LexisNexis Middle East

Kuwait: Penalties for MPs Who Fail to Make Financial Disclosures Announced

20/11/202020/11/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Sources have confirmed MPs who have not been re-elected or those who decided to not put themselves through forward in the upcoming election will have to submit their financial disclosures within 90 days of leaving Parliament. Re-elected MPs will have to submit their disclosures within 60 days from the date on which they complete three years since submitting the last disclosure. MPs elected for the first time will be requested to submit their disclosures to Nazaha within 60 days of becoming MPs. Fines for delays in submitting the final disclosures will be 5,000 Dinars and if the delays are more than 90 days, a jail term of at least three years and a fine of between 3,000 and 30,000 Dinars will be issued to them.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Intellectual Property Authority Launches Collective Trademarks Service

20/11/202020/11/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Authority for Intellectual Property has announced it has launched a service to allow the registration of collective trademarks. The service has been launched in line with international practices. Those interested in using the service should visit the Authority’s website to register.

News developments

Qatar: Amendments to Government Regulation for Sale and Purchase of Chemical and Petrochemical Products Law Discussed

20/11/202020/11/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Shoura Council has discussed amendments to the Government Regulation for Sale and Purchase of Chemical and Petrochemical Products produced in Qatar Law. The amendments to Qatar Decree-Law No. 11/2012 have been approved in Qatar Decree-Law No. 16/2020. They have referred it to the Cabinet to consider.

News developments

Oman: Central Council for Administrative Accountability Established

20/11/202020/11/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Labour Minister has issued Oman Ministerial Decision No. 301/2020. Under this Decision, a central council for administrative accountability will be established. The Decision also specifies the remit of its work and has been issued in line with Oman Sultani Decree No. 120/2004 and Oman Sultani Decree No. 89/2020. These Decisions specify the competences of the Labour Ministry and approve its structure. It has also been issued in line with Oman Decision No. 3/2017 on forming the central council for administrative accountability. Under the Decision, the council will consist of the Undersecretary of the Justice and Legal Affairs Ministry who will be the Chairman and the Undersecretary of the Labour Ministry for HR Development and the Undersecretary of the Transport, Telecommunications, and Information Technology Ministry.

News developments

Abu Dhabi: Global Market Signs FinTech Cooperation Agreement with Israel Securities Authority

20/11/202020/11/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Financial Services Regulatory Authority of Abu Dhabi’s Global Market has announced it has signed a FinTech cooperation agreement with Israel’s Securities Authority. The agreement is a first in the region and provides a framework for information sharing and facilitating the movement of start-ups, knowledge and talent between the two countries. The two bodies will work together to promote economic growth in financial services by adopting new technology and boosting their respective FinTech sectors. The agreement will allow information on trends, services and products to be exchanged and facilitate the collaborative development of FinTech initiatives between the two bodies. Both jurisdictions will also work together on professional knowledge transfer, accelerator programmes and promote the development of relevant technologies, like digital payments and blockchain. The agreement will also allow FinTech start-ups to access information from the respective jurisdictions through a single point of contact.

Weekly Spotlight

UAE: Economic Substance Regulation Notification Deadline Announced

20/11/202020/11/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s Finance Ministry has announced all companies in the UAE which engage in any of the relevant activities under the Economic Substance Regulations have to submit a notification to the Regulatory Authority by 31 December 2020. This applies to those entities whose financial year ended on 31 December 2019. If they do not, they will face administrative penalties.
The Undersecretary to the Finance Ministry added the Ministry will launch the Economic Substance Regulations portal in the first week of December 2020. The aim of the portal is to simplify the process of submitting these reports and notifications by allowing companies to submit reports, notifications and supporting documents electronically.
To help affected companies prepare the necessary applications on the Portal, the Finance Ministry has published sample notification forms on its website and social media platforms. They have also published relevant guides and documents, and a notice regarding the submission requirements and deadlines.

News developments

Saudi Arabia: Draft Implementing Regulations to Mining Investment Law Published

13/11/202013/11/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Industry and Mineral Resources Ministry has announced it has published draft implementing regulations to the Mining Investment Law. They have launched a public consultation on them and this ends on 30 November. The Ministry will then review the proposals and feedback and make any appropriate changes. The announcement follows the report last week that the authorities are looking to accept new mining license applications next month.

News developments

Qatar: Supreme Judicial Council Establishes New Departments

13/11/202013/11/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Supreme Judicial Council has announced it has established new departments. The new departments will be part of the Court of Cassation and Court of Appeal and there will be two new appeal-hearing chambers. A new criminal department will be established in the Court of Cassation. There will also be a chamber to hear implementation disputes and a specialist department for reviewing pretrial appeals.

News developments

Oman: International Agreements Portal Launched

13/11/202013/11/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Justice and Legal Affairs Ministry has announced it has launched an Oman Portal for International Agreements or Duwaly. It will provide agreements in Arabic and English. It is part of the Omani Government’s digital transformation plans and will make information about international agreements and treaties which have been signed by the Sultanate or which the Sultanate became party to under Sultani Decrees available. It includes around 600 treaties and includes information on the ratification and accession dates.

News developments

Kuwait: New SMES Can be Registered

13/11/202013/11/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Kuwait’s Public Authority for Manpower has announced it has started receiving new applications to register SMES in line with the registration requirements in the decision for regulating SMEs. Applicants should be Kuwaiti nationals, younger than 45 and dedicate all their time to manage the project. Students and pensioners cannot apply. If there is a foreign partner in the business, their share should not be more than 20% of the total capital.