News developments Archives - Page 8 of 239

Oman: Sanad Service Centres Expand Support for Government Procedures

23/01/202623/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Oman Observer, 15 January 2026: Sanad Service Centres in Al Batinah South Governorate have strengthened their role as key facilitators of government procedures, improving service delivery and supporting economic activity across the region.

According to the Department of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the centres act as an important link between government institutions and the public, streamlining administrative processes and helping citizens and entrepreneurs complete transactions efficiently. A total of 85 Sanad Service Centres operate across the governorate — including 39 in Barka, 20 in Al Rustaq, 17 in Al Musannah, 5 in Nakhal, and 2 each in Al Awabi and Wadi Al Maawil — ensuring broad geographic coverage and ease of access for beneficiaries.

Officials stated that these centres also contribute significantly to employment, providing direct job opportunities for 213 Omanis, reinforcing their importance not only as service hubs but also as engines of local workforce development. The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion aims to expand the range of services offered through Sanad Centres, aligning with national digital‑transition efforts and improving the efficiency of government‑service delivery.

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Kuwait: Health Sector to Implement Unified Employee ID System

23/01/202623/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Arab Times, 19 January 2026: Kuwait’s Ministry of Health moved to unify employee identification across all public and private healthcare facilities after issuing a ministerial decision standardising official work IDs, seals, correspondence and digital applications.

A regulatory framework governing the design and use of official ID cards for medical, paramedical, pharmaceutical and administrative staff has been approved. The standardised IDs must follow unified specifications for basic data, photographs, fonts and links to electronic access systems, including sensitive facility areas.

The decision also harmonised official correspondence—paper and electronic—and mandated a uniform logo for all communications and digital platforms. Administrative leaders and healthcare‑facility managers has been tasked with oversight and with reporting violations immediately.

A six‑month transitional period, extendable to ten months, has been set to allow institutions to implement the new requirements gradually.

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Dubai: Air Taxis To Be Launched

23/01/202623/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Arabian Business, 16 January 2026: Dubai is set to see its first commercial electric air taxi flights by the end of this year, according to the Chairman of the Roads and Transport Authority (RTA).

Joby Aviation, the California‑based manufacturer of the fully‑electric vertical take‑off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, completed the first test flight of its air taxi in Dubai in June 2025 — a milestone in the emirate’s plan to integrate aerial mobility into its transport network. The aircraft can travel up to 160 km at speeds reaching 320 km/h while producing zero operating emissions, qualities designed to make it suitable for urban environments.

In early 2024, Joby Aviation signed an agreement granting it exclusive rights for six years to operate air taxi services in Dubai. The RTA’s strategy envisages expanding the city’s mobility options with environmentally friendly, fast, and low‑noise aerial transport, complementing existing roads and public‑transport systems.

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Bahrain: Ministry Upgrade Industrial Leasing Process to Attract Investors

23/01/202623/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Bahrain Daily Tribune, 19 January 2026: Bahrain’s Ministry of Industry and Commerce has upgraded its industrial‑plot leasing process to streamline procedures.

Ministry of Industry and Commerce announced updated procedures for leasing industrial plots as part of the government’s broader efforts to raise service standards. The revised process formed part of an initiative to support industrial activity, enhance ease of doing business and strengthen Bahrain’s competitiveness in attracting long‑term industrial investment.

According to the announcement, the improvements have focused on simplifying administrative steps, accelerating approvals and improving communication between the Ministry and beneficiaries.

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Oman: Ministry of Economy – Competencies Set and Structure Approved

16/01/202616/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Oman Observer, 12 January 2026: Oman defined the Ministry of Economy’s mandates, approved its organisational structure, and merged the Vision 2040 Implementation Follow‑up Unit into the ministry.

Oman Sultani Decree No. 13/2026 moves allocations, assets and staff from the Vision 2040 unit to the ministry, aiming for tighter strategy‑to‑execution alignment across the national plan.

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UAE: Federal Real Estate Assets to Join Electronic Registry

15/01/202615/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Arabian Business, 13 January 2026: The UAE government has announced plans to integrate all federal real estate assets into a unified electronic registry to enhance transparency and streamline property management.

Officials confirmed that the initiative will create a centralised digital platform for recording and managing federal properties across the Emirates. The system aims to improve data accuracy, facilitate inter-agency coordination, and support strategic planning for asset utilisation.

Authorities stated that the registry will include detailed property information and enable real-time updates, forming part of the UAE’s broader digital transformation and governance reforms in the real estate sector.

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Sharjah: Launches of Integrated Digital Judicial Platform

15/01/202615/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 11 January 2026: Sharjah has introduced a new integrated digital judicial platform designed to streamline case management, enhance transparency and improve access to justice across the emirate.

Sharjah is expanding its digital‑justice capabilities in line with the UAE’s wider smart‑governance strategy. Recent federal and emirate‑level digital‑security initiatives—such as RAK Police’s AI‑enabled predictive‑security platform—reflect a broader governmental shift toward integrated digital services, real‑time analytics and streamlined public‑facing platforms to enhance governance efficiency.

Sharjah’s new digital judicial platform is positioned within this national transformation, enabling more efficient case handling and improved communication between judicial departments. By digitising workflows, the system is expected to reduce procedural delays, facilitate remote service access and strengthen the reliability of judicial information systems. It aligns with the Ministry of Interior and Ministry of Justice’s ongoing effort to enhance service delivery through data‑driven processes and unified digital systems.

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Saudi Arabia: Commerce Ministry Bans Use of Religious Names on Bags and Packaging

15/01/202615/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Saudi Gazette, 12 January 2026: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Commerce has prohibited printing the names of God on bags and packaging to preserve respect for religious expressions.

The Ministry announced a directive banning the inclusion of divine names on commercial packaging and shopping bags. The measure aims to prevent misuse and improper disposal of items bearing sacred references. Officials confirmed that the ban applies to all retailers and manufacturers, with compliance checks to follow.

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Ras Al Khaimah: Police Deploy AI‑Powered System to Anticipate Security Challenges

15/01/202615/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 11 January 2026: Ras Al Khaimah Police have launched an AI‑driven smart system designed to anticipate security risks, enhance rapid response, and strengthen community safety.

Ras Al Khaimah Police unveiled a new integrated smart platform that uses artificial intelligence and advanced digital technologies to monitor emerging challenges and identify potential security risks across the emirate. According to officials, the system connects patrol units and surveillance cameras directly to operations rooms, enabling predictive analysis of hotspot areas and improving response times.

Acting Director‑General of Central Operations stated that the platform reflects a forward‑looking approach to policing by relying on data‑driven decision‑making and smart connectivity. Its applications are already visible in various initiatives across the emirate, including road‑safety programmes, deployment of smart and autonomous patrol vehicles, and early warning systems.

The system also integrates a suite of proactive smart services aimed at enhancing engagement with the public and supporting a community‑centred security model. By leveraging artificial intelligence to streamline operations and identify risks early, the initiative reinforces the Ministry of Interior’s strategic objectives for innovation‑led policing and more efficient service delivery.

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Qatar: Cabinet Approves Sweeping Reforms to Foreign Investment Law

15/01/202615/01/2026
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf Times, 7 January 2026: Qatar has adopted major amendments to its foreign investment framework, aiming to attract greater non‑Qatari capital and boost private‑sector participation in the national economy.

The Cabinet stated it had examined and approved a draft law amending certain provisions of Qatar Law No. 1/2019 regulation of the Investment of Non-Qatari Capital in the Economic Activity on non‑Qatari capital in economic activity, with aims tied to attracting foreign investment and raising private‑sector GDP contribution under the Third National Development Strategy 2024‑2030. However, neither the Cabinet note nor related reportage specifies what provisions are being changed—such as ownership limits, sector eligibility, or listing rules.

Qatar Law No. 1/2019 regulation of the Investment of Non-Qatari Capital in the Economic Activity is well‑documented and already permits up to 100% foreign ownership in many sectors (subject to exclusions), alongside incentives (e.g., tax and customs‑duty exemptions; repatriation rights). Any new amendment would therefore matter most where 2019 left boundaries—for example, excluded sectors or residual approvals. Without the draft text, it is impossible to confirm whether the reform adjusts these boundaries or simply streamlines processes.

Officials and earlier policy briefings suggest a broader reform programme (bankruptcy, PPP, and commercial registration), signalling that procedural simplification is also on the table (e.g., single‑window, automated tax IDs, wider activity lists). But the current Cabinet note remains high‑level and does not enumerate article‑by‑article changes.

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