Newsletter Archives - Page 9 of 243 - LexisNexis Middle East

Ajman: New Heavy Fines for Illegal Parking of Fuel Transport Vehicles

10/09/202510/09/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf Today, 7 September 2025: Ajman’s government has issued new regulations prohibiting petroleum transport vehicles from parking outside designated areas, with violations carrying fines of up to AED20,000.

The Higher Energy Committee will oversee enforcement through judicial officers, implementing a graduated penalty system for offenders. First-time violators face AED5,000 fines, increasing to AED10,000 for second offences. Third violations will incur an AED20,000 penalty and may result in vehicle impoundment and public auction.

The committee holds the authority to impose additional sanctions on licensed facilities that breach regulations, including suspension or cancellation of petroleum trading permits. Officials may order immediate removal of vehicles from densely populated areas or locations presenting public safety risks, with costs charged to vehicle owners.

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Abu Dhabi: Customs Introduces Priority Clearance for Trusted Food Products

10/09/202510/09/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Khaleej Times, 9 September 2025: Abu Dhabi has launched a new ‘Golden List’ system that will accelerate border entry procedures for food products with proven safety compliance records.

This initiative establishes expedited clearance for food items meeting specific criteria, including successful safety compliance on five consecutive shipments and proper health certification from origin countries.

Products qualifying for the list will receive priority pre-release clearance and bypass standard visual inspections and sampling requirements. Importers must submit applications through the Atlab platform 24 hours before shipment arrival.

The fast-track status will be immediately revoked if products fail to maintain compliance standards or receive safety notifications. Such items will then return to standard inspection protocols.

To qualify for the programme, importers must provide: Documentation of five consecutive compliant shipments, Valid health certificates from origin countries, Advance import applications and Complete pre-audit documentation.

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UAE: Fake Consumer Protection Websites

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

Gulf News, 26 August 2025: The Emirates Society for Consumer Protection has warned of fake platforms charging consumers to resolve complaints.

The Society for Consumer Protection has issued a warning about suspicious and fraudulent websites, platforms, and social media pages which are misusing government logos and falsely claim to specialise in protecting consumers and safeguarding their rights. These fraudulent sites lure consumers into submitting complaints, then request fees for resolving them, or demand bank transfers and access to personal accounts.

The society has emphasised that it never charges any fees or accepts any payments for resolving consumer complaints. It has urged consumers if any entity that requests payment or asks for bank transfers to immediately refuse this, block the source, and report the matter to the relevant authorities.

The sites falsely claim to be official complaint-handling portals that help consumers recover their rights by reporting financial, commercial, or service-related violations.

According to the Society, these fake platforms have created counterfeit complaint forms resembling official ones, which require personal details such as name, phone number, and email address.

The Emirates Society for Consumer Protection is a recognised non-profit entity; its complaint services are completely free, and it never requests any payment or personal financial details from consumers.

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Sharjah: Change to Fathers’ Visitation Rights

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

Gulf News, 25 August 2025: The Ruler of Sharjah has instructed the emirate’s judicial authorities to give judges wider discretion in custody cases, allowing divorced fathers to take their children outside designated visitation centres when it serves the children’s best interests.

The decision was announced during the ruler’s daily call-in programme Al Khat Al Mubasher (The Direct Line) on Sharjah Radio and Television, after a father called in to share his concerns over current visitation rules.

The man stated that since his divorce he had been limited to meeting his children inside a supervised room at the Social Services Department which felt like he was serving a sentence. He described the humiliation of not being able to take his children to visit relatives or enjoy outings. Sheikh Sultan immediately directed the Sharjah Department of Justice to empower judges to assess custody arrangements on a case-by-case basis.

Under the new guidance, fathers will be able to take their children outside state facilities, provided there is no history of abuse or violence.

The welfare of children must come first, but fathers also have the right to see their children “free from pressures.”

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Saudi Arabia: Implements Fines for Illegal Water Connections

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

Al Watan, 21 August 2025: Saudi Arabia’s Water Authority has announced the end of its grace period for unauthorised water and sewage connections, with violations now subject to fines reaching up to 100,000 Riyals.

The official spokesperson for the Saudi Water Authority confirmed that penalties will be enforced according to existing regulations and bylaws. Specialised committees will assess each violation individually, with fines determined based on the severity of the infringement.

Key points of the enforcement:

Fines up to 100,000 riyals for unregistered connections
Case-by-case assessment of violations
Technical and administrative procedures ongoing
Field surveys required for each registration request

The National Water Company has reported receiving numerous registration applications during the grace period, though exact statistics regarding the number of corrected illegal connections are not yet available due to ongoing technical assessments.

For the full story, click here.

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Qatar: Traffic Authority Tightens Rules for Motorcyclists

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

Qatar Tribune, 21 August 2025: The General Directorate of Traffic has implemented stricter regulations for delivery motorcycle riders, introducing new safety measures and technical requirements for the growing delivery sector.

Key measures include: Mandatory right-lane usage for riders, except within 300 metres of intersections and roundabouts, Smart surveillance systems and road patrols to monitor compliance and Specific technical requirements for delivery boxes including: Reflective red tape on rear, Reflective yellow tape on sides, Ban on internal LED lighting, Fiberglass construction requirement, Non-sharp edge designs, Mandatory corporate branding and Operational license plates for all units.

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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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