Newsletter Archives - Page 190 of 250 - LexisNexis Middle East

UAE: Services and Purchases Made on Online Shopping Sites Are Now Subject to 5% VAT

17/08/202017/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s Federal Tax Authority has confirmed all services and purchases made on online shopping sites are subject to 5% VAT. The purchases will have to be made in line with special conditions and controls which govern the tax treatment applicable to those supplies. The tax is imposed on the actual use of these services. Many of the general tax rules apply to e-commerce transactions in line with the existing rules.

Oman: Employment Rules Clarified

17/08/202017/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Public Prosecution has clarified the employment rules. They clarified expatriate employees who leave an employer to work for another will be jailed for one month and fined 1,000 Rials. The penalties will be doubled for multiple violators. Those who work without a permit from the relevant authorities by an expatriate or work for another employer apart from their licensed employer will also be jailed for a month and fined 800 Rials. They will also be deported and refused entry to the Sultanate.

Bahrain: Reorganisation and Bankruptcy Law Proposed

17/08/202017/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Cabinet has proposed amendments to the Kingdom’s Reorganisation and Bankruptcy Law. The proposed amendments are contained in a draft law which has been submitted to the Council of Representatives to consider. If approved, it will amend Bahrain Law No. 22/2018.

Qatar: Labour Ministry Launches Online Work Permit Service

17/08/202017/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Ministry has announced it is going to launch two new services, including a work permit service on Sunday. The work permit service will be available to those who are on the residency of their relatives or who are changing profession. This will benefits residents who want to issue a new work permit or renew, cancel or get a replacement for one. It is part of the Ministry’s efforts to provide more services online to improve processing times and allow services to be provided remotely.

It will also benefit employees who are not directly recruited by employers and want to contract with it for regular and main professions with supporting documents attached, particularly if sub-professions in line with the terms and conditions. Those applying to change professions or job titles will have to provide their resident ID card. It can also be provided by the relevant party or the authorised signatory providing the documents required are attached.

The Ministry has prepared an online directory which the relevant person or employer can refer to via the website or through the Ministry’s social media platforms to learn about service requirements, terms, conditions and procedures.

Qatar: Illegal Food Seizures

09/08/202007/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

In Qatar, the Health Monitoring Section of Al Sheehaniya Municipality has seized illegal food from a number of food outlets in Umm Al Zubar. The outlets had been running without the appropriate licenses. The Ministry of Municipality and Environment has stated the measures were taken during an inspection campaign in line with Qatar Law No. 8/1990 on regulating food items.

Bahrain: Electronic Trade Law Amendment Proposed

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

Bahrain’s MP Ahmed Alsalloum who is the chairman of the financial and economic affairs committee has revealed his intention to propose an amendment to the electronic trade law. The aim of the proposal is to protect local traders against the international electronic trade. The MP has stated Bahrain needs to settle rules and regulations to create a balance between international electronic trade and local traditional trade.

Ajman: New Free Zone Incentives

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

The President of Ajman Free Zone has announced eight new incentives designed to support existing and new companies in the free zone during the second half of 2020. The incentives will include a wide range of deductions and exemptions. The incentives include a full exemption for returned cheques fines, cheques replacement fines, license renewal fees, and a 100% exemption on fees to guarantee participation in smart services. During the second half of the year existing and new companies in the free zone will also have the opportunity to benefit from a wide range of flexible instalments plans for a period of three months when renting a business centre, and flexible instalments for a period of six months when renting offices, executive offices or warehouses, and a 25% discount on workers’ housing fees.

Dubai: Economic Programme for Post COVID Recovery Announced

07/08/202007/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Dubai Government has partnered with the Mohammed bin Rashid School of Government (MBRSG) to launch the Great Economic Reset Programme as part of its post COVID-19 initiative. The programme will include analysis of current and future policies, research and extensive stakeholder consultation to set the direction and tone of future economic policies, regulations and initiatives. A Virtual Policy Council will propose the best approaches Dubai and the UAE can adopt to address the risks and opportunities in the new normal economy.

Lebanon: Port Officials Put Under House Arrest

07/08/202007/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The sad events in Beirut this week have shocked the world resulting as they have done in the deaths of at least 135 people, over 5000 injured and up to 250,000 now homeless after ammonium nitrate which had been stored in the port for over six years caused a massive explosion. As is now emerging it began with a legal story – the arrest of an indebted Russian leased cargo ship which had made an unscheduled stop at the port. It is being reported that customs officials had repeated sought clarification from the courts on what they should do with the seized cargo and had made suggestions including handing it over to the army or selling it to a private company.

It is understood the Cabinet have now ordered the house arrest of the officials who were responsible for storing the material so there will undoubtedly also be further legal developments in this case including litigation, possibly new laws and regulations, and even potentially changes of legal procedure.

We began our analysis yesterday on Lexis Middle East with an article by Michael Kortbawi of BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates LLP on the potential compensation sources https://www.lexismiddleeast.com/eJournal/2020-08-05_22/

In the coming months as matters are unearthed and authorities in Lebanon and potentially elsewhere in the region too, learn the lessons from this event and make legal changes, we will continue to follow this story and provide further analysis.

Saudi Arabia: Anti-Human Trafficking Drive Launched

03/08/202003/08/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Human Rights Commission has unveiled a campaign against trafficking in people. The campaign, entitled ‘Together to Combat Trafficking in Persons in the Kingdom’ was launched by head of the Human Rights Commission ahead of the World Day Against Trafficking in Persons which is marked on 30 July. In recent years, Saudi Arabia has also sought to reform its justice system. Recent changes have included the abolition of the death penalty for minor offenders and flogging as a form of punishment.