Saudi Arabia: Private Sector Entities Urged to Complete Employment Contract Documentation

Saudi Gazette, 13 November 2023: Saudi Arabia’s Human Resources and Social Development Ministry has urged private sector entities to complete the employment contract documentation procedures for their Saudi and non-Saudi employees via the Ministry’s Qiwa platform.

The Ministry has specified the compliance percentages required by establishments in terms of contract documentation, based on the total number of employees the establishment has.

• 20% of contract documentation had to be completed by the end of the first quarter of this year.

• 50% of contract documentation had to be completed by the second quarter of this year.

• 80% of contract documentation had to be completed by the third quarter of this year.

Only those establishments who completed 80% or more of contract documentation by the end of the third quarter will be able to benefit fully from the Ministry’s services.

The contract documentation service enables employers to upload and update employee contract information in an automated and easy way.

It also allows employees to verify the validity of their contract data. If both parties agree, the contract will be considered documented and approved by the Ministry.

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Saudi Arabia: Special Economic Zones Centre to be Established

Arab News, 6 November 2023: Saudi Arabia’s Royal Commission for Riyadh City has announced it is going to establish a Special Economic Zones Centre.

The Centre will help the Commission oversee the special economic zones in Riyadh City.

It will have its own financial and administrative independence, which will allow it to develop new economic zones in Riyadh.

It will be responsible for granting licences to investors in these zones and will offer comprehensive services based on international best practices.

This will facilitate the recruitment of national and international talent and expertise to work with the new businesses and firms in the Centre.

It will also support Riyadh’s transformation into one of the world’s largest city economies. It will do this by creating a competitive regulatory environment for a broad range of economic activities.

It is being established in line with national economic diversification goals.

The Centre will cooperate with the Royal Commission for Cities and Special Economic Zones to develop strategies for the economic areas.

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Saudi Arabia: New Shipping Service Announced

Nuom News, 30 October 2023: Saudi Arabia’s General Ports Authority or Mawani has announced the launch of a new shipping service.

CMACGM has launched a new India Gulf Express shipping service to King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam.

The new shipping service connects King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam with seven regional and international ports including Nhava Sheva, Mundra and Mangalore in India, Colombo in Sri Lanka, Jebel Ali and Khalifa in the UAE and Umm Qasr in Iraq.

It will operate four ships a week, with a total capacity of up to 9,800 containers.

It will improve the operational capabilities of King Abdulaziz Port in Dammam.

It will boost trade and export activity and increase the Kingdom’s links with global markets.

In addition to improving economic growth by reducing the time required for imports and exports, it will also reduce the cost of sea freight to and from the Kingdom’s ports, in line with the National Strategy for Transport and Logistics Services.

Click here to read more.

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Saudi Arabia: Major Visa Change Announced

Saudi Gazette, 23 October 2023: Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports or Jawazat has announced a major visa change.

They have urged holders of all types of visit visas, who are staying in the Kingdom, to strictly comply with the visa rules and regulations and extend it seven days before it is due to expire.

They can do so electronically via the Absher Afrad or Absher Aamal portals and the Muqeem e-portal.

This means they do not need to visit the Jawazat offices in person.

When they are renewing their visa, they should also make the relevant payment and ensure they have valid medical insurance.

Any beneficiaries who face difficulties in utilising the e-service can submit a request to the Jawazat via its communication service on the Absher platform. A specialist team at the directorate will examine the case and notify the beneficiary of the status via text message.

However, the visit visa cannot be extended for more than 180 days.

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Saudi Arabia: Facility Management Regulation to be Introduced Early Next Year

Arab News, 16 October 2023: The CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Real Estate General Authority has announced it will introduce a first-of-its-kind facility management regulation early next year.

It will be introduced in the first quarter of 2024 as part of the Authority’s commitment to standardising and regulating facility management operations.

It is aimed at overseeing real estate facilities and transforming the housing sector.

It is also aimed at improving the sector’s trustworthiness and investment appeal.

They made the announcement during their address to the Middle East Facility Management Association Confex 2023.

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Saudi Arabia: Call for Tax Fines Exemption Initiative to be Utilised

Arabian Business, 9 October 2023: Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has urged individuals and businesses to take advantage of a tax fine exemption scheme.

The Kingdom’s Finance Ministry announced it had published a guide to an initiative to apply for the exemption of fines before the end of this year in September this year.

The initiative aims to mitigate the financial implications arising from COVID-19 that affected companies.

It discusses the exemption from fines resulting from late registration in all tax laws and regulations.

It includes the exemption from delayed payment fines and overdue tax return submission and exemption from the VAT return correction penalty.

However, the conditions for taxpayers who could benefit from the initiative still apply.

The seven-month initiative was launched on 1 June 2023 and ends on 31 December 2023.

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Saudi Arabia: Vehicle Insurance Violations Now Being Monitored Electronically

Saudi Gazette, 1 October 2023: Saudi Arabia’s General Traffic Department has announced vehicle insurance violations are now being monitored.

Violations will be committed where the owners of vehicles don’t have valid insurance.

Violations will be monitored every 15 days across the Kingdom.

Owners of vehicles without valid insurance will be fined between 100 and 150 Riyals.

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Saudi Arabia: Final Version of Artificial Intelligence Principles Approved

Saudi Arabia’s Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority has announced it has approved the final version of the Artificial Intelligence Principles. They made the announcement via social media.

The Authority has analysed global practices and standards to develop these Principles. They are designed to help entities adopt standards and ethics when building and developing Artificial Intelligence-based solutions to ensure their responsible use and protect the privacy of data subjects and their rights with respect to the collection and processing of their data.

It will apply to all Artificial Intelligence stakeholders designing, developing, deploying, implementing, using, or being affected by Artificial Intelligence systems in the Kingdom. This will include public entities, private entities, non-profit entities, researchers, public services, institutions, civil society organisations, individuals, employees and consumers.

The Principles cover Fairness, Privacy and Security, Humanity, Social and Environmental Benefits, Reliability and Safety and Transparency and Explainability and Accountability and Responsibility.

The final version has introduced a new Artificial Risks section. This outlines the categories of risks associated with the use of Artificial Intelligence. There are four categories. These are little or no risk where no restrictions will be placed on Artificial Intelligence provided those systems are ethically compliant. There is also a limited risk category where Artificial Intelligence systems will be subject to the Principles. In addition, there is a high-risk category. Artificial Intelligence systems must undergo pre- and post-conformity assessments, consider the relevant statutory requirements and comply with Artificial Intelligence ethics in this category. Finally, there is an unacceptable risk category. These Artificial Intelligence systems cause harm to people’s safety, livelihood and rights are not allowed.

The new Principles also state Principle 5 on Reliability and Safety, in deployment and monitoring will be adopted. This means continuous monitoring is required to assess the alignment of an Artificial Intelligence model’s operations with its design and frameworks while ensuring the system’s safety to prevent malicious exploitation of data and results that could harm entities or individuals. Ongoing implementation and development efforts are necessary to maintain the system’s reliability over time.

The Authority is responsible for reviewing and updating the Artificial Intelligence ethics principles and monitor compliance with them. It will also develop the necessary national guides, standards and directives to ensure the effective management of Artificial Intelligence and ensure the goals are met.

The latest version includes Optional Registration as well. The aim is to encourage relevant entities to adopt Artificial Intelligence ethics when developing these systems.

Motivational Badges have also been added. This means the Authority may grant entities implementing the principles motivational badges that reflect the level of compliance and progress on Artificial Intelligence ethics implementation.

Finally, as part of the Artificial Intelligence Ethics tools, particularly privacy and security standards, the ISO 23894 risk standard has been explicitly defined along with the standards issued by the Saudi Standards and Metrology Organisation. ISO 23894 provides guidance on how organisations that develop, produce, deploy or use products, systems, and services deploying Artificial Intelligence can handle Artificial Intelligence risks. In addition, the final version has introduced additional data protection methods like data loss prevention, data governance and data minimisation.

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