News developments Archives - Page 213 of 226

Bahrain: Telecommunications Law Amended

21/04/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Batelco has been separated into two separate legal entities to enhance competition in the telecoms market. The Shoura Council has approved a Decree-Law amending the Telecommunications Law (Bahrain Decree-Law No. 48/2002). The move is part of implementing the fourth national telecommunications plan policy. One of the entities will be responsible for a national terrestrial cable network and the other for providing retail services. The Telecommunications Regulatory Authority will grant separate licenses for establishing and operating fixed national broadband networks and to offer wholesale services to licensed operators in Bahrain.

Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts Launches eCourt Platform with Microsoft

14/04/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Abu Dhabi’s Global Market Courts has announced it has launched an ePortal together with Microsoft. It is hoped it will revolutionise the delivery of civil and commercial judicial dispute resolution services and transform the way courts interact with lawyers, litigants and other legal professionals. It is also hoped it will save parties time in litigation. The Integrated eCourt Platform provides a comprehensive, digital court record and will enable users to initiate, manage and monitor their cases 24/7, from anywhere in the world, through any device they choose. They will be able to file documents and receive text message notifications about their case’s progress and digital court file changes. Electronic evidence bundles will be included in the court file at no additional cost to any party and court hearings will be conducted through video conferencing which will be accessible through an integrated calendar. The Platform will also provide a secure payment gateway for clients and lawyers, with immediate access to invoices and receipts and instantaneous publication of orders and judgments on cases.

Oman: All Tobacco Adverts Banned

14/04/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Information Ministry has announced it has amended the regulations banning tobacco adverts in the Sultanate. Oman Ministerial Decision No. 43/2018 now bans all tobacco product adverts on all media platforms. The Ministerial Decision was issued by the Information Minister on 27 March and replaces Article 36 of the Implementing Regulations to the country’s 1984 Press and Publications Law with ‘it is prohibited to publish advertisements on tobacco products or their derivatives in all media, including print, electronic, audio-visual and any billboards, wherever they exist’. The Ministerial Decision has been issued in line with the Publications Law issued by Oman Sultani Decree No. 49/1984 and Oman Sultani Decree No. 20/2005 approving the Sultanate’s accession to the World Health Organisation’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

Ras Al Khaimah: Government Launches Petroleum Licensing Round

07/04/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Ras al Khaimah’s Government has announced it has formally established the Emirate’s Petroleum Authority. The Government has also announced they have officially launched the Emirate’s first petroleum licensing round which will be supported by the Emirate’s Oil Company, RAK Gas. Bids will be invited until November 2018 and data rooms cam be reserved in the Emirate and London. The Authority will be responsible for the licensing round tendering process and the management of petroleum rights.

Abu Dhabi City Municipality Urges Contractors to Expedite Registration of Property Units

07/04/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Abu Dhabi City’s Municipality has urged all contractors to register their property units as early as possible. The Municipality has also called on property owners to respond to property developer requests regarding their updated details and documents. The Municipality’s calls follow the issuing of Abu Dhabi Circular No. 2/2018 which gave all property developers until 14 March 2018 to complete any outstanding cases and register all property deals in the Municipality’s Property Register. The aim is to facilitate the implementation of the Emirate’s Real Estate Law (Abu Dhabi Law No. 3/2015) which came into force on 1 January 2016.

UAE: Draft Paternity Leave Law on the Way

31/03/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Following the launch of a new National Family Policy, the UAE’s Community Development Minister, Hessa Bint Eisa Bu Humaid has announced a draft paternity leave law is under consideration. As part of the policy there are 36 initiatives which have been implemented between the Federal and local authorities. These initiatives cover educational programmes, consultations and training and are part of the UAE Vision 2021 and UAE Centennial Strategy 2071.

Dissolved Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority’s Assets Transferred to a New Energy Department

31/03/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Abu Dhabi’s authorities have dissolved the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority and transferred its assets and functions to a new Energy Department. The Regulation & Supervision Bureau, which oversees water, waste water and electricity in the Emirate has also become part of the new Energy Department. The change came into effect on 20 February 2018. It is part of a consolidation of state-owned bodies and follows Abu Dhabi’s Ruler issuing a series of laws establishing a number of government departments for the Emirate, including the Department of Energy last month.

Kuwait: Visa Changes for Expatriate Engineers

24/03/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower has announced it has signed an agreement with the Kuwait Engineers Society which will see visa changes for expatriate engineers introduced. Under the agreement, expatriate engineers will not be able to renew their work permits without a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the Kuwait Society of Engineers. All engineers will be given a NOC certificate after they have passed a competence test regardless of when they entered the country and how many years they have worked.

UAE: Abu Dhabi Investment Council Merging with the Mubadala Investment Company

24/03/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s President and Abu Dhabi Ruler, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a law merging the Abu Dhabi Investment Council with the Mubadala Investment Company. The new Fund will have approximately $250 billion in assets. The Mubadala Investment Company’s board of directors will now become the Abu Dhabi Investment Council’s board but the Council’s senior leadership will continue to manage the Fund and report to the Mubadala Group CEO and Managing Director, Khaldoon Khalifa al Mubarak.

GCC Monetary Agencies and Central Banks Have Agreed to Establish a Gulf Disbursements Company

17/03/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Governors of the GCC monetary agencies and Central Banks have agreed to establish a Gulf disbursements company to facilitate money transactions between them. All members have contributed to the company’s capital and are seeking specialist consultations on the payment system. The company will be headquartered in Riyadh and a secondary office will be based in Abu Dhabi. The aim is to provide a quick and safe environment for financial transactions between them.