UAE Archives - Page 98 of 104 - LexisNexis Middle East

UAE: Draft Anti-begging Law Approved

21/04/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s Federal National Council has approved a draft anti-begging law. Anyone found guilty of begging will be jailed for three months and fined 5,000 AED. However able-bodied offenders and those with a traceable income will be punished more severely. People who run organised, mafia-like criminal groups of beggars will be jailed for at least six months and fined at least 100,000 AED as will those who bring in people to run organised begging. Those forced into begging by these mafia-like criminal groups will be jailed for three months and fined 5,000 AED. Courts may order any money and other proceeds from begging be confiscated.

News developments

Abu Dhabi Global Market Courts Launches eCourt Platform with Microsoft

14/04/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Abu Dhabi’s Global Market Courts has announced it has launched an ePortal together with Microsoft. It is hoped it will revolutionise the delivery of civil and commercial judicial dispute resolution services and transform the way courts interact with lawyers, litigants and other legal professionals. It is also hoped it will save parties time in litigation. The Integrated eCourt Platform provides a comprehensive, digital court record and will enable users to initiate, manage and monitor their cases 24/7, from anywhere in the world, through any device they choose. They will be able to file documents and receive text message notifications about their case’s progress and digital court file changes. Electronic evidence bundles will be included in the court file at no additional cost to any party and court hearings will be conducted through video conferencing which will be accessible through an integrated calendar. The Platform will also provide a secure payment gateway for clients and lawyers, with immediate access to invoices and receipts and instantaneous publication of orders and judgments on cases.

News developments

Ras Al Khaimah: Government Launches Petroleum Licensing Round

07/04/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Ras al Khaimah’s Government has announced it has formally established the Emirate’s Petroleum Authority. The Government has also announced they have officially launched the Emirate’s first petroleum licensing round which will be supported by the Emirate’s Oil Company, RAK Gas. Bids will be invited until November 2018 and data rooms cam be reserved in the Emirate and London. The Authority will be responsible for the licensing round tendering process and the management of petroleum rights.

News developments

Abu Dhabi City Municipality Urges Contractors to Expedite Registration of Property Units

07/04/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Abu Dhabi City’s Municipality has urged all contractors to register their property units as early as possible. The Municipality has also called on property owners to respond to property developer requests regarding their updated details and documents. The Municipality’s calls follow the issuing of Abu Dhabi Circular No. 2/2018 which gave all property developers until 14 March 2018 to complete any outstanding cases and register all property deals in the Municipality’s Property Register. The aim is to facilitate the implementation of the Emirate’s Real Estate Law (Abu Dhabi Law No. 3/2015) which came into force on 1 January 2016.

News developments

UAE: Draft Paternity Leave Law on the Way

31/03/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Following the launch of a new National Family Policy, the UAE’s Community Development Minister, Hessa Bint Eisa Bu Humaid has announced a draft paternity leave law is under consideration. As part of the policy there are 36 initiatives which have been implemented between the Federal and local authorities. These initiatives cover educational programmes, consultations and training and are part of the UAE Vision 2021 and UAE Centennial Strategy 2071.

News developments

Dissolved Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority’s Assets Transferred to a New Energy Department

31/03/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Abu Dhabi’s authorities have dissolved the Abu Dhabi Water & Electricity Authority and transferred its assets and functions to a new Energy Department. The Regulation & Supervision Bureau, which oversees water, waste water and electricity in the Emirate has also become part of the new Energy Department. The change came into effect on 20 February 2018. It is part of a consolidation of state-owned bodies and follows Abu Dhabi’s Ruler issuing a series of laws establishing a number of government departments for the Emirate, including the Department of Energy last month.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: New Ministerial Decision in the UAE Allowing Companies to Hire Employees on a Part-Time Basis

25/03/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

This week the spotlight is on employment law developments in the UAE, where the country’s Human Resources and Emiratisation Ministry has announced it has issued a Decision allowing companies to hire employees on a part-time basis. It is hoped the change will create a more flexible labour market in the country and reduce the country’s dependency on expatriate employees. However, a part-time contract cannot be changed into a full-time contract unless it is terminated first. Under the Decision, part-time employees must work no more than eight hours a day and have at least one day off a week. Employees will also be able to work in first and second level skilled jobs for more than one employer providing they have obtained Ministry approval. They will not need the approval of either their original or new employer.

Elsewhere, according to local newspaper reports, the application of the Good Conduct Certificate requirement has been extended. It now applies to existing workers in the country who are switching jobs regardless of their length of service. This dispels rumours in February 2018 the requirement would not apply to this category. It means Filipino and Indonesian domestic workers are now the only ones exempt from the requirement.

News developments

UAE: Abu Dhabi Investment Council Merging with the Mubadala Investment Company

24/03/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The UAE’s President and Abu Dhabi Ruler, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed Al Nahyan has issued a law merging the Abu Dhabi Investment Council with the Mubadala Investment Company. The new Fund will have approximately $250 billion in assets. The Mubadala Investment Company’s board of directors will now become the Abu Dhabi Investment Council’s board but the Council’s senior leadership will continue to manage the Fund and report to the Mubadala Group CEO and Managing Director, Khaldoon Khalifa al Mubarak.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: A Mechanism for Monitoring and Inspecting Real Estate Regulatory Authority licenced entities to be established in Dubai

18/03/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

This week the spotlight is on legal and regulatory developments in the real estate sector in Dubai, where the Real Estate Regulatory Authority has signed an agreement with the Dubai Economic Development Department. Under the agreement, a mechanism for monitoring and inspecting Real Estate Regulatory Authority licenced entities will be established. Under the agreement, the two sides will work together to issue and impose fines on violators of the relevant regulations. The Land Department will provide all of the data and information for proper inspections, supervision and follow-up of licenced real estate facilities to be carried out. It will also provide the Economic Development Department’s Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Department team with all of the directives, decisions and memorandums issued to real estate companies in Dubai which clarify the relevant regulatory clauses and how they are applied. For its part the Economic Development Department’s Commercial Compliance and Consumer Protection Department will organise awareness campaigns about the relevant regulatory requirements.

Elsewhere Dubai’s Municipality Buildings Department has announced it has launched a new industrial building projects system. The aim is to ensure contractors are registered and simplify procedures for owners and customers in this sector. The new system will allow a contractor to design industrial buildings and supervise their implementation without needing to appoint a consultancy office. An awareness campaign about the new system will launch on 26 March.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: New System to Allow Companies to Issue Emirates ID Cards Electronically

11/03/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

This week the spotlight is on legal and tax developments in the UAE, where the country’s Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship has announced it is working on a new system to allow companies to issue or renew Emirates ID cards for their staff electronically. The aim is to migrate 80% of the Authority’s services to smart and digital platforms by December 2018. Under the new system, companies who meet certain criteria will be able to use Authority services to issue ID cards electronically. Companies will have to have over 100 employees and must be licenced by the relevant authorities. They will also have to apply to the Identity and Citizenship Authority to use the system.

The Federal Taxes Authority has also confirmed the provision of a receipt is a fundamental consumer right. The Authority confirmed businesses should provide receipts and should not deduct taxes if have not registered. The Authority also warned fines will be imposed on businesses who deduct tax but refuse to provide consumers with receipts.