UAE Archives - Page 8 of 96 - LexisNexis Middle East

Abu Dhabi: Customs Introduces Priority Clearance for Trusted Food Products

10/09/202510/09/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Khaleej Times, 9 September 2025: Abu Dhabi has launched a new ‘Golden List’ system that will accelerate border entry procedures for food products with proven safety compliance records.

This initiative establishes expedited clearance for food items meeting specific criteria, including successful safety compliance on five consecutive shipments and proper health certification from origin countries.

Products qualifying for the list will receive priority pre-release clearance and bypass standard visual inspections and sampling requirements. Importers must submit applications through the Atlab platform 24 hours before shipment arrival.

The fast-track status will be immediately revoked if products fail to maintain compliance standards or receive safety notifications. Such items will then return to standard inspection protocols.

To qualify for the programme, importers must provide: Documentation of five consecutive compliant shipments, Valid health certificates from origin countries, Advance import applications and Complete pre-audit documentation.

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News developments

UAE: Fake Consumer Protection Websites

28/08/202528/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 26 August 2025: The Emirates Society for Consumer Protection has warned of fake platforms charging consumers to resolve complaints.

The Society for Consumer Protection has issued a warning about suspicious and fraudulent websites, platforms, and social media pages which are misusing government logos and falsely claim to specialise in protecting consumers and safeguarding their rights. These fraudulent sites lure consumers into submitting complaints, then request fees for resolving them, or demand bank transfers and access to personal accounts.

The society has emphasised that it never charges any fees or accepts any payments for resolving consumer complaints. It has urged consumers if any entity that requests payment or asks for bank transfers to immediately refuse this, block the source, and report the matter to the relevant authorities.

The sites falsely claim to be official complaint-handling portals that help consumers recover their rights by reporting financial, commercial, or service-related violations.

According to the Society, these fake platforms have created counterfeit complaint forms resembling official ones, which require personal details such as name, phone number, and email address.

The Emirates Society for Consumer Protection is a recognised non-profit entity; its complaint services are completely free, and it never requests any payment or personal financial details from consumers.

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News developments

Sharjah: Change to Fathers’ Visitation Rights

28/08/202528/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 25 August 2025: The Ruler of Sharjah has instructed the emirate’s judicial authorities to give judges wider discretion in custody cases, allowing divorced fathers to take their children outside designated visitation centres when it serves the children’s best interests.

The decision was announced during the ruler’s daily call-in programme Al Khat Al Mubasher (The Direct Line) on Sharjah Radio and Television, after a father called in to share his concerns over current visitation rules.

The man stated that since his divorce he had been limited to meeting his children inside a supervised room at the Social Services Department which felt like he was serving a sentence. He described the humiliation of not being able to take his children to visit relatives or enjoy outings. Sheikh Sultan immediately directed the Sharjah Department of Justice to empower judges to assess custody arrangements on a case-by-case basis.

Under the new guidance, fathers will be able to take their children outside state facilities, provided there is no history of abuse or violence.

The welfare of children must come first, but fathers also have the right to see their children “free from pressures.”

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News developments

Dubai: Law on Centre for Judicial Expertise

28/08/202528/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Khaleej Times, 25 August 2025: A law has been issued to establish Dubai’s Centre for Judicial Expertise

Dubai’s Centre for Judicial Expertise will be a public institution under the Dubai Judicial Council. It aims to support judicial bodies in the emirate with qualified experts from inside and outside the UAE. The Centre, which will enjoy legal personality, will develop and regulate expert witness services before judicial authorities and enhance their efficiency in line with international best practices. It will improve the quality and speed of expert reports for more accurate rulings, develop specialised national talent, setting unified standards for appointing and supervising experts, and build local and international partnerships to share knowledge, which will boost confidence in expert work before the courts.

The Centre will consist of a Board of Directors chaired by the Director of Dubai Courts and composed of representatives from judicial and non-judicial bodies with relevant expertise, along with an executive body led by a CEO responsible for implementing plans and programmes.

It will handle requests for expert appointments submitted by judicial authorities and will assign specialised experts based on the required expertise—either from in-house experts or private-sector experts registered on the expert roster. The Centre may also call upon experts from government entities or engage global expertise houses when required.

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News developments

Ajman: Merges Tourism and Media Departments Under New Authority

28/08/202528/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Ajman’s Ruler has issued a law establishing the “Ajman Department of Tourism, Culture and Media,” merging two existing departments into a single entity.

Ajman Law No. 2/2025 combines the former Tourism Development Department and Culture and Media Department. Key aspects of the merger include:

Transfer of all existing staff with preserved financial entitlements
Retention of 2025 budget allocations from former departments
Headquarters location in Ajman city
Provision for new branches subject to Executive Council approval

The department’s responsibilities cover:

Tourism:
- Policy development
- Event management
- Facility licensing and classification
- Investment promotion.

Culture:
- Heritage site management
- Museum oversight
- Arts development
- Cultural preservation.

Media:
- Activity regulation
- Licensing
- Content supervision
- Investment support.

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News developments

Abu Dhabi: Launches New Real Estate Advertisement Permit Service

28/08/202528/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Al Etihad, 22 August 2025: ADGM has introduced a new real estate advertisement permit service through its AccessRP platform, requiring mandatory permits for all property advertisements within its jurisdiction.

Key features of the new service include:

Mandatory permits for all real estate advertisements within ADGM jurisdiction
Integration with the AccessRP platform
Regulatory oversight of property marketing materials
Verification process for real estate listings

The implementation establishes a new regulatory framework for property advertisements, making it compulsory for all real estate marketing materials to obtain official permits before publication.

For the full story, click here.

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News developments

UAE: New Employment Guide Details Worker Leave and Benefit Rights

22/08/202522/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 17 August 2025: The UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation has released a detailed employer Guide outlining workers’ rights and leave entitlements under Federal Decree-Law No. 33/2021.

It specifies seven categories of leave available to private-sector employees: annual, sick, study, parental, bereavement, national service, and maternity leave. Workers are entitled to 30 days of paid annual leave for each year of service, while new parents can take five working days of leave within six months of their child’s birth.

Maternity provisions include 60 days of leave for female workers, with 45 days at full pay followed by 15 days at half pay. The guidance also details sick leave allowances of up to 90 days annually, structured as 15 days at full pay, 30 days at half pay, and the remainder unpaid.

Bereavement leave grants five days for the death of a spouse and three days for immediate family members. Educational support includes 10 working days of study leave for workers enrolled in UAE-accredited institutions.

The toolkit additionally clarifies end-of-service benefits, with expatriate workers entitled to 21 days’ basic wage for each of the first five years and 30 days for subsequent years, calculated on their final basic wage.

The document also addresses wage regulations, requiring payment in UAE dirhams unless otherwise specified, and outlines compensation requirements for public holiday work.

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News developments

Abu Dhabi: Introduces New Property Dispute Resolution System

22/08/202522/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 13 August 2025: Abu Dhabi has established a new framework for resolving off-plan property disputes through its Real Estate Centre (ADREC), offering an alternative to court proceedings.

The updated regulations allow property developers to request termination of Sales and Purchase Agreements (SPAs) through ADREC when buyers fail to meet their obligations. The process requires developers to follow specific procedures and timelines before any termination can be approved.

Under the new system, ADREC will verify that developers have complied with project completion schedules and confirm that buyers have received proper notification. Property buyers retain the right to pursue legal action through courts or arbitration if they contest ADREC’s decisions.

The centre emphasises that terminations will not be processed automatically. Each case will undergo review to ensure developers have followed regulatory requirements and adhered to approved project timelines.

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News developments

UAE: New Safety Guidelines for Travellers

14/08/202514/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 11 August 2025: The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has released comprehensive travel safety guidelines for citizens and residents travelling abroad, accompanied by the launch of a 24-hour emergency support service.

The new guidelines emphasise the importance of adhering to destination countries’ specific travel regulations and local laws. Travellers are specifically instructed to monitor weather and road conditions throughout their journeys.

The Ministry has established a dedicated emergency hotline (00971 800 24) operating round-the-clock for UAE nationals requiring urgent assistance whilst abroad.

The official guidance notably recommends air travel as the preferred mode of transport, citing safety and comfort considerations. For those planning to drive abroad, the Ministry has stressed the need for increased vigilance and strict compliance with local traffic regulations.

Additional measures include a recommendation to arrange travel through established international tour operators and vehicle hire firms to ensure appropriate standards of safety and service.

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News developments

Dubai: SCA and VARA Unite to Create Single Virtual Assets Framework

14/08/202514/08/2025
by Hannah Gutang

Gulf News, 6 August 2025: The Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA) and Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) have established a unified regulatory framework for virtual assets across the UAE.

Key elements of the new framework include: Joint licensing and supervision mechanisms, Mutual recognition of licenses between Dubai and other emirates, Coordinated compliance monitoring, Real-time information sharing between authorities and Combined inspection and enforcement procedures.

The SCA has established a Coordinating Committee for Legislative Review to oversee the implementation. This committee will: Review existing virtual asset legislation, Propose new regulations, Align standards with international requirements, and Chair coordination between regulatory bodies.

The practical changes include: Centralised licensing procedures, Standardised rules across jurisdictions, Integrated regulatory processes, Combined risk assessment systems, Unified approach to anti-money laundering measures.

The agreement introduces shared digital infrastructure for regulatory processes and establishes joint task forces for ongoing coordination between the authorities.

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