Qatar: Stock Exchange to Introduce Short Selling

Arab News, 23 June 2022: Qatar’s Stock Exchange has announced it is going to introduce short selling and securities lending and borrowing.

They will introduce it in the next quarter.

They are consulting with regulators and policy makers on these moves.

They added they have partnered with London Stock Exchange Group Plc to develop a new trading, clearing and market surveillance system which will allow the Exchange to launch a new derivatives market.

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Qatar: Draft Law Limiting the Use of Cash in Transactions Approved

The Peninsula, 15 June 2022: Qatar’s Cabinet has approved a draft law regulating the use of cash in transactions.

It aims to limit the use of cash in some transactions, which exceed a certain amount and to avoid risks related to dealing in some areas.

It has been referred to the Shoura Council to consider.

They also approved a draft law on the protection of victims witnesses, and other cooperating people.

It confirms the importance of providing the necessary protections to groups covered by protection, and in fulfilment of the relevant international agreements.

They also approved Emiri decisions on the organisational structures of Ministries and a draft Ministerial Decision approving 121 regional technical regulations as Qatari technical regulations.

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Qatar: New Advertising Guide Issued

Peninsula, 31 May 2022: Qatar’s Ministry of Municipality has launched the 2nd edition of its advertisement guide, which bans advertisements in certain locations and revises the rules and regulations governing advertisements more generally.

Under the new rules, an advertisement cannot be placed without first obtaining a licence from the respective municipality and paying charges and a security deposit.

The 89-page second edition of “Guide for Planning and Regulatory Requirements and Procedures for Advertising and Publicity Means in Qatar” states which types of advertising fall under its remit. These are any fixed, portable, traditional, e-signboards, whether they are temporary or permanent, which are used for an advertisement. It excludes advertisements in newspapers, magazines, journals, websites, radio, TV, and in cinemas.   

The guide bans advertisements in any form including placing, sticking, hanging or by constructing at places of worship, establishments and buildings which are of an archaeological or historical nature and their surrounding walls, plus on trees and plant containers, and traffic signboards and signals.

There must be a balance between Arabic and English texts, and accuracy of translation is also required.

According to Civil Defence, advertisements should not block ventilation equipment in a building or the surrounding buildings, rescue routes, and emergency exits and entrances.

The General Directorate of Traffic requires that advertisements should not be placed so that they hinder traffic flow in any way for different means of transportation or on pedestrian passages or use radiant lights which affect vision.

Designs of advertisements should also not be similar to the traffic signals and signs in terms of size, colour and shape. The Public Works Authority also requires that advertising boards set up on roadsides follow the design plan for the street.

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Qatar: Draft Decision Banning Single-use Plastic Bags Approved

The Peninsula, 25 May 2022: Qatar’s Cabinet has approved a draft Decision which would ban the use of single-use plastic bags in the country.

Under the Decision, institutions, companies and shopping centres would be banned from using single-use plastic bags in packaging, presenting, circulating, carrying or transporting products and all kinds of merchandise.

It was proposed by the Municipality Ministry.

Single-use plastic bags would also be replaced with multi-use plastic bags, biodegradable plastic bags, paper or woven bags and other biodegradable materials.

The Cabinet also approved a draft agreement on cancelling visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports between Qatar and Bangladesh. Also reported in Al-Sharq on 25 May 2022. For full story, click here.

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Qatar: Midday Work Ban Announced

Gulf Times, 25 May 2022: Qatar’s Labour Ministry has announced the dates of the midday work ban in the country.

Work in open outdoor and shaded places not equipped with appropriate ventilation stands will be banned between 10am and 3.30pm from 1 June to 15 September 2022.

Workers can return to work in the open outdoor workplaces after 3.30pm during this period.

The Ministry has started implementing awareness campaigns on the dangers of heat stress during working hours.

They have done so ahead of the enforcement of Qatar Ministerial Decision No. 17/2021 on the necessary precautions to protect workers from heat stress during summer.

Under the Decision, companies and institutions who have work sites under direct sunlight have to set a schedule specifying daily working hours in line with the Decision and place the schedule in a place which all workers can easily view.

Employers must assess the risks at work sites and conduct the necessary medical examinations for workers to ensure their health and be careful during this period.

They should also comply with the decision on necessary precautions to protect workers from the risk of heat stress.

Work sites which violate the Decision will be closed.

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Qatar: Compulsory Health Insurance Clarification Issued

Gulf Times, 19 May 2022: Qatar’s Government Communication Office has issued a compulsory health insurance clarification.

They have said the system covers non-Qatari workers in the public and private sectors.

This includes manual workers, craftsmen, domestic workers and visitors.

They issued the clarification following the approval of a draft Decision by the Cabinet on healthcare services regulation in the country.

The draft includes provisions related to the rights and obligations of healthcare services beneficiaries, insurance company and healthcare service provider obligations and supervision and control of healthcare services.

They added citizens will receive free-of-charge healthcare services at Government health facilities and health insurance will be mandatory to ensure the provision of basic healthcare services to expatriates and visitors.

They went on to say basic healthcare services include preventive, curative and rehabilitative services, as well as other services set out in the Implementing Regulations.

They said employers and recruiters will pay the premium to cover the basic services of their employees or recruits. In addition to basic services, employers and recruiters may also request additional services subject to additional costs.

Basic healthcare services for visitors include emergency and accident treatment services.

Under the regime, they said insurance companies must provide employers or recruiters with health insurance cards or an equivalent as well as offer hospitals and clinics tailored to them.

Former employees have to be removed from the insurance policy and employers and recruiters must follow the relevant procedures to notify the insurance company after the termination of the employment or recruitment contract.

If an employee or recruit fails to transfer their sponsorship under a new employer on the termination of their contract, the insurance coverage may be extended until the policy or the legally permitted period of residence expires, whichever comes first.

The obligations of employers and recruiters towards their employees and recruits begins from the date of their entry into the country or from the date of a worker’s sponsorship transfer under a new employer or recruiter.

These include contracting with one of the registered insurance companies to cover all employees and recruits and annually renewing the contract within the prescribed deadlines.

It also includes providing healthcare services to all workers and recruits during the period before residence is granted or transferred.

In addition, it includes providing the contracted insurance company with all the necessary information to register all beneficiaries. Also reported in Al-Sharq on 18 May 2022. For full story, click here and here.

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LexisNexis Middle East and D&C Legal Services hosted insightful webinars exploring trending legal topics within the Middle East and GCC

LexisNexis Middle East, in collaboration with D&C Legal Services, hosted three insightful webinars exploring trending legal topics within the Middle East and GCC.

The first webinar on ‘Growing and Protecting Your Brand in the Middle East and GCC’ took place on 28 September 2021 and provided attendees guidance on growing their brand and protecting it from improper use. Our expert speaker, Aurore Deeb, Senior Associate at D&C Legal Services, considered topics such as opposition, the registration process of trademarks, legal actions for infringement, unfair competition, and more.

The second webinar on ‘Intellectual Property, Social Media, and Google Ads’ took place on 19 December 2021. Our expert speaker, Rana Moustafa, Associate at D&C Legal Services, provided insights into the interconnection between social media and intellectual property. Topics such as digital policies on social media platforms, Google Ads, keywords advertising, were discussed.

The final webinar on ‘Global Legal Protection of Geographical Indications (GI)’ took place on 7 March 2022. During this webinar, GI and its international legal protection was discussed. Our expert speaker, Nasser Messaike, Associate at D&C Legal Services, explored GI in its entirety, including its security, enforcement, and more.

LexisNexis Middle East thanks D&C Legal Services for their constant support and partnership, making these webinars a success from the start.

Thank you for joining us while we continue to host these informative training and events. Visit www.lexis.ae/training-events/ to keep an eye out for future courses which are of interest to you.