We are pleased to share the latest edition of our tax magazine, Lexis® Middle East Gulf Tax, the first of its kind in the GCC! It is a complimentary magazine that provides updates on the GCC’s recent key tax and financial developments.

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In this edition:

Pillar 2 – How might OECD’s Pillar 2 affect GCC businesses?

OECD’s Pillar 2 Module, which ensures large multinational enterprises pay minimum tax levels on income, will impact taxpayers across the globe. Rami Alhadhrami of BDO Kuwait looks at how it might affect GCC businesses.

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The first 100 days… as Head of Tax

With the recent tax changes in the Middle East, tax recruitment specialists have seen more businesses wanting to hire their first-ever Middle East In-house Head of Tax. Conor McHugh of Alchemy Search and Siegert Slagman, a Head of Tax, share their experiences recruiting these roles and the crucial first 100 days in the post.

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Practical Focus on Double Taxation Agreements

With effect from 1 January 2020, Saudi Arabia and the UAE have implemented a treaty to avoid double taxation. Zain Satardien of Hourani & Partners shares practical points on this Double Taxation Treaty (DTT), how it provides significant advantages for businesses operating in the two contracting states, and how it aims to avoid double taxation and prevent tax evasion.

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Managing Challenges and Change with Technology

Nitin Agarwal, Head of Taxation at Majid Al Futtaim Carrefour UAE, talks about how successful major transformation projects have made him more confident and prepared to deal with future tax changes and challenges.

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Practitioner Perspective on Excise Tax

Michel Ruitenberg of Crowe looks at how Excise Tax, an important compliance area for retail businesses, has changed in the UAE and the differences in how it operates there to other GCC countries.

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Am I eligible for World Cup tax exemptions?

Qatari authorities are granting special World Cup Tax Exemptions, but who is eligible and for what? Thomas Vanhee of Aurifer Middle East Tax answers these questions and more!

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Special thanks to Alchemy Search for supporting tax professionals by connecting businesses with talent across the GCC and beyond!

Want to receive future editions? Subscribe here!

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

Have you read the Lexis® Middle East Gulf Tax – Summer and Autumn 2022 editions? Click the links below to access and read this edition.

We are pleased to share the latest edition of our HR magazine, the Lexis® Middle East – HR Alert!

The HR Alert is a complimentary magazine that updates the latest labour and employment law developments and cases and advises on region-specific HR policies and templates.

It also includes interviews with leading regional HR professionals and guidance on the latest industry trends.

In this edition:

When I’m Sixty-Four: New Pensions Legislation in Qatar

On 3 January 2023, Qatar Law No. 1/2022 will introduce changes to the pension rights of all working Qatari nationals. Emma Higham of Clyde & Co explains their current understanding of the impact this will have on employers and employees

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Quiet Quitting: Has this global trend reached the UAE?

Quiet quitting occurs when an employee decides that they will undertake the bare minimum to carry out their duties. Thenji Moyo and Naba Noor of Gateley UK LLP (DMCC Branch) talk about this trend in the UAE and positive ways to tackle it.

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Immigration Focus: Recent GCC Immigration and Visa Changes

The dynamic team at Vialto Partners share the latest immigration and visa changes in the region, including the latest developments relating to the UAE Job Exploration Visas. From 3 October 2022, a new type of visa has allowed job seekers to enter or remain in the UAE without needing a sponsoring employer. It allows individuals to come to the UAE to look for work or investment and business opportunities without a sponsoring host.

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Law Changes: Employee Share Schemes and Remuneration Developments in Saudi Arabia

The new Saudi Companies Law, which comes into effect in January 2023, brings with it changes to employee share schemes and directors’ remuneration as Richard Bell and Faisal Alassiri of Clyde & Co explain.

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In an Ever-Changing World

Madelein du Plessis, HR and Finance Officer at RELX PLC in Dubai, explains the approach she has taken to support an ever-expanding team in a continually changing regulatory environment.

On the other hand, Raka Roy of Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants explains how leave entitlements have changed under the new UAE Labour Law.

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Equality Policies

Sarah Malik of SOL International Ltd shares pointers for employers on how they can ensure their equality policies cover all types of discrimination, bullying, harassment, assault, and any verbal, physical, or psychological harm to an employee in the workplace in order to be compliant with Federal Decree-Law No 33/2021 On the Regulation of Labour Relations.

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Want to receive future editions? Subscribe here!

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

Have you read the Lexis® Middle East HR Alert – June and September 2022 editions? Click the links below to access and read these editions.

We are pleased to share the latest edition of our law magazine, the Lexis® Middle East – Law Alert!

The Law Alert is a complimentary magazine that keeps readers updated on the MENA region’s legal, financial and fiscal developments and hot topics.

In this edition:

Welcome Change: Saudi Arabia’s new Companies Law

A new Saudi Companies law has brought changes and innovations which, as Edoardo Betto and Thamer Alzayer of Hourani & Partners explain, look likely to support the Kingdom’s booming venture capital market.

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Firm Foundation: Real estate developments in the UAE

Two new laws have been issued in Dubai to support real estate investment; Mohammed Kawasmi of Al Tamimi & Company looks at their impact and other recent changes to real estate regulations there.

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In-House Profile: All Change

Sultan AlJadeed, Director of Legal Affairs of Hungerstation talks about what it is like working in an industry where having a fast response to regulatory change is critical.

On the other hand, Taha H Tawawala of Amer Al Marzooqi Advocates & Legal Consultants LLC-SO examines how the regulatory landscape is changing for delivery companies like Mrsool, Jahez and Hungerstation.

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Focus on Funding

With third-party funding gaining pace, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of institutions prepared to finance arbitrations. Ritambhara Singh, Amira Salah, and Sriranjini Garegrat of Al Moayed Chambers explore the position of third-party funding in Bahrain.

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Contract Watch: Sub-leasing Contracts

Gerry Rogers of Galadari Advocates & Legal Consultants explores the critical considerations concerning leasing and property laws in the UAE.

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We thank Aurifer Middle East Tax for keeping their finger on the pulse of tax developments across the region and Jameson Legal for supporting movers and shakers across the region.

Thanks also to the dynamic team at Wasel & Wasel Arbitrator Services Inc. for flying the flag for arbitrators.

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Want to receive more content? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

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

Have you read the Lexis® Middle East Law Alert – July/August 2022 edition? Click the link below to access and read this edition.

We are pleased to share the latest edition of our HR magazine, the Lexis® Middle East – HR Alert!

The HR Alert is a complimentary magazine that updates the latest labour and employment law developments and cases and advises on region-specific HR policies and templates.

It will also include interviews with leading regional HR professionals and guidance on the latest industry trends. In this edition:

When the Heat is on!

With the Qatar Ministry of Labour and Public Health Department issuing new guidelines on heat stress, Emma Higham and Corrine Sobers of Clyde & Co explain what employers in Qatar need to do to comply with the law on working in the heat.

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Don’t Bank on It

Damian Burleigh of Acuity Knowledge Partners examines outsourcing in the Middle East and how it affects regional banks.

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Law Changes: Whose Right Is It Anyway?

Who has copyright rights when an employer/employee relationship or employer/freelancer is involved? Noor Hasan of Gowling WLG examines the fundamental rules.

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Saudisation

Nadia Malaika, HR Director for Saudia Dairy & Foodstuff Company (SADAFCO), talks about the importance of Saudisation in their sector and its implementation.

On the other hand, Anas A Akel of Hourani & Partners talks about specific Saudisation challenges and opportunities in the manufacturing sector.

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Social Media Policies

Rana Moustafa of D&C Legal Services shares pointers for getting a well-drafted social media policy in place to protect employers and ensure employees better interact with these platforms.

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Want to receive future editions? Subscribe here!

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

We are pleased to share the third edition of the MENA Business Law Review, the definitive business law reference in the Middle East and North Africa! In this edition:

ARBITRATION: Outcome-Related Fees Structures for Arbitration the UAE by Dr Tariq Mahmood FCIArb (33 Bedford Row), James Ng (Zhong Lun Law Firm) and Usama Munir (Schleuter Graf)

We explore the basic features and types of outcome-related fee structures (ORFS) for dispute funding and provide a detailed analysis of the UAE legal landscape of the acceptability of ORFS in arbitration proceedings.

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LITIGATION: Comment on IPGL General Trading v. Horton Holding by Anson Cheung, Outer Temple Chambers

We share comments on this case, which raised interesting issues regarding the application and scope of the Duomatic principle to acts assented to by shareholders, with far-reaching practical consequences for a common practice in the UAE.

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COMPANIES: A Guide to Saudi Arabia’s New Companies Law by Dr Qaisar Hamed Metawea, Lamisse Bajunaid, and Aziza Al Abbasi (Dr Qaisar Metawea Law Firm)

In this article, we provide a guide to the main areas of reform in Saudi Arabia’s new Companies Law concerning commercial and non-profit entities and analyse the impact of these reforms.

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The New Regulation of Musataha Agreements over Commercial Land in the Emirate of Dubai by Jeremy Scott, Addleshaw Goddard (Middle East) LLP

In this article, we look in more detail at musataha arrangements in Dubai and assess the changes made regarding granting musataha rights over commercial land by government or government-related entities against its stated objectives.

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CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: Solution to Executive Succession in UAE Family Businesses: The Board of Directors by David Chekroun (ESCP Business School), Megha Bansal (Deloitte) and Tanya Bansal (Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (ADDED))

This article assesses the rules and regulations regarding the corporate governance of family-owned businesses in the UAE, including the composition of the Board and its role in succession planning undertaken by the Nomination and Remuneration Committee. It also sets forth a series of recommendations on empowering the Board to facilitate a smooth transition of power amongst family businesses.

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CYBERSECURITY: Financial Crime Challenges as We Enter Internet 3.0 by Karl Massi, Charles Russell Speechlys

The developing “crypto-economy” will become a significant part of the real economy in a very short time. This new digital mechanism for assigning, buying, selling and transferring assets brings with it novel issues regarding financial crime risk and security while mirroring some of the same vulnerabilities of the real economy. This article will explore some of the critical areas and how the UAE approaches them.

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Want to receive more content? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

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

Have you read the previous editions of the MENA Business Law Review? Click the links below to access and read previous editions.