LexisNexis Middle East

Qatar: Hayya Card Holders Visiting Qatar May Bring Pets with Them

21/10/202221/10/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Alsharq, 20 October 2022: Qatar’s Municipality Ministry has launched a new service allowing Hayya Card holders visiting the country to apply for permits to bring their pets with them. Visitors can apply online for veterinary health certificates and permission to import the animals.

Cats and dogs must be more than seven months old and be vaccinated against rabies.

Anyone importing large or dangerous breeds of dog as pets must also apply to the interior ministry for a permit.

For the full story, click here.

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News developments

Oman: Government Seeks Investment in Green Hydrogen Sector

20/10/202220/10/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Times of Oman, 19 October 2022: The Oman Ministry of Energy and Minerals has set out procedures for regulating the hydrogen sector as it is set to announce opportunities and incentives for investment in green hydrogen technology.

As part of Oman’s aims to achieve zero carbon emissions by 2050, the country has launched the Oman Hydrogen Company and established the Oman Sustainability Centre.

The Ministry of Energy and Minerals has set legal frameworks and policies to boost growth in the sector and hopes to attract investment and localise green hydrogen technology.

For the full story, click here.

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News developments

Saudi Arabia: Up to Two Years in Prison for Exploiting Mineral Deposits Without Licence

19/10/202219/10/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Aleqtisadiya, 16 October 2022: The Saudi Mineral Resources Ministry has launched a public consultation on draft executive regulations providing for a punishment of up to two years in prison for those exploiting mineral deposits belonging to the National Centre for Competition.

Anyone guilty of exploiting such deposits without a licence could also face a fine of up to 1,000,000 Riyals and be ordered to return any proceeds.

For the full story, click here.

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News developments

Saudi Arabia: Non-Saudi Law Firm Directors May Now Be Appointed to Foreign Law Firms

18/10/202218/10/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Gazette, 16 October 2022: An executive regulation regulating foreign law firms’ licensing has been announced, meaning they can now appoint non-Saudis to directorship roles, provided they fulfil certain conditions.

Under the regulation, a non-Saudi director may be appointed as long as no less than a quarter of the board of directors or the council of executives of the firm are Saudi partners or shareholders licensed to practice the legal profession.

One of the Saudi partners, with a minimum of seven years of experience, must be a company director.

The law firm must also not have been implicated in a crime involving moral turpitude, dishonesty, or a severe professional violation in any country it practises.

For the full story, click here.

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News developments

LexisNexis Hosts the 7th Qatar Business Law Forum Conference in Doha, Qatar!

18/10/202220/10/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2022 Qatar Business Law Forum Conference!

LexisNexis Middle East is pleased to have hosted, in partnership with the Qatar International Court & Dispute Resolution Centre (LexisNexis Strategic Alliance Partner), the State of Qatar Ministry of Commerce & Industry, the Qatar International Center for Conciliation & Arbitration, the Qatar Lawyers Association, and our exclusive Law Firm Partner, Al Sulaiti Law Firm, the 7th Qatar Business Law Forum Conference in Doha, Qatar.

The conference covered Qatar’s latest legal developments and trends, and gathered leading professionals from the Qatari legal and business community. The following topics were covered over four sessions:

First Session – International Investments, M&A and Compliance

Corporate Venture Capital and Investing in Technology in Qatar
Navigating International Investment Agreements and M&A Transactions: International Standards for Anti-Bribery, Fraud & Anti-Corruption Laws
Recent Developments in AML Regulations

Second Session – Dispute Resolution

Managing Disputes During the Life Cycle of a Construction Project
Mediation in Qatar
Enforcement of Arbitral Awards in Qatar

Third Session – Panel Discussion: What’s in the Pipeline for Business Law in Qatar

Recent Laws Promulgating by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Scope of Recent Business Laws in Qatar

Fourth Session – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022^TM

IP and Advertising Aspects of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022^TM
Football, Fanzones & Festivities: Insights into Certain Aspects of the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022^TM Enabling Law

Special thanks to our incredible speakers and moderators:

Benjamin Filaferro – Managing Director, LexisNexis Middle East & North Africa
Faisal Al-Sahouti – Chief Executive Officer, Qatar International Court & Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC)
Mubarak Al Sulaiti – President, Qatar Lawyers Association
Dr. David Ramm – Partner, Crowell & Moring
Dylan Moses – Partner, K&L Gates
Hamad Al Yafei – Managing Partner, Al Yafei Law Firm
Professor Hilary Bell – Assistant Professor of Law and Juris Doctor Program Coordinator, HBKU
James Cameron – Partner, Fenwick Elliott in alliance with Al Sulaiti Law Firm
Tarek Labban – Arbitrator, Thani Bin Ali Al-Thani Lawyers & Legal Consultants
Alexander Kelsall – Disputes Lawyer, DWF
Duha Al-Mulla – Case Progression Manager Associate, QICDRC
Hilal Al-Khulaifi – Legal Director, Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Khaled Algarle – Chief Legal Counsel, QICCA
Amr Hossam – Head of Arbitration, Al Sulaiti Law Firm
Elias Matni – Special Counsel, K&L Gates
Dr. Zain Al Abdin Sharar – Senior Legal Counsel, QICDRC
Ricardo Cid – Senior Legal Consultant, Essa Al Sulaiti Law Firm
Ribal Fattal – Senior Associate, Sultan Al Abdulla & Partners

Thank you to our partners and sponsors for your support:

Qatar International Court & Dispute Resolution Centre – LexisNexis Strategic Alliance Partner
State of Qatar Ministry of Commerce & Industry
Qatar International Center for Conciliation & Arbitration
Qatar Lawyers Association
Al Sulaiti Law Firm – Platinum Sponsor & LexisNexis Exclusive Law Firm Partner in Qatar
K&L Gates – Platinum Sponsor
Hamad Al Yafei Law Firm – Platinum Sponsor
DWF – Gold Sponsor
Crowell & Moring – Gold Sponsor
Essa Al Sulaiti Firm – Gold Sponsor
Thani Bin Ali Al Thani Lawyers & Legal Consultants – Gold Sponsor
PWC – Silver Sponsor
Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners – Silver Sponsor
DLA Piper – Bronze Sponsor
Masin Projects – Corporate Sponsor
DiliTrust – Corporate Sponsor
Pinsent Masons – Gala Dinner Sponsor

Lastly, thank you to all attendees for making the conference a success. We look forward to welcoming you in 2023 for the 8th Qatar Business Law Forum!

2022 CONFERENCE PHOTOS

News developments

Turkey: New Law Means Up to Three Years in Prison for Spreading Disinformation

17/10/202217/10/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Hurriyet, 14 October 2022: The Turkish parliament has adopted a new law containing wide-ranging provisions to issue criminal penalties for those accused of spreading disinformation. The provisions cover domestic journalism as well as social media.

The crime of “publicly disseminating misleading information to the public” has been defined and added as a new article to the Turkish Penal Code.

Anyone accused of publicly disseminating “false information about the internal and external security, public order and general health of the country, in a way that is disturbing the public peace, with the sole motive of creating anxiety, fear or panic among the public” faces one to three years in prison.

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.

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News developments

UAE’s National Bonds investment company has announced a new ‘Golden Pension’ scheme

17/10/202217/10/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Khaleej Times, 13th October 2022: UAE’s National Bonds investment company has announced a new ‘Golden Pension’ scheme allowing private sector employees to contribute as little as Dh 100 a month in addition to the gratuity provided by their employer.
The scheme allowing employees to earn a profit on the amount they save is part of a drive to support companies with employee retention. It aims to help 89% of the UAE’s population that is expats with retirement planning.
Expats whose employers have signed up with National Bonds may sign up for the scheme.
Sukuks (savings bonds) will be issued under the employees’ accounts with National Bonds based on the allocation provided by the company of the contributed funds. The Sukuk may only be redeemed at the company’s request.

For the full story, click here.

To view more news items and other available content, visit lexis.ae/demo to book a demo and start your free trial of Lexis® Middle East trial 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 for Distribution of Gas and Petroleum Aim to Protect Consumers

14/10/202214/10/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Okaz, 9 October 2022: Saudi Arabia’s Ministry of Energy has announced new executive regulations aiming to protect the rights and interests of residential and commercial consumers of dry gas and liquid petroleum gas.

Under the regulations, the licensee must adhere to security, safety, health and environmental requirements and prepare an emergency plan by the Ministry of the Interior’s instruction.

Residential consumers are those who supply dry gas, liquid petroleum gas, liquid petroleum gas cylinders, or alternative natural gas for residential purposes.

Commercial consumers are those whose facility is supplied for commercial purposes, including government or industrial facilities which do not consume more than 70,000 litres per day.

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: Civil Service Commission to review expatriate work permits

14/10/202214/10/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Kuwait Times, 9 October 2022: The Kuwaiti Civil Service Commission (CSC) has announced plans to review the employment documents of expatriate workers and deport anyone without valid work permits.

The CSC has set out a three-step plan starting with continuous inspection campaigns which will see any violators immediately deported and sponsors having to pay deportation expenses and any other fees.

The second step will be to stop renewals of expiring work permits for jobs which are not needed.

The third step will be to only issue work permits for necessary jobs, subject to professional tests.

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

UAE Introduces Emergency Travel Document E-Services for Emiratis

13/10/202213/10/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Arab News, 11 October 2022: The UAE has rolled out a new service allowing Emirati travellers returning from abroad to enable them to obtain emergency travel documents if their passports have expired or have been lost.
The ‘e-return document’ platform allows travellers to obtain a return document in less than 30 minutes and provides documentary support for newborns.
Emirati travellers can apply for this service on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation’s website.

For the full story, click here.

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