This week the spotlight is on legal and regulatory developments in the UAE, where the Chairwoman of the Social Affairs, Work, Residents and Human Resources Committee at the Federal Supreme Council, Azza Suliman has announced the most prominent features of the new federal law related to supporting domestic workers. Suliman confirmed the workers will get one day a week holiday and will have the right to keep their official documents like passports. They will also be given daily rest breaks and will be entitled to 30 days leave. Suliman added the committee has proposed a new insurance system against injuries which may be sustained by supporting workers.

Elsewhere, the Chairman of the board of directors of the Emirates Authority for Standardisation and Metrology, Rashid Ahmed Bin Fahd has confirmed the UAE will begin limiting the percentage of dangerous substances used in the assembling of electronic and electoral devices early next year. Fahd added the Council of Ministers has issued a binding Decision related to the supervision of the percentage of dangerous substances in these devices. The Decision requests importers of these devices to consider the new standards which should be followed in the making of these devices. Administrative Decision No. 10/2017 encourages the clean manufacturing and the use of less harmful chemical substances.

This week the spotlight is on tax developments in the GCC, where following its ratification by the UAE and in line with the procedural requirements, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries’ agreement on VAT and selective taxes is now in force. The General Secretariat of the GCC has received the UAE's ratification documents for the two agreements. The two agreements come into effect when the second GCC country submits its ratification documents to the secretariat.

Elsewhere, following its first meeting, the UAE’s Federal Tax Authority has announced a 100% selective tax on tobacco and energy drinks and a 50% tax on soft drinks will be introduced by December 2017. The Finance Minister, Sheikh Hamdan Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has also said the Tax Procedures Law will be issued and published soon. Meanwhile, the VAT Law is currently being debated by the technical legislative committee and will then be submitted to the Cabinet. The Selective Tax Law will then be discussed by the committee.

This week the spotlight is on legal and regulatory developments in Oman, where the Deputy Chairman of Oman’s Shoura Council, Mohammed Al Ghassani has suggested Oman is considering plans to allow foreigners to buy property outside of integrated tourism complexes if they meet certain conditions. The aim would be to boost the housing market and the economy.

Elsewhere, the country’s Telecom Regulatory Authority will announce a third mobile operator in September following an invitation to tender last year. Omantel and Ooredoo are currently the two Mobile Network Operators in the country and Renna and Friendi are the two Mobile Virtual Network Operators. It is expected to be in the first week of September and all the proposals are currently being reviewed. The aim is to increase competition in the Sultanate’s telecommunications sector.

This week the spotlight is on legal and regulatory developments in free zones in the GCC where Qatar’s Cabinet has called for a draft law specifying regulations for economic zones in the country to be issued. The call follows a review by the Council of Ministers of the Advisory Council’s recommendations regarding the law. If approved, the Council of Ministers, following a proposal from the board of directors of the Economic Zones Company (Manateq) will be able to establish one or more economic zones. All types of companies, partnership contracts or other legal entities, owned by one or more natural or legal persons will be able to be established in the zone. It will not matter if they are foreigners or nationals. They will be exempt from having to obtain any other licence, approval, permission or registration in the country. They will also be free to transfer any of their capital, income, profits or investments outside the State without restrictions.

Elsewhere, Dubai’s Land Department has announced it is preparing an action plan to regulate lease registrations in the Emirate’s free zone areas. The regulatory system will be implemented in phases by Dubai Investments Park. It will include updating relevant data for all properties under their jurisdiction and registered in the Land Department’s Ejari system.

This week the spotlight is on legal and regulatory developments in Dubai, where the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has signed an agreement with Dubai Economy to allow companies operating in the DIFC to obtain operating licences onshore in Dubai. Under the agreement, a central database will be established to allow data exchange between the bodies to improve oversight of commercial activities in the DIFC. Joint inspections will also ensure better compliance, fraud prevention and consumer protection. The agreement was signed for the DIFC by its Governor, Essa Kazim and for Dubai Economy by its Director-General, Sami Al Qamzi.

Elsewhere, Dubai’s Ruler, HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum has issued a maternity and childcare leave Decree for female employees of the Dubai Government. It came into effect on 1 March and has been published in the Official Gazette. The aim is to promote a better work-life balance, support working women’s rights and enhance gender balance. The Decree will apply retroactively to current maternity leave and nursing breaks of Dubai Government female employees. Any full-time or part-time employee in a permanent position will be entitled to 90 days’ maternity leave from the delivery date. Employees can also apply to start their maternity leave 30 days before their due date on the condition the leave is taken continuously. Employees can also combine maternity leave, regular annual leave and leave without pay, for up to 120 days. An employee who has suffered a miscarriage before the 24th week of pregnancy is entitled to sick leave based on an approved medical report. If the employee had a stillbirth or a miscarriage after the 24th week, she is entitled to 60 days of maternity leave after providing an approved medical report. An employee who gives birth to a child with a disability is entitled to childcare leave for one year, which can be renewed for up to three years based on an approved medical report and approval from the relevant senior official in the Government entity. During the maternity leave and childcare leave, the employee will only receive her basic monthly salary. Weekends and official holidays will be considered part of the maternity leave and childcare leave.

Dubai Government entities must establish a nursery for employees’ children under four if the total number of children of all female employees in the entity is more than 20. If the total number of children is less than 20, two or more Government entities can jointly establish a nursery. Government entities may also contract nurseries close to their headquarters if the entity does not have adequate space for a nursery.

This week the spotlight is on legal and regulatory developments in Qatar, where the country’s Cabinet has approved a draft corporate bankruptcy and prevention law following a proposal from the Economy and Commerce Ministry. If approved, the law will provide a detailed regulatory framework for corporate bankruptcy and prevention in line with international standards. The aim is to improve the country’s investment environment.

The Cabinet also approved amendments to the country’s 2006 Competition Law and draft Executive Regulations to accompany it. If approved, the amendments will repeal and replace Qatar Law No. 19/2006. The aim is to bring Qatar’s legislative framework in line with developments in this area.

This week the spotlight is on tax developments in the GCC and wider Middle East, where Saudi Arabia has confirmed no income tax will be imposed on individuals and corporation tax will not be imposed on institutions this side of 2020. The confirmation follows previous comments in 2016 suggesting there were no plans to introduce income, property or commodities taxes as part of the Saudi Vision 2030. A 50% tax on soft drinks and 100% tax on tobacco and energy drinks will be introduced by June 2017. Elsewhere, an expatriate levy which will have to be paid by sponsors by September 2017 and will have to be paid for each expatriate employee. The fee will rise to 800 Riyals by 2020. It has also been confirmed VAT will stay at 5% until 2020.

Meanwhile in Jordan, Jordanian taxpayers who do not submit their 2016 tax returns by 30 April will be fined it has been announced. The fines will be between 100 and 500 Dinars. A weekly fine of 4,000 Dinars will also be applied. Tax returns can be filed online.

This week the spotlight is on legal and regulatory developments in Bahrain, where an Investment Limited Partnership Law passed by Bahrain’s Parliament in August 2016 and published in Bahrain Official Gazette, issue 3273 has now come into force. It marks a first for Bahrain and for the wider Gulf Cooperation Council region as Bahrain Edict No. 18/2016 enables investors to establish limited partnerships ‘on-shore’ as well as ‘off-shore’ in free zones. It also allows new LLPs to be incorporated and existing partnerships to convert to LLPs.

Elsewhere, the Kingdom’s Government is set to issue special ID cards to all investors from other Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. The aim is to help investors conduct hassle-free transactions at various service departments in the Kingdom. The move follows directives from the country’s Crown Prince, Deputy Supreme Commander and First Deputy Prime Minister, HRH Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to provide GCC residents and investors with more facilities.

This week the spotlight is on legal and regulatory developments in the UAE, where publicly-listed companies in the country will be urged to boost female representation following an agreement between the country’s Securities and Commodities Authority and the UAE Gender Balance Council. Under the agreement, the two organisations will work harder to narrow the gender gap in listed firms as well. It comes as the UAE is going to launch a comprehensive set of guidelines and actions aimed at helping UAE organisations adopt a gender-sensitive approach at their workplace in September 2017. The guidelines have been developed in line with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. The Council will hold various workshops for representatives from federal entities, to introduce the guide and how to implement it.

Elsewhere, private recruitment agencies in the UAE are going to be replaced with Government-backed recruitment centres later this year. It represents an industry overhaul and companies will have to meet strict criteria to work for the Tadbeer network of Labour Ministry-regulated centres. Centre staff will conduct interviews with domestic workers to ensure they understand their contractual rights, get the appropriate training and the right education. They will also resolve disputes and monitor housing and other accommodation for workers. The aim is to provide a contact point for domestic workers to protect low-income labour from exploitation.