LexisNexis Middle East

Kuwait: Private Pharmacies Regulations Amended

19/08/202222/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Alanba, 17 August 2022: Kuwait’s Minister of Health has issued two Decisions to control and correct the work of private pharmacies.

Under the first decision, Article 18 of Kuwait Ministerial Decision No. 395/1997 issuing the Implementing Regulations to Kuwait Law No. 28/1996 has been amended.

Under the amendment, the pharmacy management will be limited to Kuwaiti pharmacists who are licensed to practice the profession and are granted a licence to open a pharmacy.

Pharmacies will be given three months to comply.

Under the second Decision, consideration of applications for granting licences to new pharmacies in the private sector and the request to grant a licence to practice the profession of pharmacy to non-Kuwaitis will be suspended until the completion of a relevant study.

For full story, click here.

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News developments

UAE: Penalties for Tampering with Digital Evidence Clarified

18/08/202218/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Gulf News (United Arab Emirates), 16 August 2022: The UAE’s Public Prosecution has clarified the penalties imposed on those who tamper with digital and other types of evidence.

Under Article 18 of Federal Decree-Law No. 34/2021, anyone who operates a website, an account on a computer network, an email or an information system and deliberately conceals or tampers with digital evidence relating to any of the crimes stipulated in the UAE Cybercrime Law to obstruct the work of investigation authorities or other competent authorities will be jailed for at least six months and/or fined at least 200,000 AED.

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News developments

Qatar: Dentists Must Stop Using Laughing Gas

16/08/202216/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Gulf Times, 15 August 2022: Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health has ordered all licensed dentists in the private sector and licensed healthcare facilities in the country to stop using laughing gas or nitrous oxide when treating patients.

They have issued a Circular to this effect. It comes into force immediately.

They have ordered the suspension as part of the Department of Healthcare Professions’ efforts to ensure the efficiency and eligibility of all health practitioners working in the private sector in Qatar.

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News developments

Qatar: Local Value System to be Adopted in Government Tendering

15/08/202215/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Peninsula, 10 August 2022: Qatar will adopt the local Value System in Government tenders under amendments to the Implementing Regulations (Qatar Cabinet Decision No. 16/2019) to the Law on Regulating Tenders and Auctions (Qatar Law No. 24/2015).

The amendments by Qatar Cabinet Decision No. 11/2022 mean companies will have to add the in-country value or local value certificates to their financial bids.

The system has already been in place for some Government tenders in the oil and gas sector.

National products, companies with high local value and those submitting the least expensive monetary bids after In-country value calculation will be given preference in the procurement process.

Micro, small and medium-sized enterprises will now be given greater privileges and exemptions with more tenders available.

They will be able to participate to a degree in tenders valued at less than five million Riyals.

National micro companies and SMEs will also be exempt from paying bid and performance bonds and tender fees if their turnover is less than one million Riyals.

In addition, they will be exempt from up to 50% of the value of the prescribed classification fees.

Procurement in Government agencies will also be developed and accelerated by introducing specific timeframes to organise the offering procedures, and a decision will be made within 60 working days.

The contract will also be signed within 20 working days from the date of the contractor submitting the final insurance.

The implementation of the contract will start within 90 working days from the date it is signed.

The amendments aim to increase the participation of non-oil sectors and the private sector in the economy.

Also reported in Al-Sharq on 9 August 2022. For full story, click here.

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News developments

Meet our Silver Sponsor of the Qatar Business Law Forum Conference 2022 – 7th Edition!

15/08/202215/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

LexisNexis Middle East is pleased to announce that Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners will participate as Bronze Sponsors at the Qatar Business Law Forum Conference 2022 – 7th Edition held on 12 October 2022.

The conference is specifically designed for in-house counsel and will cover Qatar’s latest legal developments and trends. It will be held in English and Arabic (simultaneous translation).

We hope you will join us for this unique and exclusive opportunity to meet existing and potential clients on 12 October 2022 in Doha, Qatar. For more information, visit: www.qatarbusinesslawforum.com.

News developments

Oman: Incorrect Weather Forecasters to be Fined

11/08/202211/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Times of Oman, 8 August 2022: Oman’s Civil Aviation Authority has announced that incorrect weather forecasters will be fined.

Institutions and individuals should not publish unauthorised forecasts and warnings during weather which affects the Sultanate.

Those who do violate Article 30 of the Civil Aviation Law could be jailed for up to three years and/or fined between 15,000 and 50,000 Rials.

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News developments

Abu Dhabi: Personal Status Court Starts Issuing Bilingual Judgments

11/08/202211/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Case decisions have started to be issued in the new Abu Dhabi bilingual personal status court for non-Muslims established due to Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021. The court will also have bilingual proceedings.

In a case on 21 July 2002, a claimant submitted a divorce application per Articles 6 and 7 of Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021.

The parties had been married in the Saint George Maronite Cathedral in Beirut. The claimant requested that the defendant would be required to pay fees and expenses.

The defendant filed a response requesting the application of the Lebanese law and dismissal of the case for nonterritorial jurisdiction. He also stated that his marriage relationship with the claimant was a religious, not a civil relationship.

The claimant’s attorney sustained the divorce request, application of Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021 and the defendant’s payment of fees and costs.

The defendant sustained application of the Lebanese Law and requested time to submit it. The court decided to adjourn the case to 19/07/2022 for the defendant to submit a duly attested copy of the law they sought to apply.

However, the duly attested law of their home country was not supplied only by some non-attested laws.

Decision

The court decided to close the case for judgment on 21/07/2022.

As the court had given the defendant a chance to submit the laws of his home country, but he did not, Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021 applied.

To effectuate a Divorce, it was sufficient that one of the spouses declared their willingness to separate before the Courtand to end the marital relationship, without the need to justify such a request, prove any damage suffered or blame the other party.

The conditions in Abu Dhabi Law No. 14/2021 had been fulfilled.

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News developments

Qatar: New Building Permit Requirements Guide Issued

11/08/202211/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Peninsula, 7 August 2022: Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality has announced it has issued the first edition of the Guide of Requirements and Services for the Building Permit System in Qatar.

They have issued the third edition of the Building Requirements Guide.

They have been issued to support the real estate sector in the country.

The Guide of Requirements and Services for the Building Permit System in Qatar is aimed at introducing a list of engineering documents and requirements and the permits required from other service authorities when building applications are submitted.

The third edition of the Building Requirements Guide aims to clarify the list of documents, information, plans and engineering drawings which must be attached when submitting applications, as well as the other service authorities required to obtain permits and approvals from them and the forms used by them, according to the types of buildings in the building applications submitted through the electronic building permit system.

The main reasons for rejecting building applications in the electronic building permit system are also mentioned in the guide.

Also reported in Lusail on 6 August 2022. For the full story, click here.

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News developments

Meet our Bronze Sponsor of the Qatar Business Law Forum Conference 2022 – 7th Edition!

09/08/202223/09/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

LexisNexis Middle East is pleased to announce that DLA Piper will participate as a Bronze Sponsor at the Qatar Business Law Forum Conference 2022 – 7th Edition held on 12 October 2022.

The conference is specifically designed for in-house counsel and will cover Qatar’s latest legal developments and trends. It will be held in English and Arabic (simultaneous translation).

News developments

Saudi Arabia: New Regulations for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Studies Issued

07/08/202207/08/2022
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Gazette, 4 August 2022: Saudi Arabia’s Council of Universities Affairs has issued two new regulations for undergraduate and postgraduate study and examinations.

The regulatory changes will be implemented from 2022 to the 2023 academic year.

They will regulate procedures and have been issued to keep up with developments in undergraduate and postgraduate studies.

They aim to increase the operational efficiency of Saudi Arabian universities and improve the quality of education output in line with labour market demands.

This will boost the recruitment of talented and innovative students and foster distinction and competition between universities.

Universities will have broad powers regarding academic procedures based on governance and a flexible institutional framework.

Under the new regulation for study and examinations, universities can change the semester, level or year schedule at the undergraduate level. They outline a different assessment system will be imposed. The system is compatible with the regulations followed by world-leading universities.

In terms of the regulatory changes affecting undergraduate studies, universities can promote a flexible education system for students, allowing them to earn degrees other than a bachelor’s degree.

For example, those who did not meet the requirements for a bachelor’s degree can be awarded a diploma in the specialism they are pursuing.

The same flexibility will be given to postgraduate students.

Universities will allow students to earn a lower academic degree than the programme they enrolled in.

Joint programmes for postgraduate studies will be able to be established between universities in or outside the Kingdom.

Students enrolled at a non-Saudi university will have the opportunity to enrol in courses at a Saudi university. They may earn a degree or certificate approved by two educational institutions with a joint programme. Students can enrol in two programmes simultaneously or from a previous stage. In addition, students can calculate equivalent courses within their cumulative average.

Various entities helped draft the regulations. They included the Education and Training Evaluation Commission, multiple universities and specialists and Government agency officials who are members of the Council of Universities Affairs.

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