News developments Archives - Page 188 of 223

Dubai: Gaming Free Zone Could be Established

08/02/202007/02/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Dubai’s Free Zones Council is considering launching a feasibility study into setting up a Gaming Free Zone. They debated the proposal at their last meeting but no final decision was reached and no further details were released. The Council also reviewed progress on the Free Zone Window e-initiative which is likely to be launched in the third quarter of this year. It will aim to help investors identify the most suitable free zone according to their needs.

Kuwait: Insurance Unit Established

07/02/202007/02/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

According to local newspaper reports, Kuwait’s Commerce and Industry Minister has issued a Decision establishing an Independent Insurance Unit. It will have seven members, two of which will be full-time and have been appointed by Emiri Decree. It will regulate insurance businesses in the country in line with Article 10 of Kuwait Law No. 125/2019. Among other things, the committee will oversee the sector’s development and supervise it. They will be able to ask experts and consultants it considers appropriate to assist it and they will also be able to establish temporary advisory committees to study a specific topic within their remit.

Qatar: Draft Decision Reorganising the Finance Ministry’s Compensation Claims Committee

01/02/202031/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Cabinet has approved a draft decision to reorganise the Finance Ministry’s Compensation Claims Committee. The Undersecretary of the Ministry will be the Chairperson and representatives from the relevant authorities will be members. They will receive and study compensation requests submitted to Ministries, Government agencies, public bodies and institutions as well as consider compensation requests arising from contracting and supplies contracts and related compensation requests for delay in the implementation of obligations or completion of original or additional works, change orders or amendments which have been made to those contracts.

Kuwait: Health Guardianship for Women Proposed

01/02/202031/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Five Kuwaiti MPs have submitted a draft law to amend the criminal law to allow women, mothers, wives, or second removed female relatives to authorise medical treatment of children or husbands. They stressed this amendment will help to tackle various situations in which there is no next of kin such as the father or the grandfather to give the necessary permissions. The MPS proposed amending Kuwait Law No. 16/1960 on the criminal law to allow women to authorise medical tests and procedures for underage children and adults who don’t have the legal capacity to give permission.

Bahrain: Amendments to Commercial Registration Law Rejected

31/01/202031/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahraini MPs have rejected proposed amendments to the Commercial Registration Law. The amendments were going to allow the Industry, Commerce and Tourism Ministry rather than applicants to follow up on approvals related to commercial registrations. They were also going to double penalties on individuals if they committed the same violation of their commercial registration terms twice rather than having it doubled for a second offence, even if unrelated.

Dubai: Court Issues Landmark E-cigarettes Ruling

31/01/202031/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Dubai’s Court of Cassation has issued a landmark ruling upholding a judgment which sentenced a European woman to 10 years in jail and deportation because she brought 370 electronic cigarettes into the country. The cigarettes contained a slimy yellow liquid made from cannabis extract. The public prosecution office in Dubai accused the woman of bringing in and possessing drug substances. The Criminal Court of Dubai sentenced the woman to 10 years in jail but she appealed claiming she didn’t hide the material which meant she had no criminal intention and she didn’t know the material was banned in the country. The Court of Cassation upheld the ruling and decided to deport the woman once she serves the prison sentence.

Saudi Arabia: Implementing Regulations to Franchise Law Under Consideration

25/01/202024/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Commerce and Investment Ministry has called on the public and interested parties to give their feedback on draft Implementing Regulations to the Kingdom’s Commercial Franchise Law by 20 February 2020. The Ministry said the Regulations aim to encourage franchise businesses and set strong foundations for their activities. It also aims to ensure details about the rights, duties, and risks related to each opportunity are properly disclosed.

Kuwait: Procedural Law Amendments Proposed

25/01/202024/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Five Kuwaiti MPs have proposed amending the procedural law by adding new articles to the Civil and Commercial Law issued by Kuwait Decree-Law No 38/1980. The MPs want to make changes to regulate disputes involving judges and members of the public prosecution office by adding a new chapter. The aim is to set the situations in which a judge or a member of the prosecution office can be disputed and the deadlines to be met.

Dubai: Developers Cannot Dictate Holiday Home Rules

24/01/202024/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing has issued directives, which among things, state developers and owners association in the Emirate cannot stop licensed holiday home operators from accessing their buildings or communities. Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing is responsible for licensing holiday homes. The new rules also apply to facility management firms who operate on behalf of developers or owners associations in maintaining buildings.

Qatar: Penal Code Amended

24/01/202024/01/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Emir has issued amendments to the country’s Penal Code. Under the amendments, anyone who broadcasts, publishes, or re-publishes rumours, fake news, or biased news, locally or abroad, with the intent to harm national interests, stir up public opinion, or infringe on social harmony or public order will be jailed. Biased broadcasting or publication will be jailed for up to five years and fined 100,000 Riyals. The amendments have been published in the Official Gazette.