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!

LexisNexis Hosts the 6th Qatar Business Law Forum in Doha, Qatar!

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

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 Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Qatar University (College of Law), and our exclusive Law Firm Partner, Al Sulaiti Law Firm, the 6th Qatar Business Law Forum Conference in Doha, Qatar.

The conference covered the latest legal developments and trends in Qatar and gathered leading professionals from the Qatari legal and business community. The following topics were covered over three sessions:

• First Session – Recent and Future Developments Qatar Law
  • A New Trade & Investment Court for Qatar
  • PPPs – The Story So Far
  • Global Hydrogen Policy Developments: An Update for Qatar
  • Roundtable: Recent and Future Developments in Qatar Law

• Second Session – Hot Topics in Compliance
  • Key Compliance Issues for Today’s In-House Counsel
  • Issues in Labour and Recruitment Law Compliance
  • Transitioning from LIBOR: Managing Compliance Risks
  • Corporate Registration: Practical Considerations for Engineering and Construction Companies
  • Roundtable: Compliance Issues and Trends for Today’s In-House Lawyers

• Third Session – Issues and Trends in Dispute Resolution in Qatar
  • Qatar Law and the Singapore Convention on Mediation
  • International Arbitration in a Virtual World
  • Expert Evidence and the Independence of the Expert in International Arbitration
  • Mediation Skills for Lawyers
  • Roundtable: Current Issues and Trends in ADR

Special thanks to our incredible speakers and moderators:

• Mubarak Al Sulaiti – Chairman, Al Sulaiti Law Firm
• Abdullatef Al-Mohannadi – Deputy Registrar, QICDRC
• Sultan Al Abdulla – Qatar Lawyers Association
• Benjamin Filaferro – Managing Director, LexisNexis Middle East & North Africa
• Amr Hossam – Legal Consultant, Al Sulaiti Law Firm
• Sean Khalid – Senior Legal Counsel, Barwa Real Estate Company
• James Douglass – Partner, K&L Gates
• Pawel Piotrowski – Partner, K&L Gates
• Huw Davies – Senior Legal Counsel, Qatar Free Zones Authority
• Susan Karamanian – Dean, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, College of Law and Public Policy
• Lauren Djedid – Senior Legal Counsel, Qatar Financial Centre Authority
• Raquel Ferreira – Senior Associate, Hamad Al Yafei Law Firm
• Muhammad Ameen Hashim – Head of Corporate & Contracts Department, Al Sulaiti Law Firm
• Simon Chan – Counsel, K&L Gates
• Paula Boast – Partner, Charles Russell Speechlys
• Hilary Bell – Assistant Professor, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, College of Law
• Sarrah ElJaili – Associate, Hamad Al Yafei Law Firm
• Kirk Durrant – Partner, DWF
• Rohit Singhal – Chief Executive Officer, Masin
• Dr. Zain Sharar – Senior Legal Counsel, QICDRC

Thank you to our partners and sponsors for your support:

• Qatar International Court & Dispute Resolution Centre – LexisNexis Strategic Alliance Partner
• Al Sulaiti Law Firm – LexisNexis Exclusive Law Firm Partner
• Ministry of Commerce & Industry – Partner
• Qatar University – Partner
• Aurifer Middle East Tax – Tax Partner
• K&L Gates – Platinum Sponsor
• Hamad AlYafei Law Firm – Platinum Sponsor
• DWF – Gold Sponsor
• Charles Russell Speechlys – Silver Sponsor
• Masin – Silver Sponsor
• Barwa Real Estate Company – Corporate Sponsor
• Qatar Free Zones Authority – Corporate Sponsor
• SADER Group – Bronze Sponsor
• Pinsent Masons – Gala Dinner Sponsor

Lastly, thank you to all attendees for making the conference a success. We look forward to welcoming you in 2022 for the 7th Qatar Business Law Forum!

Qatar: Draft Law on Control of Import, Export and Transportation of Rough Diamonds Approved

Al-Sharq, 3 November 2021: Qatar’s Prime Minister and Interior Minister has approved a draft law on the control of the import, export and transportation of rough diamonds.

They also approved a draft Decree approving the country’s accession to the Kimberley Process System on the issuing of rough diamond certificates.

They went on to approve a draft Ministerial Decision on the conditions and controls for granting a marine driving license and the circumstances in which it can be revoked.

Finally, they agreed to implement the necessary measures to ratify an agreement between Qatar and the UN on hosting the Fifth United Nations Conference on the Least Developed Countries. For full story, click here.

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Qatar: International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre’s Expanded Jurisdiction Comes into Force

The Peninsula, 21 October 2021: The Law expanding the jurisdictional remit of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre has come into force.

It came into force on 13 October.

The relevant provisions were contained in Qatar Law No. 15/2021. This Law amended Qatar Law No. 34/2005.

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Qatar: Law Establishing Investment and Trade Court Issued

Lusail, 19 October 2021: Qatar’s Emir has issued Qatar Law No. 21/2021 promulgating the law establishing the Investment and Trade Court.

It will be published in the Official Gazette and come into force six months after. For full story, click here.

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Qatar: Financial Centre Proposes Data Protraction Regulation Amendments

The Peninsula, 13 October 2021: Qatar’s Financial Centre has proposed amendments to the Centre’s Data Protection Regulations.

The amendments have been proposed to bring the Regulations into line with international developments.

The proposed amendments include adding a new article on the conditions for using consent as a legal basis for processing personal data as well as publishing a list of adequate jurisdictions in which data transfers are permitted without additional requirements. Other amendments propose establishing the Data Protection Office as an institution of the QFC. It would include a Commissioner. Finally, they propose introducing various remedies for individuals and the Data Protection Office and the right to lodge a complaint with the Office.

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Qatar: Draft Amendment to Anti-Money Laundering Law Approved

The Peninsula, 30 September 2021: The Qatari Cabinet has met with the Prime Minister and Minister of Interior and given its approval to a draft law which amends some provisions of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law Qatar Law No. 20/2019.

It has also approved a draft Cabinet decision which will amend some provisions of the executive regulations of the Anti-Money Laundering and Terrorist Financing Law, issued by Cabinet Resolution No. 41/2019.

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Qatar: Jurisdiction Remit Changes Announced

The Peninsula, 16 September 2021: The Qatari authorities have issued Qatar Law No. 14/2021 and Qatar Law No. 15/2021 to expand the jurisdictional remit of the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre.

Their remit has been expanded to cover the Qatar Free Zones and the Qatar Free Zones Authority and matters referred to the Court or Regulatory tribunal by any Law in the State.

The aim is to boost its position as a specialist judicial authority.

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