007/02/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Dubai’s Free Zones Council is considering launching a feasibility study into setting up a Gaming Free Zone. They debated the proposal at their last meeting but no final decision was reached and no further details were released. The Council also reviewed progress on the Free Zone Window e-initiative which is likely to be launched in the third quarter of this year. It will aim to help investors identify the most suitable free zone according to their needs.

News developments

Kuwait: Insurance Unit Established

07/02/202007/02/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

According to local newspaper reports, Kuwait’s Commerce and Industry Minister has issued a Decision establishing an Independent Insurance Unit. It will have seven members, two of which will be full-time and have been appointed by Emiri Decree. It will regulate insurance businesses in the country in line with Article 10 of Kuwait Law No. 125/2019. Among other things, the committee will oversee the sector’s development and supervise it. They will be able to ask experts and consultants it considers appropriate to assist it and they will also be able to establish temporary advisory committees to study a specific topic within their remit.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: Draft Saudi Law Updating Money Exchange Businesses’ Regulations

02/02/202031/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Monetary Agency has announced it has launched a draft law for updating the rules regulating money exchange businesses in the Kingdom. Those rules were issued by Saudi Arabia Ministerial Decision No. 1357/1432. The Agency has called on all interested parties to send in their comments and feedback before 20 February. The aim is to help the sector develop.

As part of these proposed changes, the Agency is also understood to be considering issuing money exchange service licenses to foreign companies. They will be licensed by the Investment Authority. A draft law to update the money exchange business rules highlights the Agency’s efforts to allow companies with no less than two million capital to offer the service.

News developments

Qatar: Draft Decision Reorganising the Finance Ministry’s Compensation Claims Committee

01/02/202031/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Cabinet has approved a draft decision to reorganise the Finance Ministry’s Compensation Claims Committee. The Undersecretary of the Ministry will be the Chairperson and representatives from the relevant authorities will be members. They will receive and study compensation requests submitted to Ministries, Government agencies, public bodies and institutions as well as consider compensation requests arising from contracting and supplies contracts and related compensation requests for delay in the implementation of obligations or completion of original or additional works, change orders or amendments which have been made to those contracts.

News developments

Kuwait: Health Guardianship for Women Proposed

01/02/202031/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Five Kuwaiti MPs have submitted a draft law to amend the criminal law to allow women, mothers, wives, or second removed female relatives to authorise medical treatment of children or husbands. They stressed this amendment will help to tackle various situations in which there is no next of kin such as the father or the grandfather to give the necessary permissions. The MPS proposed amending Kuwait Law No. 16/1960 on the criminal law to allow women to authorise medical tests and procedures for underage children and adults who don’t have the legal capacity to give permission.

News developments

Bahrain: Amendments to Commercial Registration Law Rejected

31/01/202031/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahraini MPs have rejected proposed amendments to the Commercial Registration Law. The amendments were going to allow the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry rather than applicants to follow up on approvals related to commercial registrations. They were also going to double penalties on individuals if they committed the same violation of their commercial registration terms twice rather than having it doubled for a second offence, even if unrelated.

News developments

Dubai: Court Issues Landmark E-cigarettes Ruling

31/01/202031/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Dubai’s Court of Cassation has issued a landmark ruling upholding a judgment which sentenced a European woman to 10 years in jail and deportation because she brought 370 electronic cigarettes into the country. The cigarettes contained a slimy yellow liquid made from cannabis extract. The public prosecution office in Dubai accused the woman of bringing in and possessing drug substances. The Criminal Court of Dubai sentenced the woman to 10 years in jail but she appealed claiming she didn’t hide the material which meant she had no criminal intention and she didn’t know the material was banned in the country. The Court of Cassation upheld the ruling and decided to deport the woman once she serves the prison sentence.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: UAE’s 1981 Commercial Agencies Law to be Amended

26/01/202024/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s Cabinet has approved amendments to the country’s 1981 Commercial Agencies Law (Federal Law No. 18/1981). The amendments are aimed at supporting commercial agencies, encouraging investment and balancing the interests of agents and clients. They will apply to UAE nationals, foreign principals, those in the business sector and public shareholding companies. It will also provide the Emirati family-owned SMEs with the least risk when they default.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Implementing Regulations to Franchise Law Under Consideration

25/01/202024/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Commerce and Investment Ministry has called on the public and interested parties to give their feedback on draft Implementing Regulations to the Kingdom’s Commercial Franchise Law by 20 February 2020. The Ministry said the Regulations aim to encourage franchise businesses and set strong foundations for their activities. It also aims to ensure details about the rights, duties, and risks related to each opportunity are properly disclosed.