News developments Archives - Page 4 of 243

Egypt: New Closing‑Time Rules Exempt Tourist Sites and Restaurants

31/03/202631/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

Egypt Today, 26 March 2026: Egypt’s Ministry of Tourism confirmed that new government measures setting daily closing times for shops will not apply to tourist attractions or restaurants.

The Cabinet has announced energy‑rationalisation measures beginning Saturday, 28 March, for one month, including mandatory closing times of 9 pm on weekdays and 10 pm on Thursdays and Fridays. Minister of Tourism and Antiquities Sherif Fathy clarified that these restrictions do not affect any tourist sites, restaurants, or tourism‑service providers, ensuring continuity of operations without reduced service quality.

The Minister confirmed that destinations such as Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Luxor, Aswan and Sharm El‑Sheikh continue receiving visitors normally, stressing the state’s commitment to maintaining a safe, high‑quality tourism experience while implementing national energy‑conservation policies.

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Kuwait: Health Ministry Orders Overseas Employees to Return to Duty

31/03/202631/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

Arab Times, 26 March 2026: Kuwait’s Ministry of Health issued a circular instructing employees currently abroad to take the necessary steps to return to work due to exceptional circumstances and the need to maintain uninterrupted healthcare services.

The Ministry has reassessed its staffing needs before directing all employees abroad to submit official documentation confirming their return to duty. Staff were instructed to file either a formal letter of return or a notice of return from leave, each requiring approval from both the immediate supervisor and the next level of management, along with all required supporting papers.

Employees on annual leave must also attach a copy of their pre‑approved leave authorisation and submit entry and exit records generated through the Ministry of Interior’s Sahel application. The Ministry emphasised that all paperwork must be submitted to the Administrative Affairs – Leave Department at the employee’s designated workplace to ensure proper and expedited processing of administrative procedures.

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Bahrain: 14 charged with spying for Iran’s IRGC

31/03/202631/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

The National, 26 March 2026: Bahrain’s Public Prosecution referred fourteen defendants to the Criminal Court after investigations concluded they had communicated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps to carry out hostile acts against the Kingdom.

The Prosecution has reviewed four separate cases before determining that the defendants formed coordinated cells, including several fugitives currently in Iran and a female defendant involved in the fourth case. Prosecutors stated that the group sought assistance from the IRGC to support military or hostile activities within Bahrain, and that one defendant received military training in IRGC camps.

Charges include receiving and delivering funds to facilitate hostile operations, leaking information classified as state‑defence secrets, broadcasting false news intended to incite public fear, and monitoring and photographing vital facilities and sensitive sites for the purpose of future targeting. According to the Prosecution, the defendants completed their tasks by sending images and data to the IRGC, which were later used to target buildings and facilities inside Bahrain.

Investigators conducted extensive interrogations, during which some defendants provided detailed confessions. Technical devices were examined, and witness testimonies were taken before the Prosecution concluded that the crimes were proven. The defendants were ordered into pretrial detention pending their appearance before the High Criminal Court.

Reports also noted that several suspects abroad remain under investigation, and the case forms part of a wider national‑security crackdown on foreign‑linked espionage operations targeting the Kingdom.

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Kuwait: MoCI urges public to report overcharging amid intensified market inspections

31/03/202631/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

Arab Times, 26 March 2026: Kuwait’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry urges consumers to report shopkeepers who overcharge, as inspection teams continued large‑scale monitoring campaigns to enforce price regulations and protect consumer rights.

The Ministry has expanded its field campaigns in shops and markets to address violations affecting market transparency and price stability. Inspectors uncovered breaches in the gold market, including refusal to sell, selling at prices different from those advertised, and demanding large‑quantity purchases. Five violation reports were issued in the Capital Governorate’s gold market alone.

Officials stated that these measures were prompted by public complaints about shops refusing to sell gold except in large quantities. The Ministry confirmed that legal action was taken against violators under applicable commercial‑regulation laws as part of ongoing efforts to ensure compliance and prevent unlawful practices. Consumers were urged to report any overcharging or sales irregularities through official channels.

According to official data, inspectors recorded 322 violations since the outbreak of the war in Iran, covering sectors such as gold shops, supermarkets, meat markets, juice outlets, and water‑tanker services. Violations ranged from inflated prices and commercial fraud to underweight products and improper storage. Ten closure orders were issued, including against central markets and shops, and an unlicensed warehouse was immediately shut. The campaigns were conducted in coordination with the Public Authority for Food and Nutrition, particularly in the Capital Governorate, where food‑safety violations were also identified.

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Iran: Parliament Drafts Law to Impose Transit Tolls for Hormuz Passage

31/03/202631/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

Gulf News, 26 March 2026: Iran’s parliament is drafting legislation that would require vessels to pay a fee for safe passage through the Strait of Hormuz.

The draft bill is expected to be finalised next week. The proposed legislation focuses on imposing fees on ships seeking secure transit through the narrow waterway.

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UAE: Expired‑Visa Residents Allowed to Return During Crisis

26/03/202626/03/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 24 March 2026: UAE authorities have permitted residents stranded abroad to re‑enter the country even if their residency visas had expired, as part of crisis‑response measures easing immigration procedures.

According to the General Directorate of Identity and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai, the policy formed part of temporary leniency measures allowing re‑entry without penalties, while also enabling individuals in violation of residency rules to exit the UAE without complications.

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Qatar: QatarEnergy Declares Force Majeure On LNG Contracts

26/03/202626/03/2026
by Hannah Gutang

The Peninsula, 24 March 2026: QatarEnergy has declared force majeure on several long‑term LNG supply contracts after Iranian missile strikes damaged LNG Trains 4 and 6, cutting 12.8 MTPA of production—around 17% of Qatar’s exports.

The force majeure affects counterparties in Italy, Belgium, South Korea, and China, with supply disruptions expected to last three to five years, the estimated period needed to repair the damaged facilities. The company confirmed that the outage has forced a halt in production of LNG and downstream products, including urea, polymers, methanol and aluminium.

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Kuwait: KFH Expands Digital Money Transfer Services

26/03/202626/03/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Kuwait Finance House (KFH) has enhanced its money‑transfer services by expanding its digital partnership with Western Union, enabling customers to conduct fast, secure local and international transfers directly through the KFHOnline app.

Through this integration, customers can send funds in cash, to bank accounts or to digital wallets across Western Union’s global network of over 200 countries, supported by KFH’s strengthened e‑banking framework. The collaboration forms part of KFH’s broader digital‑transformation strategy, which includes virtual card issuance, online account opening, and real‑time currency‑exchange tools.

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Qatar: MoI issues evacuation and safety guidelines for educational institutions

25/03/202625/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

The Peninsula, 23 March 2026: Qatar’s Ministry of Interior issued updated evacuation and safety procedures to strengthen emergency preparedness across educational institutions.

The Ministry has assessed existing emergency‑response practices before outlining measures intended to help students, staff, and administrators respond safely during crises. The guidance requires institutions to familiarise all occupants with exits and assembly points, keep evacuation routes unobstructed, and ensure that safety equipment is properly identified and understood. Age‑appropriate awareness training forms part of these preparations.

When an alert is issued, activities must stop immediately, with individuals remaining calm and following instructions from the National Warning System and on‑site safety officers. The guidelines distinguish between internal hazards—where immediate evacuation is required—and external threats, where shelter‑in‑place procedures must be followed. During evacuation, the Ministry stressed the need to use stairs only, avoid returning for personal belongings, and proceed directly to assembly points without pushing or overcrowding.

Teaching and administrative staff are responsible for orderly evacuation, conducting headcounts, reassuring students, and reporting missing individuals. The instructions also detail tailored approaches for kindergarten pupils, school learners, and university students. At assembly points, individuals must remain until further official direction is given. The Ministry reiterated that calm adherence to official instructions remains essential for collective safety as institutions prepare for the gradual resumption of full in‑person learning.

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Saudi Arabia: SAMA Issues Updated Oversight Framework for Payment Systems

25/03/202626/03/2026
by Tanya Jain

Saudi Arabia’s Central Bank (SAMA) has issued an updated Oversight Framework for Payment Systems and Their Operators, replacing the previous framework and aligning regulatory supervision with the Law of Payments and Payment Services.

The revised framework clarifies the scope of oversight, sets out SAMA’s supervisory methodology—including oversight tools, self‑assessment and formal assessment procedures—and defines the regulatory obligations of payment‑system operators in accordance with applicable laws and international standards.

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