Saudi Arabia: Validity of Visas for Stranded Expatriates Extended

Saudi Gazette, 20 July 2021: Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports or Jawazat has announced the validity of visa for expatriates stranded abroad can be extended.

The iqama or residency permit and exit and re-entry visas of expatriates can also be extended to 31 August.

Visit visas will also be automatically extended.

There will be no fees for the extensions.

It will only apply to expatriates and foreigners from the nine countries where entry to the Kingdom is banned because of Coronavirus.

Affected individuals will not have to visit any Jawazat offices in person.

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Saudi Arabia: Ship Captains Must Obtain Professional Permits

Al Madina, 17 July 2021: Saudi Arabia’s General Transport Authority has announced it is preparing comprehensive marine transport regulations.

The regulations will include six conditions which need to be met by captains and sailors.

The Authority said the ship captains must obtain professional permits.

They should also provide their educational certificates and medical reports to prove their health competence.

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Saudi Arabia: New Female Footballer Regulations Approved

Gulf News (United Arab Emirates), 15 July 2021: According to local newspaper reports, Saudi Arabia’s Football Association has announced it has approved new female footballer regulations.

The new regulations amend existing regulations.

The amendments will allow a Saudi women’s football league and women’s teams to be created.

They protect the rights of female professional footballers who want to have children during their playing careers.

They include conditions agreed on by FIFA, FIFPRO and other stakeholders. They state female players will be treated the same as men, but they will be entitled to maternity leave during the contract’s term.

They will be paid at least two thirds of the contracted salary unless the local rules or collective agreements provide more favourable terms.

A contract will not be able to state a female player must not be pregnant or get pregnant during its their contractual term.

Their contract may not be suspended during their maternity leave, or deprive them of a maternity rights in general.

It is not clear how long the minimum maternity leave will be nor how long it will last before and after a child is born.

The number of professional players is also not clear and whether amateur players will be allowed to be admitted.

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Saudi Arabia: Banks Should Appoint Anti-commercial Cover-up Official

Saudi Gazette, 14 July 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Central Bank has announced banks should appoint an anti-commercial cover-up official.

They will be responsible for monitoring and reporting suspected cases.

They also have to report the suspected cases to the Director of the Department of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing.

A Circular to this effect has been issued.

They should have the relevant expertise and competence in tackling commercial cover-up, money laundering and terrorist financing and in drafting policies and procedures necessary to tackle cover-ups and report these cases.

The policies and procedures include developing technical systems to detect suspected cover-ups as well as creating and developing scenarios for account control to tackle cover-ups.

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