Saudi Arabia: Three Year Travel Ban Imposed on Nationals who Travel to Banned Countries

Okaz, 27 July 2021: Officials from the Saudi Interior Ministry have confirmed that nationals who have travelled to banned countries will be subject to a travel ban.

It was stated that the Ministry has warned against travel to certain countries in order to contain and prevent the spread of the new variant of COVID 19. Nationals who are proven to have violated these guidelines could face travel ban for up to three years.

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Saudi Arabia: Electronic Calculator Service for Legal Deadline Launched

Almadina, 25 July 2021: The Board of Grievances has launched a new electronic calculator which will help calculate legal deadlines.

The service will help relevant parties know the deadlines for legal pleas against administrative decisions. It will enable the parties to determine the type of the administrative decisions and what is the legal deadline for appealing it. The aim of the new service is to help speed judicial procedure. 

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Saudi Arabia: Shadow Economy Crackdown Intensified

Arab News, 21 July 2021: The Saudi Arabian authorities have intensified their crackdown on those involved in the shadow economy.

It follows the introduction of an anti-commercial concealment law.

It is aimed at ensuring foreign investors operating in the Kingdom are licensed and operating under the right commercial arrangements.

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Saudi Arabia: Validity of Visas for Stranded Expatriates Extended

Saudi Gazette, 20 July 2021: Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports or Jawazat has announced the validity of visa for expatriates stranded abroad can be extended.

The iqama or residency permit and exit and re-entry visas of expatriates can also be extended to 31 August.

Visit visas will also be automatically extended.

There will be no fees for the extensions.

It will only apply to expatriates and foreigners from the nine countries where entry to the Kingdom is banned because of Coronavirus.

Affected individuals will not have to visit any Jawazat offices in person.

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Saudi Arabia: Ship Captains Must Obtain Professional Permits

Al Madina, 17 July 2021: Saudi Arabia’s General Transport Authority has announced it is preparing comprehensive marine transport regulations.

The regulations will include six conditions which need to be met by captains and sailors.

The Authority said the ship captains must obtain professional permits.

They should also provide their educational certificates and medical reports to prove their health competence.

For full story, click here.

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Saudi Arabia: New Female Footballer Regulations Approved

Gulf News (United Arab Emirates), 15 July 2021: According to local newspaper reports, Saudi Arabia’s Football Association has announced it has approved new female footballer regulations.

The new regulations amend existing regulations.

The amendments will allow a Saudi women’s football league and women’s teams to be created.

They protect the rights of female professional footballers who want to have children during their playing careers.

They include conditions agreed on by FIFA, FIFPRO and other stakeholders. They state female players will be treated the same as men, but they will be entitled to maternity leave during the contract’s term.

They will be paid at least two thirds of the contracted salary unless the local rules or collective agreements provide more favourable terms.

A contract will not be able to state a female player must not be pregnant or get pregnant during its their contractual term.

Their contract may not be suspended during their maternity leave, or deprive them of a maternity rights in general.

It is not clear how long the minimum maternity leave will be nor how long it will last before and after a child is born.

The number of professional players is also not clear and whether amateur players will be allowed to be admitted.

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Saudi Arabia: Banks Should Appoint Anti-commercial Cover-up Official

Saudi Gazette, 14 July 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Central Bank has announced banks should appoint an anti-commercial cover-up official.

They will be responsible for monitoring and reporting suspected cases.

They also have to report the suspected cases to the Director of the Department of Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorist Financing.

A Circular to this effect has been issued.

They should have the relevant expertise and competence in tackling commercial cover-up, money laundering and terrorist financing and in drafting policies and procedures necessary to tackle cover-ups and report these cases.

The policies and procedures include developing technical systems to detect suspected cover-ups as well as creating and developing scenarios for account control to tackle cover-ups.

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Saudi Arabia: Foreign Lawyers to be Allowed to Plead in Courts

Gulf News (United Arab Emirates), 7 July 2021: According to local newspaper reports, Saudi Arabia’s Cabinet has approved a Decision to allow foreign lawyers to plead in courts.

They will have to be licensed in the Kingdom and be basic members of the Saudi Bar Association.

They must have a degree from a Sharia college or a Bachelor of Law from one of the Kingdom’s universities or an equivalent of any of these degrees obtained from abroad, or a post-graduate diploma of legal studies from the Institute of Public Administration. They must also have at least three years of practical legal experience. This period may be reduced to one year for an individual who holds a Master’s degree in Sharia or in law, or an equivalent, or a post-graduate diploma in law for Sharia college graduates. This requirement will not apply to a holder of a doctorate in these specialist fields. They must be of good conduct and not under interdiction and must not have been subjected to any hadd or Qur’anic prescribed punishment or any other sentence in connection with a crime which impugns integrity, except where a minimum of five years has passed since the sentence was issued. Finally, they must be residents of the Kingdom.

They will be able to represent third parties before courts of law, the Board of Grievances and other committees set up by laws, decrees and decisions to consider the cases falling within their respective jurisdictions.

They can also provide consultancy services based on Sharia principles and the rule of law.

The Cabinet Decision has amended a requirement in the Saudi Code of Law Practice for lawyers to be a Saudi to practice law in order to be able to plead before courts.

Previously, law firms could only outsource foreign lawyers as legal advisors.

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Saudi Arabia: Early Retirement Scheme Suspended

Al Madina, 22 June 2021: Government institutions have been instructed to suspend the early retirement scheme for employees with an employment period of less than 25 years.

The new instructions were issued in line with a Cabinet Decision to merge the retirement institution with the General Organisation for Social Insurance.

A Cabinet Decision to introduce a united retirement scheme will be issued soon. For full story click here.

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Saudi Arabia: Mining Licenses to be Issued Next Year

Arab News, 18 June 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Vice Minister for Saudi Mining Affairs has announced mining licenses are going to be auctioned next year.

They will auction two major mining licenses for commodities including gold, copper and zinc.

The Kingdom is aiming to triple the sector’s contribution to national GDP to 240 billion Riyals and double the number of jobs to 470,000 by 2030.

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