UAE Archives - Page 70 of 93 - LexisNexis Middle East

Dubai: Agreement signed to enable special visas and residency permits to be issued

15/01/202115/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs in Dubai or GDRFA-Dubai and the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing or Dubai Tourism have announced they have signed an agreement to enable special visas and residency permits to be issued. This includes the issuing of Distinguished Guests and Virtual Working programmes, Golden Visas for investors and retirement visas. The agreement also covers processes like application assessment procedures. In addition, it covers cruise ships and yachts to facilitate entry and exit procedures for crew members and passengers. Under the agreement, both organisations will implement joint activities. This includes marketing programmes. They will also share expertise and best practices. Employees of both entities will also receive training under joint annual programmes. Dubai Tourism will also offer two GDRFA employees the chance to join a Diploma programme offered by the Dubai College of Tourism for free.

News developments

Abu Dhabi: Civil Court has ordered a woman to pay financial compensation for moral damages

15/01/202115/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Abu Dhabi’s Civil Court has ordered a woman to pay 10,000 AED in moral damages caused to another woman. They insulted the woman over the phone which included phrases which insulted her honour. The Public Prosecution Office had referred the defendant to the Criminal Court. They charged her and requested she pay 5,000 AED. However, the claimant filed a complaint with the Civil Court requesting the defendant pay 50,000 AED in compensation for the moral and material damages she caused her and request she pay lawyer fees and costs. The Court of First Instance confirmed in its judgment the estimation of the damages should be compensated and the circumstances which should be taken into account are within the powers of the Court providing the Law didn’t provide for following certain standards in estimating them. The Court rejected the claimant’s request for financial compensation because she didn’t outline the financial damages she suffered or the losses. The Court accepted the claimant’s request for moral damage compensation and ordered the defendant pay 10,000 AED and costs.

Weekly Spotlight

Saudi Arabia: Saudi Arabia’s Human Resources and Social Development Ministry has announced Labour Law amendments have been approved

15/01/202115/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Saudi Arabia’s Human Resources and Social Development Ministry has announced Labour Law amendments have been approved. Under the changes, Saudi employees should make up at least 75% of the total workforce. If there are not enough competent employees to achieve these numbers because of a lack of relevant candidates with the required technical or academic qualifications or if it was not possible to hire nationals for these jobs, the Minister will be able reduce the required proportion. Other amendments to the Labour Law will also require every employer who has 25 or more employees to ensure 4% of their workforce are disabled people providing the nature of their work allows this. There have also been changes to the rules on advertisements for new and existing jobs. The Ministry has launched a consultation on the proposed amendments.
The Ministry has also announced it has suspended the application of Article 41 of the Implementing Regulations to the Labour Law. It was issued by Saudi Arabia Ministerial Decision No. 70273/1440. It was introduced to help businesses manage the adverse effects of Coronavirus. It enabled employers to deal with their employees’ wages including having an option to reduce them temporarily and reduce their number of working hours.

News developments

UAE: Penalties for Taking Another’s Photo Without Consent Confirmed

09/01/202109/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s Public Prosecution has confirmed the penalties for those who take photos of others without their consent. Under Article 21 of Federal Decree Law No. 5/2012 privacy may be invaded through interception, recording, eavesdropping, transferring, transmitting or disclosing conversations or communications, or audio or visual materials. They will be fined between 250,000 and 500,000 AED and jailed for up to one year. Anyone who uses a computer network or any other technology to expose a person and violate their privacy will be jailed for at least six months and/or fined between 150,000 and 500,000 AED. This also covers taking photos of others without their consent or creating, transferring, disclosing, copying or saving their photos.

News developments

Abu Dhabi: Judicial Department Launches Project to Certify Documents Digitally

09/01/202109/01/2021
by Benjamin Filaferro

Abu Dhabi’s Judicial Department has announced it has launched a digital authentication project. It will allow documents issued by the Department’s systems to be approved in an integrated digital way which is compatible with the UAE PASS digital identity system to authenticate documents. Digital authentication will be applied to notary and authentication transactions, as part of the completion of the digital transformation plan, in line with Government directions to keep up with technological development using the latest technologies and the highest standards of information security.

News developments

UAE: Arabtec Formally Files Insolvent Liquidation Application

18/12/202018/12/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Arabtec has formally filed an insolvency liquidation application following the approval of the proposal by their General Assembly. The application covers Arabtec Construction LLC, Arabtec Constructions LLC, Austrian Arabian Readymix Concrete Co LLC and Arabtec Precast LLC also be placed into insolvent liquidation. No applications involving the company’s other subsidiaries have been made. Until an insolvency trustee is appointed, the Company will continue engaging with key stakeholders to explore options to preserve value and where possible avoid these subsidiaries needing to be placed into a formal insolvency process. It follows two months of consultations with all of the company’ relevant stakeholders. Their liabilities are calculated at 18 billion AED.

News developments

UAE: Dubai Financial Service Authority Launches Public Consultation on Proposed Amendments to Employee Money Purchase Regime

18/12/202018/12/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Dubai Financial Service Authority have announced they have launched a public consultation on proposed amendments to the Employee Money Purchase Regime. It ends on 17 January 2021. The aim is to address various practical issues the Authority has encountered in administering the regime. Employees of DIFC businesses, DIFC employers, Operators and Administrators of Employee Money Purchase Schemes, persons offering foreign Employee Money Purchase schemes to DIFC employers and employees, life insurers conducting pension fund management, persons conducting other financial services that involve an interest in an Employee Money Purchase Scheme and persons who intend to carry out any of these activities should review these proposals.

Weekly Spotlight

Abu Dhabi: Global Market Launches Public Consultation on Proposed Auditor Framework Amendments

18/12/202018/12/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Abu Dhabi’s Global Market has launched a public consultation on proposed auditor framework amendments. The consultation ends on 28 January 2021. The existing framework governing auditors was based on the UK Companies Act 2006. However, since the framework was initially implemented, international standards have been updated. This includes the enactment of EU legislation covering audit regulation, which has also been incorporated and reflected in the UK’s auditor framework.
If approved, there will also be additional requirements for auditors of public companies and investment funds and additional requirements for auditors of all financial institutions licensed by the Market’s Financial Services Regulatory Authority.
There are also proposals to require auditors to comply with international auditing standards, like audit quality requirements. The amendments would also give the Market’s Registration Authority comprehensive monitoring and enforcement powers, with investigation and sanctioning powers, which align with international standards.
The aim of the amendments to the Market’s 2020 Companies Regulations, Commercial Licensing Regulations 2015, Companies Regulations 2020 (Auditors) Rules 2020, Commercial Licensing Regulations 2015 (Controlled Activities Rules) 2018 and Limited Liability Partnership Rules 2020 is to create a single registration framework with tiered requirements and enhance audit quality requirements.
There will be a 12-month transition period for existing auditors from when the amendments come into force or the auditor re-registers.

News developments

Abu Dhabi: Artificial Intelligence System for Detection of Traffic Violations Introduced

10/12/202010/12/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Abu Dhabi Digital Authority and Abu Dhabi Police have announced they have introduced an artificial intelligence system to detect traffic violations in the Emirate. The Vehicular Attention and Safety Tracker or VAST system will come into force on 1 January 2021 and will enable the automatic detection of seatbelt and mobile phone use violations.

Weekly Spotlight

UAE: Visa Violators Have Until 31 December to Leave

10/12/202010/12/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s Federal Authority of Identity and Citizenship has announced visa violators have until 31 December to leave. The grace period applies to those whose visas expired before 1 March.
If they leave before 31 December, they will not face fines or administrative penalties.
They are instructed to book flights and leave before 31 December. Those who want to leave from Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Ras al Khaimah airports must arrive at the airport at least six hours before the flight is due to leave. While those who intend to travel through Dubai and Al Maktoum airports will have to report at the Dubai Civil Aviation Security Centre 48 hours before their flight is due to leave. Any dependants sponsored by the visa violator will also have to leave.