Saudi Arabia: Artificial Lakes Cannot be Created

Saudi Gazette, 12 August 2021: Saudi Arabia’s Environment Water and Agriculture Ministry has announced artificial lakes cannot be created on farms.

These lakes are usually created for investment or recreational purposes.

Anyone who creates an artificial lake will be committing a violation of the water regulations.

The regulations aim to protect water resources, ensure their sustainability, rationalise their consumption and prevent future misuse.

The Ministry added they do not grant licenses to dig wells or lakes.

They went on to say they will take action against any violators.

Among other penalties, the license to use groundwater could be revoked for repeat offences.

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Saudi Arabia: 100% Saudisation of Malls Comes into Force

Saudi Gazette, 4 August 2021: The decision to implement total Saudisation in closed commercial complexes came into force on 4 August 2021 in all regions of the Kingdom.

This follows a ministerial decision to make all jobs in all activities and professions within malls and mall management offices available exclusively to Saudi citizens. However, this excludes a limited number of activities and professions, such as cafes and restaurants where the rate of Saudisation will be 50% and 40% respectively. Hypermarkets and supermarkets ae also covered within the exempt activities..

The decision was the first of three issued by Minister of Human Resources and Social Development in April, which aims to create 51,000 jobs for Saudi nationals in the employment market.

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Saudi Arabia: Air passengers to be fined up to 500k Riyals for COVID-19 Travel Ban Breaches

Arab News, 2 August 2021: The Saudi Public Prosecution office has warned it will impose fines of up to 500,000 Riyals on passengers breaching travel ban restrictions by boarding flights to countries which are heavily affected by COVID-19.

Similar penalties will also apply to operators or owners of the means of transportation.

Officials added that severe punitive measures would be taken against travellers who failed to disclose that they had visited any of the countries which were listed on the Kingdom’s COVID-19 travel ban list.

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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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