Saudi Arabia: Attorney General Launches New Prosecution Categories

Saudi Gazette, 30 September 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Attorney General has confirmed a number of new prosecution areas that have been added for the first time to the existing public prosecution system.

The Public Prosecution Council has approved these prosecutions that include the Cassation Prosecution, the Appeals Prosecution, and the Ethics Prosecution.

The new names of the branches and departments of the Public Prosecution after their renaming have been announced.

They include Traffic Prosecution, Environment Prosecution, Trafficking in Persons Prosecution, Cybercrimes Prosecution, Public Ethics Prosecution, Funds Prosecution, Family and Juvenile Prosecution, Drugs Prosecution, Economic Crimes Prosecution, Crimes Against Public Trust Prosecution, National Security Prosecution, Assault on Persons Prosecution, International Cooperation Prosecution, Public Prosecution, Prison Oversight Prosecution, and Inspection Prosecution.

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Saudi Arabia: Ministry of Justice digitises 50m title deeds

Arab News, 29 September 2021: The Saudi Ministry of Justice has digitised more than 50 million title deeds as part of the Real Estate Wealth Digitisation Initiative.

The service was launched as part of the ministry’s National Transformation Program 2020 initiatives. It is hoped the digitisation project will enhance property services and simplify property management procedures through the availability of central digitisation facilities. The digitisation process starts at the courts and notary public offices where documents are accounted for and compiled. The data is then entered and audited. Later documents are processed for transfer to the central digitisation facility for processes including restoration, photography, archiving, auditing and quality review.

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Saudi Arabia: Consultation on Proposed Amendments to Implementing Regulations to VAT Law Launched

Al Madina, 27 September 2021: Saudi Arabia’s General Authority of Zakat and Tax has announced it has launched a consultation on proposed amendments to the Implementing Regulations to the VAT Law.

If approved, taxpayers will be able to assign a third party to issue tax bills on their behalf.

Taxpayers should also issue a tax bill for goods supplies and services they provide to another person or to a legal one.

In addition, the tax bill should be issued according to the date of supply.

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Saudi Arabia: Foreign Investment Law Amendment Approved

Okaz, 19 September 2021: The Saudi Arabian authorities have approved amendments to the Kingdom’s Foreign Investment Law.

Under the amendments, specific standards to protect pioneering Saudi companies will be introduced.

They will also be developed and the rules and procedures for disposing of their shares reviewed.

For full story see https://www.okaz.com.sa/news/local/2082454.

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Saudi Arabia: New Data Protection Law Approved

Saudi Gazette, 14 September 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet has approved a new personal Data Protection Law.

It will protect personal data from unconsented collection and processing. It will be implemented within six months.

It will protect any personal data which might lead to the user being directly or indirectly identified from unconsented collection and processing.

Data for the purposes of the Law includes a user’s name, identification number, address, phone number, personal records, financial records and Images, videos or any other identifying data.

The aim is to ensure personal data remains private, the sharing of personal data is regulated and personal data is not abused.

Personal means of communication to market or awareness materials are not allowed unless the personal data owner approves it or a mechanism which enables them to express their desire to receive it or not exists.

Awareness materials sent by public authorities are exempt.

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Saudi Arabia: Government Ministers to be Banned From Being Board Members

Arab News, 12 September 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Government is going to ban Government ministers from being board members of private companies or leading boards of these companies.

They will only be able to lead them or be members of them if they have Government approval.

The aim is to reduce conflicts of interest in companies and improve governance.

Saudi Arabia Cabinet Decision No. A27/1421 will be amended to state ‘[No] minister is allowed to chair the board of any company or even serve as a member. This does not include those whose chairmanship or membership is by order of Prime Minister’.

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Saudi Arabia: Penalties Amended Under New Judicial Implementation Law

Saudi Gazette, 7 September 2021: The Saudi Arabian authorities are considering a new Judicial Implementation Law which will contain amended penalties for violations.

Under the Law, debtors will not be detained and electronic services will still be available to them.

Public sector employees who are involved in preventing or obstructing the implementation of verdicts will be jailed for up to five years. This will be considered an honesty offence.

In addition, there is a provision aimed at addressing the discrepancy between a travel ban order and a decision to terminate the residency permit or iqama of non-Saudi debtors.

Implementation procedures for court orders also ban financial dealings with those who have defaulted in carrying out financial rights.

Those facing proceedings under the Law should have their details announced as well as individuals who are suspected of financing them illegally.

Those who provide incorrect information will also commit an offence.

There will be a system to track illegal funds and the court will have more powers to track, interrogate, recover and invalidate these funds and transactions.

Orders on the seizure and enforcement of the funds owned by the State cannot be issued.

Similarly houses where the insolvent and their legal dependents live as well as their means of travel if their values do not exceed the amount of their solvency cannot be seized unless they are mortgaged to a creditor.

Verdicts on wages and salaries cannot be increased more than 50% of the total wage or salary in the verdict related to alimony debt. It cannot be more than 33.3% for other debts.

In both alimony and other debts, half of the total wage or salary will be allocated to the alimony debt and 33% to other debts.

If there are multiple debts, 33% of the other 50% will be distributed among the creditors in line with the Law and its Implementing Regulations.

An insolvent individual will also be able to continue practising their profession or their craft. They will also be able to carry out their personal obligations. The court will have to assess their solvency and decide on the amount of Government subsidies which can be extended to them.

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Saudi Arabia: Fines for Disregarding Passports Tightened

Okaz, 31 August 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet has announced it has approved an increase in the fines for individuals disregarding passports.

Under the new Cabinet Decision, a change of passport details or dismissing it will result in a fine of up to 100,000 Riyals.

Previously, fines for this offence were 5,000 Riyals.

The length of travel bans on offenders has also been extended from three to five years.

The same penalties will be applied on those who access the country from illegal terminals and those who enter or leave the country without a passport.

For full story see https://www.okaz.com.sa/news/local/2080557.

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Saudi Arabia: Articles of Incorporation Translation Service Launched

Saudi Gazette, 26 August 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Commerce Ministry has announced it has launched an articles of incorporation translation service.

The instant service will enable companies to obtain an electronic copy of the English translation of the articles of incorporation.

The aim is to reduce the time and effort in obtaining these documents.

The service can be accessed via https://mc.gov.sa/. Also reported in Al-Eqtisadiya on 26 August 2021. For full story see https://www.aleqt.com/2021/08/26/article_2159316.html

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Saudi Arabia: E-invoicing System Launched

Saudi Gazette, 25 August 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority has announced an e-invoicing system is going to be launched.

The FATOORAH system is aimed at promoting fair competition, tackling the black market and helping efforts to tackle anti-commercial concealment.

The system will be implemented in two phases.

The first phase will be launched on 4 December this year.

It will apply to taxpayers who are covered by the E-Invoice Regulation.

Tax invoices will have to be created and stored along with related debit and credit notices.

The second phase will be implemented gradually from January next year.

Taxpayers who are regulated by the FATOORAH regulation will have to stop issuing handwritten invoices, or invoices issued manually via text editing software. They will also have to be able to generate and store invoices electronically through a compliant e-invoicing system. This can be a cash register machine, a cloud system, or an enterprise resource planning software. The simplified tax invoices must include a QR code and tax invoices must include the VAT number of the buyer if the buyer is a registered VAT taxpayer.

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