Tanya Jain, Author at LexisNexis Middle East

Sharjah: Law to Regulate Judicial Authority

08/05/202508/05/2025
by Tanya Jain

Mubasher, 6 May 2025: The Ruler of Sharjah has approved a draft law on the organization of the judicial authority in the emirate.

The law outlines the formation of the Judicial Council, which includes key judicial figures such as the President of the Judicial Department, the Head of the Legal Department of the Sharjah Government, and the Attorney General, among others. The council is tasked with ensuring the independence, integrity, and neutrality of the judiciary, aligning with the emirate’s vision for a developed judicial system.

Key responsibilities of the council include setting general policies, proposing and reviewing legislation related to the judiciary, overseeing judicial operations, and organising restorative justice. The council will also handle appointments, promotions, and retirements of judicial members, ensuring adherence to legal standards.

The law mandates the creation of a judicial code of conduct and allows for the outsourcing and privatization of judicial services, with specific regulations and fees. It also requires the preparation of an annual report on judicial achievements and challenges, submitted to the Ruler.

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News developments

Qatar: MECC Releases Second Edition of Corporate Environmental Sustainability Book

08/05/202508/05/2025
by Tanya Jain

The Peninsula, 30 April 2025: The Qatari Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MECC) has issued the second edition of the “Corporate Environmental Sustainability: Reports and Achievements” book.

This shows s the growing commitment of Qatari companies to adopt sustainable environmental practices.

The MECC has launched several policies and initiatives which are aimed at reducing carbon emissions, enhancing resource efficiency, and promoting renewable energy. These efforts have been complemented by awareness programmes designed to foster a culture of sustainability within the community. The Ministry has also been focused on developing specialist guidelines for key sectors including oil and gas, finance, education, and transportation, to encourage responsible environmental practices.

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News developments

Oman: VAT Regulations Amended to Include Armed Forces Refunds

08/05/202508/05/2025
by Tanya Jain

Gulf News, 5 May 2025: Oman’s Tax Authority has announced an amendment to VAT regulations Oman Decision No. 53/2021, allowing the country’s armed and security forces to claim VAT refunds on specific purchases under Oman Decision No. 81/2025.

This amendment allows the armed forces to claim VAT refunds on purchases related to military operations, including equipment, weapons, ammunition, transport vehicles, spare parts, and accessories.

The decision broadens the scope of VAT refund eligibility, initially established in 2020, to now encompass six categories of entities, including all sectors of the armed and security forces. Under the new rules, these entities are entitled to submit VAT refund applications every three months, provided the claim amount is at least OR15.

Each application must be accompanied by the relevant tax invoice or simplified tax invoice and proof of payment from the applicant’s bank account. The Tax Authority must respond to each request within 30 days of receiving the complete documentation. If no response is given, the request is automatically considered rejected. Approved refunds must be processed and returned to the applicant within 15 days.

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News developments

Kuwait: Civil Service Commission Automates Job Status Amendment Procedures

08/05/202508/05/2025
by Tanya Jain

Khaligyoun, 30 April 2025: The Kuwait Civil Service Commission has announced the automation of job status amendment procedures.

This initiative has been launched to simplify procedures and expedite transaction completion between the employee’s workplace and the relevant departments within the Commission. The automation process will begin with the submission of requests by the employee’s workplace through the system, followed by review and approval by the relevant Civil Service Commission department.

The automation of procedures are part of a broader initiative towards a “paperless Commission,” complementing existing systems for appointments, external transfers, experience calculation, job title changes, and end-of-service settlements.

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News developments

Dubai: Public Prosecution Launches ‘Reconciliation is Better’ Initiative

08/05/202508/05/2025
by Tanya Jain

Gulf News, 30 April 2025: The “Reconciliation is Better” initiative has been launched by Dubai Public Prosecution, as part of a comprehensive plan to enhance dispute resolution through amicable settlements.

This initiative, aligned with international best practices, aims to establish a global benchmark for judicial excellence and support the objectives of the Dubai Plan 2030. It provides a practical alternative to traditional legal proceedings, promoting a culture of tolerance and social harmony, which are central to Dubai’s leadership vision of a cohesive society.

The decision impacts parties involved in legal disputes by offering them a pathway to resolve issues amicably. It allows prosecutors to guide willing parties towards fair and lawful settlements, reducing the reliance on lengthy legal proceedings.

By streamlining the process, the initiative will conserve resources and significantly reduced legal costs, reinforcing Dubai’s commitment to providing exceptional services and quality of life.

The law prohibits concealing infections or spreading them, whether intentionally or unintentionally, and requires individuals to comply with measures to prevent the spread of disease, following guidelines issued by relevant authorities and healthcare providers.

It has established a comprehensive framework to promote public health and safeguard community and environmental well-being. It outlines a focus on disease prevention, healthcare, food and product safety and sustainable efforts to improve overall quality of life.

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News developments

Bahrain: Parliament Approves Proposal to Cap Work Permits

08/05/202508/05/2025
by Tanya Jain

Akhbar Al Khaleej, 7 May 2025: Bahrain’s Parliament approved a proposal to amend the Labour Market Regulation Law (Bahrain Law No. 19/2006), introducing a cap on the total number of work permits issued by the Labour Market Regulatory Authority.

The proposal aims to address concerns about unlicensed labour and ensure that work permits are issued based on project size and necessity, in order to protect local employment opportunities and maintaining market balance.

There has been an emphasis on the need to regulate work permit numbers, and it has been suggested permits should be aligned with project requirements. The proposal also included suggestions on using technology, such as centralised databases and GPS tracking, to monitor and manage labour movements effectively.

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News developments

UAE: FTA Clarified VAT Treatment of Barter Transactions

01/05/202501/05/2025
by Tanya Jain

The Federal Tax Authority has issued a public clarification on the VAT treatment of barter transactions in the UAE.

The announcement clarified that, with barter transactions, the value of a supply is determined by combining any monetary consideration received with the market value of the non-monetary component, after excluding the tax element. This clarification specifically relates to taxable persons and VAT registrants – including social media influencers, restaurants, farmers, accounting firms, and furniture dealers – and has imposed an obligation on each party to issue tax invoices and account for VAT on both monetary and non-monetary components in accordance with the prescribed valuation rules. The clarification referenced Federal Decree-Law No. 8/2017 on Value Added Tax and Cabinet Decision No. 52/2017. This reinforces the way the current legal framework operates.

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News developments

Saudi Arabia: Enforces Executive Regulations of Investment Law

01/05/202501/05/2025
by Tanya Jain

Eye Of Riyadh, 27 April 2025: The Saudi Minister of Investment has approved the executive regulations for the Investment Law (Saudi Arabia Cabinet Decision No. 40/1446)

The regulations aim to enforce the provisions of the Investment Law and achieve its goals, focusing on equal treatment and non-discriminatory practices for both local and foreign investors under similar circumstances.

Article 3 of the Executive Regulations will entitle investors to equal treatment and non-discriminatory practices, ensuring fairness between local and foreign investors. The ministry will retains the right to regulate in accordance with local laws and regulations, prioritising public interest, including national security, public safety, and public order.

Article 7 of the Investment Law Executive Regulations, will grant investors the right to freely transfer funds related to their investments to and from Saudi Arabia. These transfers include initial capital, profits, capital gains, dividends, royalties, fees, loan repayments, proceeds from liquidation or partial sale of investments, and earnings of employees contracted abroad. However, these provisions do not apply to measures taken by competent authorities involving financial services for justified reasons, such as protecting investors, depositors, and policyholders, or ensuring the stability of the financial system

The ministry also has to notify foreign investors in writing when procedures which relate to national security have been initiated, unless circumstances dictate otherwise. It will also have the right to request information or documents deemed important for assessing the impact of foreign investment on national security. Foreign investors will have the right to express their views and submit relevant information during these procedures. The ministry may also engage in discussions with foreign investors to explore alternative measures to mitigate national security risks.

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News developments

Qatar: QFCRA Proposes Amendments to Prudential Rules for Banks

01/05/202501/05/2025
by Tanya Jain

The QFCRA has issued a Consultation Paper outlining proposals, set out in the draft BANK and IBANK (Market Risk and Miscellaneous) Amendments Rules 2025.

The amendments aim to introduce the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision’s simplified standardised approach as the default method for assessing market risk, particularly for banks with less complex trading portfolios.

The proposals would require a bank’s net open position in any foreign currency other than the US dollar not to exceed 5% of its Tier 1 capital. The net open position in the US dollar would be unable to exceed 25% of the bank’s Tier 1 capital and the higher of the total net open positions in surplus or deficit across all foreign currencies (including the US dollar) would have to remain within 30% of the Tier 1 capital.

These amendments would apply to all QFC-authorised banks. The decision was issued as a Consultation Paper, allowing the Regulatory Authority to gather feedback from conventional and Islamic banks operating under the specified prudential rules.

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News developments

Oman: New Regulations for Independent Water and Sanitation Tanker Operations

01/05/202501/05/2025
by Tanya Jain

The Arabian Stories, 27 April 2025: The Authority for Public Services Regulation (APSR) in Oman issued APSR Decision No. 31/2025, establishing new regulations for independent tanker operations in the water and wastewater sectors.

The new regulations specifically targeted independent tanker operators involved in water transport, wastewater collection, and treated water transport. Under these regulations, operators must obtain permits and adhere to a Unified Service Level Agreement approved by the APSR. The responsibilities of both operators and licensees, are outlined including quality standards, complaint mechanisms, and testing protocols.

The regulations set specific requirements for the operation, maintenance, and branding of independent carriers, including designated colours for different types of tankers to ensure compliance with safety and operational standards. According to Article 6 of APSR Decision No 31/2025, potable water tankers will be painted blue with “potable water” written on them, non-potable water tankers green with “non-potable water,” and sewage tankers yellow with “sewage.”

Independent tanker operator must regularise their status within one year from the enactment of the regulations. They were also required to meet documentation and operational requirements, including installing tracking devices on tankers and undergoing regular inspections to ensure compliance with technical standards.

The regulations stipulated penalties for violations, with fines ranging from RO 50 to RO 50,000 depending on the severity of the violation. Repeat violations could lead to additional fines, with continuing offenses attracting daily penalties.

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