Qatar Archives - Page 37 of 39 - LexisNexis Middle East

Qatar: Exit Permit Requirement for Foreign Nationals’ Departure from Qatar to be Abolished

22/10/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Interior Ministry and Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Ministry has announced the exit permit requirement for foreign nationals’ departure from Qatar will be abolished on 28 October 2018. The Ministry has also called on employers to submit lists of individuals who, based on the nature of their work, should continue to obtain their sponsor’s pre-approval before exiting Qatar. The number of these workers must not exceed 5% of the total headcount of the company.

News developments

Qatar: Free Media Zone to be Established

29/09/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Cabinet has approved the establishment of a free media zone aimed at attracting international media, technology companies and research institutions. The aim will also be to integrate activities with other state projects and support the establishment of investment funds focusing on media organisations. Media which will be supported will include digital, film and television. The Director of the Government Communications Office said the decision will allow foreign journalists to register in the zone. It follows the Cabinet’s recent approval of a draft law on freedom of the press.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: Foreign Workers in Qatar will No Longer Require an Exit Permit to Leave the Country

09/09/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

This week the spotlight is on legal developments in Qatar, where the country has announced they will no longer require exit permits for expatriates following an amendment to Article 7 of Qatar Law No 21/2015 by Qatar Law No. 13/2018.

Expatriates who are working in the country under the Labour Law will have the right to temporary or final exit from the country during the validity of their employment contract. Employers may submit a request to the Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs Ministry with the names of employees who would need a no objection certificate before leaving, with a justification based on the nature of their work. The number of workers under these restrictions will not exceed 5% of the company’s workforce.

In cases of expatriates being prevented from leaving the country for any reason, the expatriate will have the right to resort to the expatriate exit complaints committee. Its terms of reference and working procedures are also set out. The committee will decide on the grievance within three working days. For expatriates not subject to the Labour Law, the regulations and procedures for their departure from the country will be determined by the relevant Ministerial Decision.

News developments

Qatar: Anti-money Laundering Guidelines Issued

22/07/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Central Bank, Financial Markets Authority and Financial Centre Regulatory Authority have announced they have each issued guidelines to their financial institutions addressing critical areas of compliance with their anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing rules and requirements. The guidelines were prepared collectively by the regulators and aim to provide clear and consistent guidance to all relevant financial institutions regarding the steps required to comply with certain critical aspects of the different regulatory rules in these areas. The new guidelines specifically deliver detailed guidance for all financial institutions in these areas in terms of customer due diligence, correspondent banking, reliance on third parties, high risk jurisdictions, beneficial ownership issues and legal entity transparency. They also provide guidance on the regulators’ expectations for the risk-based systems and controls financial institutions are required to implement to tackle money laundering and anti-terrorist financing.

News developments

Qatar: Third Version of the Class Licence for Short Range Devices Issued

27/05/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority has announced it has issued the third version of the Class Licence for Short Range Devices. The issuing of the licence follows a public consultation in 2017 and will allow stakeholders to introduce new technologies and devices in the market. It will also allow them to prepare better for demands in the future. The new class licence includes new frequency bands for Short Range Devices for a wide range of M2M applications and a separate section for wireless access systems which includes radio local area network and radio microphone applications. It also includes the corresponding authorised frequency ranges and the maximum allowed output power. Anyone who gets this licence will be able to possess, install and operate for their personal use the approved class of devices at prescribed frequencies without having to apply for one. Those who are using them for non-commercial purposes will not have to pay licence or spectrum fees, but if they are using them for commercial purposes they will need to obtain import and type approvals from the Authority.

Weekly Spotlight

New Consultation Launched by the QFC Regulatory Authority to Amend General Rules

01/04/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

This week the spotlight is on regulatory developments in the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC), where the QFC Regulatory Authority has launched a consultation on proposals to introduce requirements for rule-based ongoing monitoring of close links and annual reporting of these links for QFC authorised firms. The consultation ends on 9 May 2018. These proposals are relevant to all QFC authorised firms and if approved would apply from July 2018.

The Regulatory Authority is proposing to amend the General Rules to include ongoing requirements relating to an authorised firm’s close links, including introducing systems and control requirements for the ongoing monitoring of changes to an authorised firm’s close links. They are also proposing requirements for authorised firms to submit an annual report to the Regulatory Authority about its close links (to be submitted with the annual controllers report). In addition they are suggesting a new definition for close links in Chapter 8 of the General Rules which would expand monitoring and reporting requirements to links between two or more persons who are linked through a holding or subsidiary company structure or through ownership or control of 10% or more of their voting rights or shares. Finally they are proposing clarifying the application of various Parts of Chapter 8 of the General Rules and consequential changes to the Interpretation and Application Rules 2005.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: draft law to regulate the investment of non-Qatari capital in Qatar

18/02/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

This week the spotlight is on legal and regulatory developments in Qatar, where the country’s Advisory Council has discussed a draft law to regulate the investment of non-Qatari capital in the country. The Council referred the draft law to the Finance and Economic Affairs Committee for further consideration and feedback. The Council also reviewed a request for a discussion on food security.

Elsewhere, the Advisory Council has reviewed several draft laws including a draft law on the organisation of business events. The Council also considered draft laws on establishing a national tourism council and a draft law to regulate tourism. The Council submitted its recommendations to the Advisory Council.

News developments

Qatar has approved a raft of draft Ministerial Decisions concerning the publication of the Official Gazette

20/01/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Cabinet has approved a raft of draft Ministerial Decisions to implement Qatar Law No. 12/2016 concerning the Official Gazette. The Decisions determine electronic publication controls for the Official Gazette, the controls, procedures and value of the annual subscription in the Official Gazette, the publishing fees, the mechanism of sending copies to subscribers, the prices of their sale to non-subscribers and the method of saving the original copies of editions of the Official Gazette.

News developments

Qatar: Extension of the grace period for compliance with the country’s 2016 Data Protection Law

06/01/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Qatar’s Emir has issued a Cabinet Decision extending the grace period for compliance with the country’s 2016 Data Protection Law (Qatar Law No 13/2016). The Emir also issued Qatar Cabinet Decision No. 2/2018 establishing a co-ordination committee for search and rescue mechanisms in civil aviation. The Decisions will come into effect on their issued date.

News developments

Qatar: Amendments to the country’s foreign ownership rules regarding property are being considered

10/12/201711/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Qatari authorities are understood to be considering amendments to the country’s foreign ownership rules regarding property in the country according to a monthly real estate report by SAK Holding Group. The new legislation is expected to involve amending the current law on ownership by non-Qataris. This law has been enforced for the last three years in 18 regions. The amendments are expected to be implemented in 2018.