Newsletter Archives - LexisNexis Middle East

UAE: Expired‑Visa Residents Allowed to Return During Crisis

26/03/202626/03/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 24 March 2026: UAE authorities have permitted residents stranded abroad to re‑enter the country even if their residency visas had expired, as part of crisis‑response measures easing immigration procedures.

According to the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, the policy formed part of temporary leniency measures allowing re‑entry without penalties, while also enabling individuals in violation of residency rules to exit the UAE without complications.

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Qatar: QatarEnergy Declares Force Majeure On LNG Contracts

26/03/202626/03/2026
by Hannah Gutang

The Peninsula, 24 March 2026: QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on several long‑term LNG supply contracts after Iranian missile strikes damaged LNG Trains 4 and 6, cutting 12.8 MTPA of production—around 17% of Qatar’s exports.

The force majeure affects counterparties in Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China, with supply disruptions expected to last three to five years, the estimated period needed to repair the damaged facilities. The company confirmed that the outage has forced a halt in production of LNG and downstream products, including urea, polymers, methanol and aluminium.

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Kuwait: KFH Expands Digital Money Transfer Services

26/03/202626/03/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Kuwait Finance House (KFH) has enhanced its money‑transfer services by expanding its digital partnership with Western Union, enabling customers to conduct fast, secure local and international transfers directly through the KFHOnline app.

Through this integration, customers can send funds in cash, to bank accounts or to digital wallets across Western Union’s global network of over 200 countries, supported by KFH’s strengthened e‑banking framework. The collaboration forms part of KFH’s broader digital‑transformation strategy, which includes virtual card issuance, online account opening, and real‑time currency‑exchange tools.

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Qatar: MoI issues evacuation and safety guidelines for educational institutions

25/03/202625/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

The Peninsula, 23 March 2026: Qatar’s Ministry of Interior issued updated evacuation and safety procedures to strengthen emergency preparedness across educational institutions.

The Ministry has assessed existing emergency‑response practices before outlining measures intended to help students, staff, and administrators respond safely during crises. The guidance requires institutions to familiarise all occupants with exits and assembly points, keep evacuation routes unobstructed, and ensure that safety equipment is properly identified and understood. Age‑appropriate awareness training forms part of these preparations.

When an alert is issued, activities must stop immediately, with individuals remaining calm and following instructions from the National Warning System and on‑site safety officers. The guidelines distinguish between internal hazards—where immediate evacuation is required—and external threats, where shelter‑in‑place procedures must be followed. During evacuation, the Ministry stressed the need to use stairs only, avoid returning for personal belongings, and proceed directly to assembly points without pushing or overcrowding.

Teaching and administrative staff are responsible for orderly evacuation, conducting headcounts, reassuring students, and reporting missing individuals. The instructions also detail tailored approaches for kindergarten pupils, school learners, and university students. At assembly points, individuals must remain until further official direction is given. The Ministry reiterated that calm adherence to official instructions remains essential for collective safety as institutions prepare for the gradual resumption of full in‑person learning.

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Saudi Arabia: SAMA Issues Updated Oversight Framework for Payment Systems

25/03/202626/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

Saudi Arabia’s Central Bank (SAMA) has issued an updated Oversight Framework for Payment Systems and Their Operators, replacing the previous framework and aligning regulatory supervision with the Law of Payments and Payment Services.

The revised framework clarifies the scope of oversight, sets out SAMA’s supervisory methodology—including oversight tools, self‑assessment and formal assessment procedures—and defines the regulatory obligations of payment‑system operators in accordance with applicable laws and international standards.

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Kuwait: Civil Aviation orders full ticket refunds within 15 days

25/03/202625/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

Kuwait Times, 24 March 2026: Kuwait’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has mandated all airlines and travel agencies to issue full refunds for cancelled or unused tickets within 15 working days, following the suspension of commercial flights since 28 February.

Under the directive, passengers are entitled to a full refund for unused tickets, and a full refund for the unused portion of partially used tickets—even if originally classified as non‑refundable. Airlines and agents are prohibited from forcing passengers to accept vouchers, reschedule flights, or convert bookings into credit without consent. The refund requirement also extends to unused hotel bookings and other travel services such as car rentals, extra baggage, and travel insurance.

Refunds must be processed using the original payment method unless another arrangement is voluntarily agreed, and only pre‑disclosed service fees may be deducted. Violations may result in legal action before the competent complaints and arbitration committee under Kuwait’s air‑transport regulatory framework.

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Qatar: Private sector ordered to resume on‑site work

25/03/202625/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

Gulf News, 24 March 2026: Qatar’s Ministries of Labour and Commerce & Industry have lifted the remote‑work mandate for all private‑sector institutions, ordering a full return to on‑site operations in line with guidance from the Council of Ministers Secretariat General.

The directive restores standard workplace obligations and ends the exceptional remote‑work arrangements previously in force, with authorities emphasising continuity of business operations and adherence to regular labour‑regulatory frameworks.

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Fujairah: Man Arrested for Filming for Foreign Media Without a Permit

25/03/202625/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

Khaleej Times, 17 March 2026: Authorities in Fujairah have arrested a man who trespassed and filmed in restricted areas without obtaining the necessary permits.

The authorities stated that he had secretly entered the sites before being detected and arrested. During questioning, it was revealed that he worked for a media organisation; but did not have any authorisation permitting him to access the locations or conduct filming there. It was confirmed that the accused violated applicable laws and regulations by filming without obtaining official approvals, in breach of the filming bans which were enforced in those areas. The recorded footage had been sent electronically to a news organisation in London without official authorisation.

UAE laws criminalise entering or being present in restricted areas without a permit, even if no other act takes place. Taking photographs, preparing maps, recording coordinates, or using any other means of documentation in violation of prohibitions issued by the competent authorities is also prohibited.

The UAE Public Prosecution have stressed the importance of adhering to applicable laws and regulations and obtaining prior official permits before undertaking any filming particularly in sensitive or restricted locations.

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Bahrain: Electricity Bill Relief for Businesses

25/03/202625/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

Bahrain Daily Tribune, 18 March 2026: MPs in Bahrain have approved measures to compensate businesses for water and electricity costs.

The proposal had been submitted by four MPs calling for urgent support of businesses affected by the regional crisis. It was stated some sectors had faced disruption and declining footfall as a result. The measure aims to reduce the fixed cost burden of these costs by studying mechanisms to compensate them or reduce their costs, allowing these businesses to remain in operation.

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Bahrain: MPs seek temporary freeze on personal‑loan repayments

25/03/202625/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

Gulf Digital News, 17 March 2026: Bahraini MPs have submitted an urgent proposal calling for a three‑month freeze on personal‑loan instalments for citizens, without interest or additional charges, in response to financial pressures caused by regional tensions and recent Iranian attacks.

Five legislators, led by Strategic Thinking Bloc spokesman Khalid Bu Onk, placed the proposal on the agenda for debate during today’s parliamentary session. The MPs said the measure aims to support families experiencing economic strain, noting that recent security events have had direct repercussions on household finances.

If adopted, the suspension would apply to Bahraini citizens’ personal loans issued by banks and financing institutions, and would pause repayments without imposing penalties, fees or compound interest—similar to relief measures enacted during previous national emergencies.

The proposal is now pending parliamentary discussion, after which it may be escalated to the government for formal action.

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