LexisNexis Middle East

The MENA Business Law Review No. 04/2022 is out!

22/12/202222/12/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

We are pleased to share the fourth edition of the MENA Business Law Review 2022, the definitive business law reference in the Middle East and North Africa! In this edition:

REGULATORY: البيع على الخارطة by Faisal Rashid Al Sahouti of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC)

We look into how Qatar is working on boosting and advancing the real estate sector by establishing the Real Estate Regulatory General Authority, which shall work on achieving stability in the real estate sector, protecting the investors’ money, and fulfilling the vision of the State of Qatar to reach a comprehensive urban renaissance.

LEGISLATIVE INSIGHT: Implementing Regulations under the UAE Immigration Law by Gordon Barr and Roxanne Vesuvala of Al Tamimi & Company

We summarise the new visa rules that have come into force in the UAE.

LITIGATION: The English Courts’ View on the “Convenience” of Litigating in the UAE by Peter Smith of Charles Russell Speechlys

This article considers cases in which English courts have considered the advantages and disadvantages of commercial disputes being heard in the courts of the United Arab Emirates as the alternative to England.

CONSTRUCTION LAW: The Middle East – Safe Harbour for the Global Construction Industry by Andrew Mackenzie and Terrick Mccallum of DLA Piper

In this article, we explore some of the significant projects and developments underway or set to commence in the Middle East soon, with a particular focus on Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the UAE and discuss what this means for the construction sector as a whole in the region.

DISPUTE RESOLUTION: Managing Disputes During the Life Cycle of a Construction Project by James Cameron of Fenwick Elliott LLP

Construction projects have an almost unique ability to generate disputes, which are often expensive and drawn out. This article reviews recent industry reports from HKA and Arcadis. It aims to provide real-world tips to help employers, main contractors, and subcontractors avoid and mitigate disputes where that is not possible.

LIBERALISATION: “Où va le droit des affairs en Tunisie” ? by Dr Najet Brahmi Zouaoui

The new Tunisian constitution of 15 July 2022 appears to be part of a logic of withdrawal from the liberalism of the past. This article explores how the texts of the constitution have been modified to strengthen the exemption of certain economic activities from the requirement of prior authorisation and aims to answer the question of where business law is going in Tunisia today.

Want to receive more content? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

LexisNexis MENA Business Law Review No. 04_2022

Have you read the previous editions of the MENA Business Law Review? Click the links below to access and read previous editions.

LexisNexis MENA Business Law Review No. 03_2022

LexisNexis MENA Business Law Review No. 02_2022

LexisNexis MENA Business Law Review No. 01_2022

News developments

Qatar: Cabinet Approves Draft Public Hygiene Law

22/12/202222/12/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Peninsular, 21 December 2022: Qatar’s cabinet has approved a draft law to amend provisions of Qatar Law No.18/2017 on public hygiene to, among other things, prohibit the occupation of squares, roads, streets, lanes, alleys, sidewalks, and public parking areas with abandoned vehicles, equipment, machinery, temporary or permanent buildings, without a license from the competent municipality.

The draft law also prohibits leaving, throwing or pouring waste, or disposing of it, in places other than those specified by the competent municipality.

In the event of a violation, the municipality may remove the objects at the violator’s expense and impound their vehicle for up to three months.

Under the law, the municipality is responsible for public cleaning, including the collection, transportation, unloading and disposal of waste, although it may employ contractors to carry out the work.

For the full story, click here.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

Abu Dhabi: Campaign Launched to Raise Awareness of Rights for Labour Camp Workers

21/12/202221/12/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

WAM, 19 December 2022: The Abu Dhabi Judicial Department has launched an awareness campaign to help inform workers in labour camps of their rights and duties under the provisions of Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021 on the regulation of labour.

The campaign aims to shed light on the provisions of the law and the scope of its application, raising the legal awareness of a large segment of workers.

For the full story, click here.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

Egypt: Parliament Approves Unified Tax Law

20/12/202220/12/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Youm7, 18 December 2022: The Egyptian House of Representatives has approved a draft law to amend provisions of the Unified Tax Procedures Law relating to the implementation of the provisions of the international tax agreements to which Egypt is a party.

The draft law allows foreign countries to verify the commercial transactions of its nationals to confront tax evasion, giving Egypt the right to reciprocate with 172 countries that have joined those international tax agreements.

For the full story, click here.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

Abu Dhabi: Abdu Dhabi Business Hub expands services

19/12/202219/12/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Emaratalyoum, 15 December 2022: Abu Dhabi Business Hub has announced it will expand its services for entrepreneurs and micro, small, and medium enterprises to include online educational programmes.

The Abu Dhabi Business Hub is a joint public/private venture offering an interactive platform to support and guide entrepreneurs and businesses.

The platform has also improved user, supervisor, and partners experience in line with best commercial practices.

For the full story, click here.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Regulations Require Private Schools to Teach Saudi History

15/12/202215/12/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Okaz, 11 December 2022: The Saudi education sector has put forward draft regulations for regulating private education, which include a requirement for schools teaching a foreign curriculum to contain material about the history and geography of Saudi Arabia.

Under the regulations, teachers in these private schools must obtain a valid teaching licence from the Education and Training Authority.

Private schools are also required to teach national identity.

For the full story, click here.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

LexisNexis Hosts the 5th Oman Business Law Forum Conference in Muscat, Oman!

15/12/202221/12/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Thank you to everyone who participated in the Oman Business Law Forum 2022 – 5th Edition on 12 December 2022!

LexisNexis Middle East, in collaboration with the Omani Lawyers Association and Omani British Lawyers Association, is pleased to have hosted the 5th Oman Business Law Forum in Muscat, Oman on 12 December 2022.

The conference covered Oman’s latest legal developments and trends and gathered leading professionals from the Omani legal and business community. The following topics were covered over two sessions:

The New Code of Ethics for the Legal Profession
New Data Protection Law
Bankruptcy Law
Oman Cyber & Data: Security; Breach; Insurance and the Law
Arbitration Update

Special thanks to our incredible speakers and moderators:

Ali Al Rasdhi – Partner, Head of Dispute Resolution Practice and Head of Maritime Law Practice, S & A Law Firm
Vincent Slingerland – Deputy Head of Sales, LexisNexis Middle East
Kerem Alev – Senior Associate, S & A Law Firm
Wafa Al-Shuaibi – Senior Associate, Dentons
Thomas Wigley – Resident Managing Partner, Trowers & Hamlins
Jamie Kellick – Partner, Nasser Al Shamli, Advocates & Legal Consultants in association with Kennedys
Edward Butler – Partner, Hamad Al Sharji Peter Mansour & Co

Thank you to our partners and sponsors for your support:

Omani Lawyers Association – Partner
Omani British Lawyers Association – Partner
Trowers & Hamlins – Silver Sponsor
S & A Law Firm – Silver Sponsor

Lastly, thank you to all attendees for making the conference a success. We look forward to welcoming you in 2023 for the 6th Oman Business Law Forum!

News developments

Abu Dhabi: FSRA Seeks Views on the Introduction of Private Credit Funds

14/12/202214/12/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

12 December 2022: The Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA) of Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM) has published a consultation paper seeking views from fund managers and investors on introducing private credit funds within the FSRA’s collective investment funds regulatory regime.

The aim of the private credit funds – collective investment funds that originate loans to borrowers, purchase existing loans from third-party lenders, or invest in a combination of the preceding – is to increase the fund options in ADGM and attract start-ups and SMEs.

The funds will only be offered to professional clients as either qualified investor funds or exempt funds.
Further information is available on the ADGM website.

For the full story, click here.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

Dubai: DIFC Seeks Views on Proposed Legislation on Family Arrangements

13/12/202213/12/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

12 December 2022: The Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has launched a consultation seeking views on its proposed new Family Arrangements Regulations, which, alongside the recently launched Family Wealth Centre, aim to provide a regulatory framework and hub for global and regional family-owned businesses, ultra-high net worth individuals and private wealth.

The key aspects of the proposed regulations are: comprehensive provision for the engagement of family businesses with the DIFC; repeal of the Single-Family Office Regulations and the DIFC’s Single Family Office regime and their replacement by a new Family Office regime that can provide services to a family or more than one family in certain circumstances; the establishment of certification and accreditation regimes for family businesses and their advisors in the DIFC.

The DIFC has also proposed amendments to the Leasing Regulations in a separate consultation paper.

For the full story, click here.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.

News developments

Kuwait: Draft Law Calls on Government to Purchase Kuwaiti Citizens’ Loans

12/12/202212/12/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Kuwait Times, 7 December 2022: The Kuwaiti National Assembly’s Legal and legislative committee has approved a draft law calling on the government to purchase consumer and personal loans of Kuwaiti citizens to help them cope with the sharp rise in prices of goods and the high inflation rate.

The bill proposes the government purchase the loans by deducting the cost-of-living allowance paid every month by an amount not exceeding 120 Dinars a month.

Citizens who will not benefit from the proposed legislation will continue to receive their cost-of-living allowance as usual.

For the full story, click here.

To view more news items and other content we have available, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East.

Want to learn more about Lexis® Middle East? Visit, https://www.lexis.ae/lexis-middle-east-law/.