News developments Archives - LexisNexis Middle East

UAE: New Child Digital Safety Law Imposes Strict Rules on Global Apps

23/01/202623/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 15 January 2026: The United Arab Emirates has enacted Federal Decree-Law No. 26/2025 on Child Digital Safety, introducing stringent compliance requirements for platforms such as TikTok, Twitch, and Snapchat to protect minors online.

UAE authorities confirmed the implementation of Federal Decree-Law No. 26/2025 on Child Digital Safety, a landmark regulation aimed at safeguarding children from harmful online content and exploitation. The law mandates global social media and streaming platforms—including TikTok, Twitch, Snapchat, and others—to adopt robust safety measures, including age verification, parental controls, and proactive content moderation.

Under Federal Decree-Law No. 26/2025, platforms must ensure that minors are shielded from inappropriate material, cyberbullying, and predatory behaviour. Failure to comply could result in severe penalties, including fines, service restrictions, or suspension within the UAE. Federal Decree-Law No. 26/2025 also empowers regulators to audit compliance and enforce corrective actions swiftly.

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Sharjah: Executive Council Reviewed Draft Drone Regulation Law

23/01/202623/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 20 January 2026: The Sharjah Executive Council has reviewed a draft law regulating unmanned aerial vehicles or drones in the emirate.

The Council has examined a draft law governing the use of drones in Sharjah, which is aligning the legislative framework to the UAE’s broader aviation‑sector development. Council Members asked that a number of points be added into the draft before it is referred to the Sharjah Consultative Council.

The draft law seeks to regulate drone usage through clear legal provisions which will enhance safety, ensure compliance, and support the emirate’s strategic aviation ambitions.

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Saudi Arabia: AI‑Enabled Sustain Platform to Drive Cross‑Sector Collaboration

23/01/202623/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Saudi Gazette, 19 January 2026: Saudi Arabia is to launch the SUSTAIN Platform in 2026 to accelerate AI‑enabled collaboration across government, business and civil society for sustainable‑development initiatives.

The Ministry of Economy and Planning confirmed that the platform will launch in a beta form. It has been designed as an AI‑powered matchmaking network to help entities identify credible partners, build coalitions and move sustainability projects from planning to implementation more efficiently.

The platform aims to address the global challenge of fragmented partnership opportunities, which often delay or weaken impact. SUSTAIN will also operationalise Saudi Arabia’s aim for stronger public‑private coordination and will support national goals on sustainable growth, economic diversification and long‑term development outcomes.

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Qatar: Supreme Judicial Council Streamlines Procedures and Accelerates Litigation Timelines

23/01/202623/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf Times, 20 January 2026: Qatar’s Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) has announced major improvements to judicial efficiency after completing key phases of its 2019–2025 National Initiative to advance judicial systems.

President of the SJC and of the Court of Cassation, confirmed the initiative has modernised legislative tools, overhauled judicial procedures and expanded digital transformation across the courts. This has included full digitisation of case files, electronic submission of pleadings and automated issuance of rulings, supported by an electronic integration link with 23 government entities.

Litigation timelines have been significantly reduced, with the average case duration falling to 38 days, and 94.3% of cases resolved within six months. Over the past five years, 98.4% of cases across all courts were completed, and same‑day rulings increased annually.

The SJC reported major capacity‑building achievements, with Qatarisation reaching 70% in the judicial cadre and 75% in administrative staff. New specialised courts, including the Investment and Trade Court, were introduced to support economic activity and provide alternatives to litigation in family matters.

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Oman: Sanad Service Centres Expand Support for Government Procedures

23/01/202623/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Oman Observer, 15 January 2026: Sanad Service Centres in Al Batinah South Governorate have strengthened their role as key facilitators of government procedures, improving service delivery and supporting economic activity across the region.

According to the Department of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the centres act as an important link between government institutions and the public, streamlining administrative processes and helping citizens and entrepreneurs complete transactions efficiently. A total of 85 Sanad Service Centres operate across the governorate — including 39 in Barka, 20 in Al Rustaq, 17 in Al Musannah, 5 in Nakhal, and 2 each in Al Awabi and Wadi Al Maawil — ensuring broad geographic coverage and ease of access for beneficiaries.

Officials stated that these centres also contribute significantly to employment, providing direct job opportunities for 213 Omanis, reinforcing their importance not only as service hubs but also as engines of local workforce development. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion aims to expand the range of services offered through Sanad Centres, aligning with national digital‑transition efforts and improving the efficiency of government‑service delivery.

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Kuwait: Health Sector to Implement Unified Employee ID System

23/01/202623/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Arab Times, 19 January 2026: Kuwait’s Ministry of Health moved to unify employee identification across all public and private healthcare facilities after issuing a ministerial decision standardising official work IDs, seals, correspondence and digital applications.

A regulatory framework governing the design and use of official ID cards for medical, paramedical, pharmaceutical and administrative staff has been approved. The standardised IDs must follow unified specifications for basic data, photographs, fonts and links to electronic access systems, including sensitive facility areas.

The decision also harmonised official correspondence—paper and electronic—and mandated a uniform logo for all communications and digital platforms. Administrative leaders and healthcare‑facility managers has been tasked with oversight and with reporting violations immediately.

A six‑month transitional period, extendable to ten months, has been set to allow institutions to implement the new requirements gradually.

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Dubai: Air Taxis To Be Launched

23/01/202623/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Arabian Business, 16 January 2026: Dubai is set to see its first commercial electric air taxi flights by the end of this year, according to the Chairman of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Joby Aviation, the California‑based manufacturer of the fully‑electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, completed the first test flight of its air taxi in Dubai in June 2025 — a milestone in the emirate’s plan to integrate aerial mobility into its transport network. The aircraft can travel up to 160 km at speeds reaching 320 km/h while producing zero operating emissions, qualities designed to make it suitable for urban environments.

In early 2024, Joby Aviation signed an agreement granting it exclusive rights for six years to operate air taxi services in Dubai. The RTA’s strategy envisages expanding the city’s mobility options with environmentally friendly, fast, and low‑noise aerial transport, complementing existing roads and public‑transport systems.

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Bahrain: Ministry Upgrade Industrial Leasing Process to Attract Investors

23/01/202623/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Bahrain Daily Tribune, 19 January 2026: Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce has upgraded its industrial‑plot leasing process to streamline procedures.

Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced updated procedures for leasing industrial plots as part of the government’s broader efforts to raise service standards. The revised process formed part of an initiative to support industrial activity, enhance ease of doing business and strengthen Bahrain’s competitiveness in attracting long‑term industrial investment.

According to the announcement, the improvements have focused on simplifying administrative steps, accelerating approvals and improving communication between the Ministry and beneficiaries.

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Oman: Ministry of Economy – Competencies Set and Structure Approved

16/01/202616/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Oman Observer, 12 January 2026: Oman defined the Ministry of Economy’s mandates, approved its organisational structure, and merged the Vision 2040 Implementation Follow‑up Unit into the ministry.

Oman Sultani Decree No. 13/2026 moves allocations, assets and staff from the Vision 2040 unit to the ministry, aiming for tighter strategy‑to‑execution alignment across the national plan.

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UAE: Federal Real Estate Assets to Join Electronic Registry

15/01/202615/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Arabian Business, 13 January 2026: The UAE government has announced plans to integrate all federal real estate assets into a unified electronic registry to enhance transparency and streamline property management.

Officials confirmed that the initiative will create a centralised digital platform for recording and managing federal properties across the Emirates. The system aims to improve data accuracy, facilitate inter-agency coordination, and support strategic planning for asset utilisation.

Authorities stated that the registry will include detailed property information and enable real-time updates, forming part of the UAE’s broader digital transformation and governance reforms in the real estate sector.

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