LexisNexis Middle East

Oman: New Regulations issued to Stop Money Laundering in Real Estate Sector

03/08/202103/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Times of Oman, 1 August 2021: A new decision issued by the Ministry of Housing and Urban Planning has ruled that real estate firms and developers in Oman will need to make sure they do not accept funding for projects from questionable or dubious sources.

Issued by the Minister for Housing and Urban Planning, the decision aims to combat money laundering. Real estate firms, brokerage houses and developers will bear responsibility for accepting funds which were acquired through money laundering, or other dubious sources.

As part of the regulation, employees must be trained to detect suspicious transactions and the activities associated with them. An effective audit system must also be introduced to verify compliance with external and internal control processes, and policies put in place to act as a deterrent to using laundered funds to finance economic activities. Risk assessment procedures must be documented and regularly updated so that companies are familiar with the latest standards required from them. Procedures must be drafted in writing, so that they can be submitted to the proper government organisations when needed.

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News developments

Qatar: Deadline for Simplified Tax Return

01/08/202101/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Qatar General Tax Authority has called on companies which are 100% Qatari or companies which have a Gulf partner who is residing in Qatar to submit a simplified tax return. These returns must be submitted by no later than 31 August 2021.

The authority explained through a tweet which it posted on its official Twitter account – the conditions for submitting the declaration. A company can submit a simplified tax return if the company has capital of less than 1 million Riyals and annual revenue of less than 5 million Riyals. The company’s head office must be in Qatar and there accounts will not require approved by an audit firm.

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News developments

Saudi Arabia: Three Year Travel Ban Imposed on Nationals who Travel to Banned Countries

01/08/202101/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Okaz, 27 July 2021: Officials from the Saudi Interior Ministry have confirmed that nationals who have travelled to banned countries will be subject to a travel ban.

It was stated that the Ministry has warned against travel to certain countries in order to contain and prevent the spread of the new variant of COVID 19. Nationals who are proven to have violated these guidelines could face travel ban for up to three years.

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News developments

Oman: Cashless Payment Option to be Mandatory from 2022

01/08/202103/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Times of Oman, 26 July 2021: Commercial facilities in Oman will be required to provide electronic payment facilities to their customers, starting from 1 January 2022.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, Industry and Investment Promotion, the reform is designed to help achieve a digital transformation in the Sultanate under Oman Vision 2040. In the first stage, electronic payment will be needed for all activities in industrial areas, complexes, commercial centres, gift markets, for food sales, gold and silver sales, in restaurants and for cafes, electronics, building materials, and tobacco sales.

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News developments

Saudi Arabia: Electronic Calculator Service for Legal Deadline Launched

01/08/202101/08/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Almadina, 25 July 2021: The Board of Grievances has launched a new electronic calculator which will help calculate legal deadlines.

The service will help relevant parties know the deadlines for legal pleas against administrative decisions. It will enable the parties to determine the type of the administrative decisions and what is the legal deadline for appealing it. The aim of the new service is to help speed judicial procedure.

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News developments

Bahrain Moves to Green Alert Level

25/07/202125/07/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Arab News, 22 July 2021: Bahrain’s National Medical Taskforce for Combatting the Coronavirus has announced the Kingdom is going to move to the Coronavirus Green Alert level.

They are going to do so from Friday.

It means malls, restaurants, cafes and sports centres will be reopened to everyone.

Salons, swimming pools and leisure centres will also reopen.

In addition, people will be able to enter Government facilities and events and conferences in outdoor areas will be able to be held.

People will be able to attend education and training institutions as well but will have to comply with anti-Coronavirus measures.

Vaccinated individuals, people recovering from the virus and under-12s who are accompanied by a vaccinated person will be able to enter cinemas and organise events and conferences indoors.

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News developments

Dubai: Electricity and Water Conservation Measures Handbook Issued

25/07/202125/07/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Dubai’s Electricity and Water Authority has announced it has issued an Electricity and Water Conservation Measure Handbook.

It is aimed at informing residential, commercial, industrial and Government customers about technologies and systems to reduce their electricity and water use.

It is part of the Authority’s efforts to boost sustainability and improve customer and societal engagement.

It highlights various modern technologies to conserve electricity and water consumption for various types of buildings. It covers adding or replacing existing equipment and control measures to increase the efficiency of buildings and retrofitting them. These include air conditioning and cooling systems, lighting systems, water-saving fixtures, as well as building control systems to improve the operation of equipment.

It also presents expected savings as a result of implementing conservation measures. It also includes useful links and additional tips for customers to learn about further technologies to conserve electricity and water in their buildings.

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News developments

Saudi Arabia: Shadow Economy Crackdown Intensified

25/07/202125/07/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Arab News, 21 July 2021: The Saudi Arabian authorities have intensified their crackdown on those involved in the shadow economy.

It follows the introduction of an anti-commercial concealment law.

It is aimed at ensuring foreign investors operating in the Kingdom are licensed and operating under the right commercial arrangements.

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News developments

Saudi Arabia: Validity of Visas for Stranded Expatriates Extended

25/07/202125/07/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Gazette, 20 July 2021: Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports or Jawazat has announced the validity of visa for expatriates stranded abroad can be extended.

The iqama or residency permit and exit and re-entry visas of expatriates can also be extended to 31 August.

Visit visas will also be automatically extended.

There will be no fees for the extensions.

It will only apply to expatriates and foreigners from the nine countries where entry to the Kingdom is banned because of Coronavirus.

Affected individuals will not have to visit any Jawazat offices in person.

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News developments

UAE: Central Bank Issues Retail Payment Services & Card Regulations

25/07/202125/07/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Al Bayan, 18 July 2021: The UAE’s Central Bank has issued new retail payment service and card Regulations.

The new Regulations state providers of payment services will have to have specific licenses.

Payment service providers will be given a year to comply and receive the relevant license from the Central Bank.

For full story see: https://www.albayan.ae/economy/uae/2021-07-18-1.4209593.

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