Bahrain: New Comprehensive Electronic Property Registration System

Al Bilad Press, 18 April 2025: Bahrain has introduced a digital property registration system, revolutionising the real estate sector with enhanced transparency and efficiency.

The electronic registration system allows users to submit applications and pay fees online, offering significant flexibility. It enables immediate property transfer on meeting requirements simplifying procedures while ensuring transparency in real estate operations.

The bureau has also developed an “Electronic Workflow System,” which is a platform that uses QR codes, barcodes, and scanning. It connects personal data and commercial records with government systems and uses Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to significantly reduce the time required for property transfers.

They have also introduced an internally developed Real Estate and Geographic Information System, which contains detailed data on over 300,000 properties across Bahrain. This system provides a historical record of property registrations dating back over a century and supports the production of precise research and geographic reports.

Among the new digital services launched is the “Ownership Statement,” which is automatically issued after property transfer fees are paid, with a download link sent to the registered phone number. This service allows users to complete certain transactions with other entities before the final document is issued and enables citizens to easily access property ownership data, download survey certificates, and locate properties via a QR code.

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Kuwait: Municipal Committee Considers Agricultural Land Amendments

Arab Times, 13 April 2025: Kuwait’s Municipal Council has considered proposed agricultural land amendments.

The Kuwait Municipal Council’s Technical Committee held its 22nd meeting, at which it considered amendments to agricultural land regulations.

The proposed amendments to the agricultural land regulations have been requested by the Minister of State for Municipal Affairs. They include changes to building ratios in areas such as Wafra, Abdally, and Sulaibiya. The amendments propose limiting construction to 10% of the plot area, and there would be specific guidelines for residential buildings, family rest houses, and workers’ residences. Additional regulations would cover building reserves, maximum heights for structures, and setback requirements.

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Bahrain: Commercial Law Amendments on Bounced Cheques

Nabad, 14 April 2025: Bahrain’s Shura Council has proposed amendments to the Commercial Law (Bahrain Decree-Law No. 7/1987) to improve trust in commercial transactions and regulate cheque issuing.

The amendments, aim make the processing of cheques easier and facilitate their circulation, while safeguarding the rights of cheque holders or beneficiaries.

They will allow partial cheque payments where cheques bounce. Cheque holders will be able to collect part of the cheque amount if the full balance is unavailable, and will also have the option to re-present the cheque for the remaining amount. Banks will be required to honour cheques fully or partially when funds are available and will not be able to refuse payment if requested by the account holder or cheque bearer.

The amendments would also require banks to withhold cheque payments entirely or partially where they have received objections involving loss or damage. The Bahraini Central Bank will be authorised to issue decisions on alternative methods for proving partial payments, aside from cheque endorsements, and to regulate conditions and procedures for implementing partial cheque payments.

Cheque holders will be able to seek recourse against issuers and endorsers if the cheque is not fully paid on timely presentation, provided non-payment is documented by protest or other legal means. Cheques marked as having insufficient funds or a partial payment will be considered enforceable under civil and commercial execution laws, and the Minister of Justice will be authorised to regulate execution rules and procedures following approval from the Supreme Judicial Council.

The amendments will also criminalise the issuing of blank cheques for use as credit or guarantee instruments, and will impose fines ranging from 200 to 2,000 dinars for issuing these types cheques. Individuals who fill in and present blank cheques for payment will face fines of at least 10% of the recorded amount, up to twice that amount, with a minimum fine of 500 dinars and a maximum of 10,000 dinars.

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Bahrain: National Assembly Considers Extending Maternity Leave to 70 Days

Al Bilad Press, 9 April 2025: The Bahraini National Assembly has been considering a proposal to extend maternity leave for female government employees to 70 days.

The proposal aligned with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 5 on gender equality.

However, the proposal also raised concerns about potential disruptions to operational schedules in government agencies, especially in critical roles, which may lead to a need to temporary restructure or hiring substitutes. There have also been concerns about increased public expenditure to cover salaries during the extended leave.

The proposed 70-day leave aligns with practices in Saudi Arabia and Jordan, while other countries such as the UAE, France, and Sweden offer longer maternity leave periods. Egypt is currently considering increasing its maternity leave to 90 days.

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Kuwait: Municipality Plan to Address Encroachments

Kuwait Times, 27 March 2025: Kuwait Municipality has reaffirmed its commitment to addressing encroachment of state property.

The municipality now has a comprehensive field plan in coordination with relevant authorities to remove violations in the Taima and Sulaibiya areas. A Municipality Spokesperson stated an extensive campaign is set to be launched after violators had been given prior warnings issued that they have unlawfully exploited state land, obstructed public services, and are posing security concerns. The inspection drive is being carried out by the municipality’s encroachment monitoring teams and a range of government entities, including the Ministry of Interior’s Environment Police and the Ministry of Electricity, Water, and Renewable Energy.

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Kuwait: Strict Penalties for Money Laundering Violations

Arab Times, 24 March 2025: A resolution has been implemented imposing fines up to 10,000 dinars for money laundering violations.

Kuwait Ministerial Decision No. 25/2025, covers penalties and procedures for violations related to money laundering and terrorist financing. The resolution targets designated non-financial businesses and professions (DNFBPs) and categorises violations into three risk levels: low, medium, and high. Penalties range from written warnings and license suspensions to fines between 500 and 10,000 Kuwaiti dinars.

The resolution relates to Kuwait Law No. 106/2013 on combating money laundering and terrorist financing. Low-risk violations, such as failure to comply with due diligence for invoices under 3,000 dinars, will result in warnings or license suspensions. Medium-risk violations, including handling cash amounts exceeding 3,000 dinars, will lead to fines ranging from500 to 3,000 dinars. High-risk violations, such as failing to notify authorities about sanctioned individuals, carry fines between 4,000 and 10,000 dinars, with repeat offenders facing potential business bans.

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Kuwait: New Traffic Law, Community Service and Stricter Penalties

Arab Times, 12 March 2025: Kuwait’s recently enacted Kuwait Decree-Law No. 5/2025 introduces significant amendments, including alternative penalties that can replace traditional sanctions at the discretion of the judiciary.

This new approach allows judges to convert penalties into community service, which is tailored to the violator’s profession and qualifications.

Such service can last up to a year, requiring eight hours of work per day without pay.

In cases where a serious violation results in damage to public property, the violator may be required to repair the damage at their own expense.

Judges also have the authority to impose multiple service penalties, which take effect immediately upon the issuance of the ruling.

The law maintains vehicle impoundment in 27 cases, but introduces “physical impoundment,” where a tracking device is installed in the vehicle, and fees are imposed based on the violation.

If the conditions of spatial impoundment are violated, a fine of 50 dinars is imposed, and the vehicle is moved to a traffic impoundment garage.

Additional fines apply if the tracking device is damaged or lost. Violating physical impoundment is considered a serious offence, requiring the violator to designate a fixed location for the vehicle.

A regulatory decision will soon limit the number of vehicles citizens and residents can own before the new traffic law takes effect on 22 April 2025.

Concerns about potential discrimination have been addressed, clarifying that these measures are within the state’s sovereign authority to regulate in the public interest.

The accuracy of AI cameras in detecting violations is reported to be 99%, with human oversight ensuring precision.

Violations such as not wearing a seatbelt, using a mobile phone, exceeding speed limits, or placing children in the front seat are documented by AI and reviewed by humans.

Notifications are sent to violators within 48 to 72 hours.

Citizens and residents can file complaints about violations through the Ministry of Interior’s “Sahl” application or by visiting the Violations Investigation Department.

Complaints are thoroughly reviewed, and violations may be canceled if the claimant’s rights are proven.

Ministry patrols are equipped with cameras to verify claims of wrongful violations, ensuring the rights of both security personnel and violators are protected.

Addressing concerns about the severity of fines under the new law, it has been clarified that Kuwait’s fines are not the highest among neighbouring countries, with some GCC countries imposing stricter penalties.

The General Traffic Department conducted extensive studies and public opinion polls before finalising the law, which was reviewed by the judiciary, the Fatwa and Legislation Authority, and the Public Prosecution.

The resulting fines aim to deter reckless driving and serious violations, such as running red lights, which endanger lives.

The 2025 Unified Traffic Week for GCC countries will carry the slogan “Driving without Accidents,” continuing the theme from 2024.

It has been highlighted that most accidents result from driver inattention, often due to mobile phone use.

Under the new law, settlement orders for violations now range from 15 to 150 dinars, up from the previous range of 5 to 50 dinars.

Habitual violators, especially those committing serious offences, will be referred to court without the option of settlement.

Vehicle owners are held responsible for violations, even if someone else was driving at the time.

If a vehicle owner disputes a fine, they must identify the driver during the violation.

An example was shared of a woman fined 30,000 dinars for violations committed by her son’s friends, who were driving her vehicle without her knowledge.

Drivers and front-seat passengers are required to wear seat belts, with vehicle owners held accountable for compliance.

With the new law’s implementation, patrols and control rooms have observed increased adherence to seat belt regulations.

It is now rare to see drivers or passengers without seat belts.

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Kuwait: Minister Inspects Cooperative Societies in Jahra for Regulation Compliance

Arab Times, 6 March 2025: The Minister of Social Affairs, Family, and Childhood Affairs has conducted a visit to several cooperative societies in Jahra Governorate to assess their adherence to ministerial regulations during the holy month of Ramadan.

This visit is part of ongoing efforts to maintain price stability, ensure the availability of high-quality essential products, and enforce laws and regulations in cooperative markets for the benefit of both shareholders and consumers.

During the visit, the minister engaged with officials from the cooperative societies to discuss the mechanisms in place for price control and the availability of Ramadan-related products.

The minister has assured them that the ministry will continue to monitor the performance of these societies to ensure the best possible services for shareholders and consumers.

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