Qatar: Draft Right to Information Law Reviewed

The Peninsula, 21 March 2022: Qatar’s Shoura Council has reviewed the draft right to information law.

It was referred to them by the Cabinet.

They have decided to refer it to the Council’s Legal and Legislative Affairs Committee to consider and report back on.

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Qatar: Fire and Life Safety Manual Launched

The Peninsula, 4 March 2022: Qatar’s General Directorate of Civil Defence has announced it has launched an updated fire and life safety manual.

The manual is contained in the Civil Defence Technical Requirements Manual 2022. It includes all of the engineering requirements related to prevention systems in buildings. It has also been updated to keep up with urban developments in the country.

The guidelines will be enforceable.

At the launch of the manual, the General Directorate of Civil Defence organised a technical workshop for specialists to introduce the design and construction requirements for fire prevention control systems. In addition, technological developments related to firefighting systems, conditions approved by the relevant authorities in the country and the updated technical requirements to improve safety and protection systems in buildings and facilities were also discussed in the workshop.

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Qatar: Fees for Investment and Trade Court Approved in Principle

The Peninsula, 10 February 2022: Qatar’s Cabinet has approved a draft Decision specifying the fees for lawsuits, requests and guarantees at the Investment and Trade Court.

The draft Decision has been approved as part of the implementation of the Investment and Trade Court Law.

It was promulgated by Qatar Law No. 21/2021.

They also approved a draft Decision amending Qatar Decision No. 73/2014 establishing the permanent committee to monitor fuel filling and storage stations in the country.

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Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre Amends Small Claims Regime

The Peninsula, 2 February 2022: Qatar’s International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre has announced it has amended its small claims regime.

The amendments are contained in Practice Direction No. 1/2022 which comes into force on 1 March 2022.

The amendments substantially reduce the time for a judgment to be reached.

The Centre has announced it will allocate small claims worth up to 100,000 Riyals to a specialist small claims track in the First Instance Circuit of the Court.

Filing fees will not be charged and new small claims will be determined on the basis of the papers or virtually via a remote hearing, instead of a physical hearing in Court.

Once a case has been allocated to the small claims track and issued by the Registry, a claimant will have seven days to serve the Claim Form and any supporting documentation on the defendant. Previously they had four months.

In another significant change, the defendant will now have 14 days instead of 28 days to respond.

The aim is to continue streamlining the judicial process for all of the parties.

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Qatar: Subsidised Commodities and Prices Decision Issued

Al-Sharq, 19 January 2022: Qatar’s Cabinet has decided to approve the draft law on determining the subsidised commodities and the maximum bracket for their prices and the groups of beneficiaries.

The aim is to continue Government support in terms of commodities and animal feed as a strategic option and implement Qatar Law No. 5/2017 on regulating the trading of subsidised commodities.

The Cabinet also approved a draft decision to amend amending Qatar Decision No. 32/2013 on naming the chairman and the members of the Grievances Committee in the Qatar Financial Markets Authority. For full story, click here.

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Qatar: Financial System Integrity Laws Being Considered

The Peninsula, 13 January 2022: The Director of Control and Development Department at the Administrative Control and Transparency Authority has announced laws to protect the integrity of the country’s financial system are being considered.

They aim to provide the right to access information and tackle conflicts of interest.

The aim is to keep up with relevant technological developments.

They made the announcement on the sidelines of the FinTech Summit Middle East.

The Summit was organised by the Qatar Association of Certified Public Accountants.

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Qatar: Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority (QFCRA) Proposes Amendments to Prudential Framework for Conventional QFC Authorised Banks

The Qatar Financial Centre Regulatory Authority has announced it has launched a consultation on the proposed Banking Business Prudential (Counterparty Credit Risk) and Miscellaneous Amendments Rules 2022. It ends on 31 March 2022.

Any amendments will be made to the Banking Business Prudential Rules 2014.

The prudential banking framework which applies to banks in the QFC is largely based on the international framework developed by the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision. In June this year, the Regulatory Authority issued a consultation paper on the Banking Business Prudential (Credit Risk and related Matters) Amendments Rules 2021. The Regulatory Authority did not include its proposals for rules concerning counterparty credit risk in that consultation.

The Regulatory Authority has now completed its work to develop draft Rules and is now proposing new prudential requirements for counterparty credit risk and exposures to central counterparties.

The Regulatory Authority is also proposing a minor change to the General Rules 2006 in terms of auditor appointment notification requirements. The aim is to clarify the notification requirements for when the appointment of an auditor ends.  Article 91 of the QFC Financial Services Regulations requires an auditor to notify the Regulatory Authority about all issues related to their employment.

In addition, the Regulatory Authority is proposing to clarify the FSR requirement in the GENE Rules so auditors are clear about the circumstances where the notification requirement applies. The consultation ends on 28 February 2022.

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Out Now! Qatar Business Law Review No. 02/2021

The QATAR Business Law Review No. 02/2021 is brought to you in Arabic and English by LexisNexis Middle East and the وزارة التجارة والصناعة Ministry of Commerce and Industry. In this issue:

• Recent Changes to the Commercial Companies Law, by Buthaina Al Hail, Legal Specialist, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• The Arbitration of Disputes Related to a Company’s Memorandum of Association, by Sarrah N. ElJaili (LL.M.), Associate, Hamad Al-Yafei Law Firm
• The Sole Proprietorship: Between Enactment and Reality, by Hassan Abdul Razzaq Al Sayed, Legal Specialist, Legal Affairs Department – Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• The Qatar Legislator: Between Attracting Foreign Investment and Combating Commercial Concealment, by Hilal Mohammed Al-Khulaifi, Director, Legal Affairs Department, Ministry of Commerce and Industry
• The Position of the Qatar Courts on Delay Interest, by Dr. Zain Al Abdin Sharar, Senior Legal Counsel – CEO Office, Qatar International Court
• Practical Guidance: QICCA Arbitration Checklist, by Joseph Lee, Lawyer, Pinsent Masons, Doha

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Qatar: Draft Social Insurance Law Approved

Al-Sharq, 24 November 2021: Qatar’s Cabinet has approved a draft Social Insurance Law.

It includes provisions on expanding insurance coverage to all private and public sector employees. It also includes provisions introducing a minimum threshold for pensions. It will be 15,000 Riyals. In addition, a housing allowance will be added to the subscription pool which will include the basic salary, social allowance and housing allowance.

They have also approved a draft Military Pension Law.

Military personnel will also have a special allowance added to their subscription pool.

Insured women will be exempt from the reduction of the pension if they resign if the resignation is due to having to look after a child or disability in line with specific conditions. For full story, click here.

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Meet the award winners from the 6th Qatar Business Law Forum held in Doha, Qatar!

Thank you to everyone who participated in the 2021 Qatar Business Law Forum Awards Ceremony!

LexisNexis Middle East is pleased to have hosted, in partnership with the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre – QICRDC (LexisNexis Strategic Alliance Partner), the 6th Qatar Business Law Forum Awards Ceremony!

Thank you to our Gala Dinner Sponsor, Pinsent Masons, for your support.

The Awards Ceremony sets out to recognise exceptional achievement within Qatar’s legal community. Please join us in congratulating this year’s winners:

Excellence in Teaching Award

Winner: Dr. Georgios Dimitropoulos, Associate Professor at Hamad Bin Khalifa University College of Law and Associate Dean for Academic Affairs, for originating and launching this fall HBKU Law’s fourth new degree program, the three-year Doctor of Juridical Science (S.J.D.).

Legal Department of the Year (Small team)

Winner: Barwa Real Estate Company

Highly Commended: Qatar Shell WLL

Legal Department of the Year (Large team)

Winner: Qatar Financial Centre Authority Legal Department

Legal Counsel of the Year

Winner: Abdullah Dohan AlShammari, Senior Legal Specialist, Qatar University Research Office

Highly Commended: Rosalie Tien (Qatar Shell WLL)

General Counsel of the Year

Winner: Dana Al Ansari, Group Director, Legal & Compliance, Barwa Real Estate

Highly Commended: Mona Daraei, Head of Legal, Siemens Energy WLL

ADR Team of the Year

Winner: Pinsent Masons

Highly Commended: Sultan Al Abdulla & Partners

Banking & Finance Team of the Year

Winner: Simmons & Simmons

Highly Commended: K&L Gates

Commercial Litigation Team of the Year

Winner: Hamad Al Yafei Law Firm

Highly Commended: DWF

Corporate & Commercial Team of the Year

Winner: Addleshaw Goddard

Highly Commended: K&L Gates

Employment Team of the Year

Winner: Hamad Al Yafei Law Firm

IPTMT Team of the Year

Winner: Al Sulaiti Law Firm

Highly Commended: Sultan Al Abdulla & Partners

Property & Construction

Winner: K&L Gates

Highly Commended: Pinsent Masons & Dentons

Sports Law Team of the Year

Winner: Al Ansari & Associates

Highly Commended: Al Sulaiti Law Firm

Regional Law Firm of the Year

Winner: Al Marri & El Hage Law Offices

International Law Firm of the Year

Winner: Pinsent Masons

Highly Commended: DLA Piper

Qatar Law Firm of the Year

Winner: Sultan Al Abdulla & Partners

Highly Commended: Hamad Al Yafei Law Firm

We look forward to welcoming you in 2022 for the 7th Qatar Business Law Forum!