News developments Archives - Page 9 of 223

Oman: Launches Golden Visa to Attract Investors

28/08/202528/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Khaleej Times, 25 August 2025: To attract more foreign investors and create a more business-friendly climate, Oman has introduced a new “Golden Residency” visa programme.

The Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion announced the launch of this scheme, reinforcing the Gulf nation’s status as a prime destination for international investment. As stated by Mubarak bin Mohammed Al-Douhani, the Director General of Planning and Head of Digital Transformation at the Ministry of Commerce, this initiative is aimed at creating a stable and dynamic business environment that offers investors premium prospects for sustainable long-term growth and security. Additionally, Oman is set to introduce the “Majid Companies” initiative and an electronic authentication service for transferring commercial registration ownership via the “Invest Oman” platform.

Oman’s Golden Visa

Oman now provides two investment residency programme options available through real estate investment, commercial ventures, and long-term bank deposits. These options are renewable for either five or 10 years, provided that applicants meet the defined criteria.

Applications for the new long-term residency programme can be submitted online via the “Invest Oman” platform, and come in two tiers as discussed below.

Tier 1

Investors qualify by completing one of the following:

Investing at least OMR 500,000 in a limited liability company, public joint stock company, or government bonds.
Purchasing property in Oman valued at a minimum of OMR 500,000.
Establishing a company that employs at least 50 Omani nationals, with no requirement regarding company capital.

The Tier 1 extended residency permit is valid for 10 years (renewable), and the fee to issue the residence card is OMR 551.

Tier 2

For Tier 2 eligibility, investors must either:

Invest a minimum of OMR 250,000 in a limited liability company or public joint stock company.
Purchase property in Oman worth at least OMR 250,000.

Additionally, expatriate workers in Oman who wish to retire in the country may also qualify for an extended residence permit by showing proof of a fixed income of at least OMR 4,000 per month.

The Tier 2 extended residency permit is valid for five years (renewable), with a residence card fee of OMR 326.

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Kuwait: Minister of Justice Announces New Law Regulating the Legal Profession

28/08/202528/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Arab Times Kuwait, 25 August 2025: Kuwait’s Minister of Justice announced that a new law governing the legal profession is set to drive a significant transformation, enhancing lawyer protection and elevating professional standards.

Speaking at an open meeting with members of the Kuwait Bar Association, the Minister explained that the draft law, with input from the Kuwait Bar Association, contains provisions designed to shield lawyers from detention in court-related offences. Under the new framework, judges will be required to file an official complaint and send cases to investigation committees instead of holding lawyers in 24-hour custody.

The legislation also clarifies contracts and fee structures for legal practitioners, establishing a comprehensive regulatory system in coordination with the Kuwait Bar Association to ensure optimal outcomes. If approved, this law, alongside Kuwait Decree-Law No. 23/1990 On the Organisation of the Judiciary, will revolutionise the legal profession.

The Minister noted that the recent surge in litigation fees is linked to a dramatic increase in lawsuits. Courts are currently receiving around 500,000 new cases annually, in addition to approximately one million cases carried over from previous years, with appeals before the Court of Cassation reaching 81,000. To address this backlog, 10 new committees will be formed in October to handle appeals, replacing the longstanding three-committee system.

On the subject of family law, the Minister criticised Kuwait Law No. 51/1984 Regarding Law on Personal Status for being misaligned with Kuwaiti society and Islamic Sharia provisions. A draft amendment, developed by a committee composed of family court judges and public prosecutors, proposes changes to over 120 articles, the addition of 20 new articles, and the removal of 15 outdated ones. This draft has been forwarded to the Kuwait Lawyers Association for review.

Additionally, the Minister acknowledged that Kuwait Law No. 16/2020 On the Protection from Domestic Violence has shortcomings and will undergo significant revisions, particularly to resolve issues related to enforcement during official holidays. Efforts are also underway to merge Kuwait Law No 111/2015 Promulgating the Juvenile Law and Kuwait Law No. 21/2015 Regarding Children’s Rights into a single statute, with the public prosecution assuming responsibility for investigations, and new alternative penalties specifically tailored for juveniles being introduced.

The Minister confirmed that Kuwait Decree-Law No. 40/1980 Promulgating the Regulation of the Experts Law is currently under review, with proposed amendments aimed at transitioning notifications and documentation to electronic formats. Amendments to Kuwait Law No. 20/2014 On Electronic Transactions and the laws on judicial representation are also nearing completion, which will allow for fully digital management of powers of attorney, personal status cases and real estate documentation.

Addressing delays in litigation processes, the Minister stated that the Ministry is collaborating with Google and Microsoft on four major projects focused on electronic agencies and documentation, real estate registration, and litigation systems. Eight committees are already in place, with plans to establish two more in the near future.

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Dubai: Law on Centre for Judicial Expertise

28/08/202528/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Khaleej Times, 25 August 2025: A law has been issued to establish Dubai’s Centre for Judicial Expertise

Dubai’s Centre for Judicial Expertise will be a public institution under the Dubai Judicial Council. It aims to support judicial bodies in the emirate with qualified experts from inside and outside the UAE. The Centre, which will enjoy legal personality, will develop and regulate expert witness services before judicial authorities and enhance their efficiency in line with international best practices. It will improve the quality and speed of expert reports for more accurate rulings, develop specialised national talent, setting unified standards for appointing and supervising experts, and build local and international partnerships to share knowledge, which will boost confidence in expert work before the courts.

The Centre will consist of a Board of Directors chaired by the Director of Dubai Courts and composed of representatives from judicial and non-judicial bodies with relevant expertise, along with an executive body led by a CEO responsible for implementing plans and programmes.

It will handle requests for expert appointments submitted by judicial authorities and will assign specialised experts based on the required expertise—either from in-house experts or private-sector experts registered on the expert roster. The Centre may also call upon experts from government entities or engage global expertise houses when required.

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Bahrain: Tamkeen Launches Updated Regulatory Framework for Training Programmes

28/08/202528/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Bahrain News Agency, 24 August 2025: The Labour Fund (Tamkeen) launched an updated regulatory framework for training programmes aimed at improving their impact and outcomes. In line with this, Tamkeen also completed its periodic review of several training programmes that support obtaining professional certificates across various specialities.

The revised regulatory framework now incorporates procedures and controls that assess how training programmes benefit their participants. This involves regular evaluations of training initiatives to ensure they are consistent with Tamkeen’s key strategic objectives, paired with follow-up measures to determine how the programmes contribute to participants’ career development.

In the most recent review, certificates were scrutinised thoroughly. As a result, 20 certificates were removed, and support criteria, along with requirements for six additional certificates, were modified. This reform is designed to better align the training programmes with Tamkeen’s strategy of enhancing national talent skills, boosting employment prospects in the labour market, and supporting entrepreneurial ventures.

Tamkeen remains committed to tracking the impact of its training programmes by maintaining regular communication with participants. This ongoing engagement allows them to monitor the trainees’ progress during and after the courses, and multiple follow-up procedures are in place to maintain training quality.

Throughout the year, training providers conducted over 30 inspections, and more than 400 beneficiaries were contacted. These efforts aimed to evaluate the programmes’ contributions to professional development, gather participant feedback, and monitor career advancements and job placements through cooperation with relevant entities.

This initiative is in line with Tamkeen’s strategic vision for 2025, which targets improving the standing and competitiveness of Bahraini professionals in the private sector, ensuring they acquire the skills necessary for career advancement, and prioritising business growth, digital transformation, and sustainability.

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Ajman: Merges Tourism and Media Departments Under New Authority

28/08/202528/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Ajman’s Ruler has issued a law establishing the “Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media,” merging two existing departments into a single entity.

Ajman Law No. 2/2025 combines the former Tourism Development Department and Culture and Media Department. Key aspects of the merger include:

Transfer of all existing staff with preserved financial entitlements
Retention of 2025 budget allocations from former departments
Headquarters location in Ajman city
Provision for new branches subject to Executive Council approval

The department’s responsibilities cover:

Tourism:
- Policy development
- Event management
- Facility licensing and classification
- Investment promotion.

Culture:
- Heritage site management
- Museum oversight
- Arts development
- Cultural preservation.

Media:
- Activity regulation
- Licensing
- Content supervision
- Investment support.

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Abu Dhabi: Launches New Real Estate Advertisement Permit Service

28/08/202528/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Al Etihad, 22 August 2025: ADGM has introduced a new real estate advertisement permit service through its AccessRP platform, requiring mandatory permits for all property advertisements within its jurisdiction.

Key features of the new service include:

Mandatory permits for all real estate advertisements within ADGM jurisdiction
Integration with the AccessRP platform
Regulatory oversight of property marketing materials
Verification process for real estate listings

The implementation establishes a new regulatory framework for property advertisements, making it compulsory for all real estate marketing materials to obtain official permits before publication.

For the full story, click here.

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UAE: New Employment Guide Details Worker Leave and Benefit Rights

22/08/202522/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 17 August 2025: The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has released a detailed employer Guide outlining workers’ rights and leave entitlements under Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021.

It specifies seven categories of leave available to private-sector employees: annual, sick, study, parental, bereavement, national service, and maternity leave. Workers are entitled to 30 days of paid annual leave for each year of service, while new parents can take five working days of leave within six months of their child’s birth.

Maternity provisions include 60 days of leave for female workers, with 45 days at full pay followed by 15 days at half pay. The guidance also details sick leave allowances of up to 90 days annually, structured as 15 days at full pay, 30 days at half pay, and the remainder unpaid.

Bereavement leave grants five days for the death of a spouse and three days for immediate family members. Educational support includes 10 working days of study leave for workers enrolled in UAE-accredited institutions.

The toolkit additionally clarifies end-of-service benefits, with expatriate workers entitled to 21 days’ basic wage for each of the first five years and 30 days for subsequent years, calculated on their final basic wage.

The document also addresses wage regulations, requiring payment in UAE dirhams unless otherwise specified, and outlines compensation requirements for public holiday work.

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Saudi Arabia: New Law to Strengthen Statistical Data Protection

22/08/202522/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Saudi Gazette, 16 August 2025: Saudi Arabia has issued new legislation to enhance data privacy in statistical research, with strict controls on access and usage of information collected for statistical purposes.

The law establishes firm guidelines for the General Authority for Statistics (GASTAT) regarding data handling and sharing. Under the new regulations, data may only be released for research purposes after being anonymised to protect individual privacy.

The legislation explicitly prohibits GASTAT employees and associates from disclosing confidential information while introducing new provisions for collaboration with both public and private sector entities in conducting surveys. These partnerships must adhere to strict data protection protocols.

Public bodies are now required by law to assist GASTAT in preparing international statistics and developing standardised guidelines. The legislation specifically addresses the exchange of statistical best practices between government entities.

The new framework includes safeguards against misuse of official positions to access protected information, with clear restrictions on how collected data can be utilised.

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Qatar: Issues New Ministerial Powers Act and Business Regulations

22/08/202522/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Al Sharq, 18 August 2025: Qatar’s Ministry of Justice has published its official gazette, introducing new legislation governing ministerial powers and commercial operations.

The Qatar Ministerial Decision No. 12/2025, comprising 37 articles, outlines key ministerial responsibilities including: Development of strategic and executive ministry plans, Implementation of approved policies and programmes, Presentation of reports to the Cabinet, Supervision of government agencies, Setting service fees after Cabinet approval, Management of ministry personnel and Preparation of annual budgets.

The law defines ministers as Cabinet members, including state ministers and officials appointed to ministerial-grade positions. It establishes accountability measures for ministers involved in crimes related to: Public office misconduct, Obstruction of justice and Money laundering.

For the full story, click here.

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Oman: To Standardise Insurance Coverage Rules

22/08/202522/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Times Of Oman, 13 August 2025: The Finance and Insurance Committee of Oman’s Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI) has met to propose a unified insurance policy aimed at standardising coverage across the sector.

The committee examined bank charges affecting business borrowers. The review will incorporate data from the Central Bank of Oman, with particular focus on fees affecting small and medium enterprises, which comprise 80% of Oman’s business market.

The committee put forward several new initiatives, including a proposed joint seminar with the Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre to showcase dispute resolution services. Plans were also discussed for a dialogue session addressing financing challenges and personal loans supporting Omani employment in SMEs.

A new training programme for insurance sector workers was also proposed, featuring both short and long-term courses, including a professional insurance diploma.

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