The local authorities in Abu Dhabi, have said all the hotels there will have to provide kosher food. The announcement was made ahead of the anticipated arrival of Israeli tourists. All Abu Dhabi hotels also have to get a kosher certificate which is a document proving the food is produced according to Jewish law and allocate an area in all kitchens to prepare food intended for Jewish tourists.
According to local newspaper reports in Kuwait, the numbers of employees cannot be increased when the country’s curfew is partially lifted on 30 August. Only those who are already working in Ministry and Government agency premises will be allowed to carry on working there. Everyone else should carry on working remotely.
Qatar’s Emir has issued Qatar Decree-Law No. 19/2020 amending Qatar Law No. 21/2015 on the entry, exit and residency of expatriates in the country. The Emir also issued Qatar Decree-Law No. 18/2020 amending Qatar Law No. 14/2004 (the country’s Labour Law). Under the amendment, it will be easier for employees to transfer from one employer to another without the consent of their employer being given first. It is hoped it will increase competition and allow employees to change employer. The Decree-Laws will be published in the Official Gazette and will come into force the day after they are published.
The Board of Saudi Arabia’s Capital Market Authority has announced foreigners can directly invest in listed and unlisted debt instruments. The decision has been issued in line with the Authority’s plan to develop the financial market through the Financial Leadership Programme. It is also part of the Financial Sector Development Programme, which is one of the main programmes to meet the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. Under the Decision, all foreign natural and legal persons can directly invest in debt instruments. Non-resident foreigners cannot invest in the market as a direct investor in listed debt instruments and as a qualified foreign investor or final beneficiary in a swap agreement at the same time. A foreign person who invests directly in debt instruments cannot convert them into shares listed in the main market unless they are one of the categories of investors who are allowed to invest directly in shares listed on the main market, or becomes a final beneficiary in a swap agreement according to the provisions of the Authority’s instructions regarding swap agreements.
Oman’s Shoura Council has discussed a Joint Panel report on the draft VAT Law. Their discussion followed the referral of the draft law to it by the State Council and associated discrepancies. The Economic and Financial Committee of the Shoura Council had previously proposed VAT be applied only if economic growth of at least 3% was achieved. They had also proposed social security families and those with limited or low incomes be potentially exempt. The Shoura Council sent the draft law back to the State Council to finalise. The VAT Law is expected to come into force in the first half of next year and follows the introduction of excise tax in the Sultanate.
The Director of the General Administration of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai has confirmed the Humanitarian Cases Department will facilitate the return of people who have lost their jobs to their home countries following the expiry of their residence. Even though their residency expired they had to remain in the UAE because of Coronavirus. They will be allowed to stay until their company reemploys them or they get a new job. Those who have had to pay fines because of this will be dealt with separately.
Saudi Arabia’s Centre for Commercial Arbitration has signed a cooperation agreement with the British Royal Society of Legal Surveyors. The agreement is aimed at encouraging the use of alternatives to settling disputes, particularly mediation in the contracting sector. It is also aimed at encouraging and enhancing growth and boosting confidence and investment in the contracting and real estate sector in the Kingdom. The Centre added the agreement is aimed at establishing a long-term cooperation relationship to encourage the exchange of professional knowledge and professional development of dispute settlement and avoid contracting sector disputes.
Qatar’s Prime Minister and Interior Minister has announced the launch of the Qatar Quality Mark. It is aimed at promoting national products and making them more competitive regionally and globally. It is also aimed at supporting development plans and enhancing consumer protection. The first Qatar Quality Mark was given Al Qataria for Production of Reinforcing Steel. They were the first entity to meet the criteria set by the Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology to get the mark. They were one of several organisations to apply. The Qatar Quality Mark is a badge which is given by the Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology and is used to advertise the licensed commodity during the two years the license is valid for. It provides evidence the good or goods have met the approved national standards and has been examined and tested by an internationally recognised certified laboratory. The badge is difficult to remove or be obscured.
Egypt’s House of Representatives has approved a draft law amending Egypt Law No. 34/1976 (the Commercial Registry Law). If approved, Article 3 of Egypt Law No. 34/1976 will be amended. It will state anyone who is registered in the commercial registry must be an Egyptian national and be approved to practice a trade from the competent Chamber of Commerce for individuals and companies established to practice a commercial activity, or have obtained approval to practice industrial activity from the competent Chamber of Industry for companies established to practice industrial activities.
The UAE’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship has announced the grace period for Entry and Residence of Foreigners Law violations has been extended. It has been extended for another three months until 17 November 2020. It means violations of the Law which were committed after 1 March 2020 will be exempt from fines. However, they have to leave the country before the November date.
