This week as a result of a diplomatic incident, Bahrain, the Comoros, Djibouti, Egypt, Jordan, Libya, Maldives, Mauritania, Mauritius, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Senegal, United Arab Emirates, Yemen have taken a range of steps cutting ties with Qatar which have had a legal impact on a whole host of areas including immigration, transport, banking, contracts and consumer law.
We have published 11 stories and analysis this week on those various issues.

Saudi Arabia: Qatari Riyal Payments Prohibited

Source: Arabian Business and published via our Middle East Newspaper Index service. This has also been alerted to customers via email.

Saudi Arabia’s Monetary Agency has reportedly told banks in the Kingdom they must not process any Qatari Riyal payments. Banks have also been told not to increase their exposure to Qatari clients. This covers treasury investments, loans, letters of credit and trade-finance facilities: http://www.lexismiddleeast.com/doc/2476166_2476167.

UAE: Qataris Banned From Transit Flights

Source: Arabian Business and published via our Middle East Newspaper Index service. This has also been alerted to customers via email.

Following the cutting of diplomatic ties with Qatar, the UAE authorities have announced Qataris are banned from international flights passing through the country: http://www.lexismiddleeast.com/doc/2476169_2476170.

More Countries Sever Their Diplomatic Ties With Qatar

Source: Fragomen Middle East and published via our Middle East News Analysis service. This has also been alerted to customers via email.

An additional four countries have announced they are severing their diplomatic ties with Qatar, in light of the ongoing political crisis in the region which has resulted in restrictions on travel to and from Qatar: http://www.lexismiddleeast.com/doc/2476116_2476117.

UAE: Holders of Qatari Residency Permits Are Not Eligible for the UAE Visit Visas for GCC Residents

Source: Fragomen Middle East and published via our Middle East News Analysis service. This has also been alerted to customers via email.

Foreign nationals holding a residency permit from Qatar are no longer eligible for a UAE visit e-visa for GCC residents. Visas on-arrival continue to be issued to eligible foreign nationals, regardless if they have a Qatari residence permit or not: http://www.lexismiddleeast.com/doc/2476120_2476121.

UAE: Qatar Banking Deal Guidelines Being Prepared

Source: Published via our Middle East News Analysis service. This has also been alerted to customers via email.

The UAE’s Central Bank is understood to be preparing guidelines for the country’s banks on Qatar related transactions: http://www.lexismiddleeast.com/doc/2475414_2475417

SAP Alert: What the Qatar-GCC row means for your business?

Source: Sultan Al-Abdulla & Partners and published via our Middle East News Analysis service. This has also been alerted to customers via email.

If your company has documentation that needs to be legalised by Qatari embassies in the KSA, UAE, or Bahrain for use in Qatar, or vice versa, it is advisable these documents are drafted and legalised as soon as possible: http://www.lexismiddleeast.com/doc/2475600_2475601

Qatar crisis highlights question of force majeure

Source: Dentons and published via our Middle East News Analysis service. This has also been alerted to customers via email.

Imports of construction materials needed for the State of Qatar to deliver its World Cup and Vision 2030 infrastructure schemes are being severely impacted by the recent closing of borders by key neighbours Saudi Arabia and the UAE, leading to increased costs and delays on major construction projects: http://www.lexismiddleeast.com/doc/2475569_2475570

Implications of the Diplomatic Crisis in Qatar Continue to Rise

Source: Fragomen Middle East and published via our Middle East News Analysis service. This has also been alerted to customers via email.

The Governments of Libya, the Maldives, Jordan and Mauritania have joined a number of Middle Eastern countries and have severed their diplomatic ties with the State of Qatar. The closure of borders with neighbouring countries and the withdrawal of the diplomatic staff from various embassies in the region have resulted in restrictions on travelling to and from Qatar.

http://www.lexismiddleeast.com/doc/2475579_2475583

Update on the restrictions on Qatar from Middle Eastern Countries

Source: Fragomen Middle East and published via our Middle East News Analysis service. This has also been alerted to customers via email.

The closure of all the land, marine and diplomatic ties with Qatar has come into effect: http://www.lexismiddleeast.com/doc/2475226_2475227

Entry, Residency and Transit Implications Following Severance of Diplomatic Ties between Qatar and Various Middle Eastern Countries

Source: Fragomen Middle East and published via our Middle East News Analysis service. This has also been alerted to customers via email.

Several Middle Eastern countries, including the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Egypt and Yemen have severed diplomatic ties with Qatar and, as a result, they imposed an entry, residency and transit ban for all Qatari citizens: http://www.lexismiddleeast.com/doc/2474651_2474652

UAE: Qatari Sympathisers will be Jailed

Source: Khaleej Times (United Arab Emirates) and published via our Middle East Newspaper Index service. This has also been alerted to customers via email.

The UAE’s General Prosecutor, Hamad Saif Al-Shamsi has announced anyone who expresses sympathies for Qatar on social media will be jailed or fined. They could be jailed for between three and 15 years. They could also be fined at least 500,000 AED: http://www.lexismiddleeast.com/doc/2475403_2475404