Bahrain Archives - Page 18 of 22 - LexisNexis Middle East

Bahrain: Launch of a Model Contract Between Real Estate Sellers and Brokers

25/05/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Real Estate Regulatory Authority has launched a model contract for use between real estate sellers and brokers. The CEO of the Authority said it is not mandatory to use the model contract and is intended for use as a unified model for mediation contracts, with more items to be added in line with the relevant regulations. The model was prepared following consultation with the relevant parties including real estate brokers and sellers. The Authority is going to prepare more models and guidelines in the coming months, covering other types of real estate transactions.

News developments

Bahrain: New Providing Cloud Computing Services to Foreign Parties Law Approved

18/05/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Shoura Council have approved four laws including a new Providing Cloud Computing Services to Foreign Parties Law. It is aimed at international cloud providers who have shown an interest in establishing in the Kingdom following the launch of Amazon Web Services. The Council also approved a Letters and Electronic Transactions Law which will establish a new framework for associated banking and financing services.

News developments

Bahrain: Amendment to the 2001 Non-Bahrainis Ownership of Property and Plots Law Approved

05/05/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahraini MPs have approved an amendment to the 2001 Non-Bahrainis Ownership of Property and Plots Law which will mean expatriate property investors will not be able to own property in areas which aren’t designated tourism or investment zones. Previously foreigners were able to buy property anywhere in the Kingdom. It follows concerns Bahrainis were being priced out of the market. The Shoura Council will now consider the amendment.

News developments

Bahrain: Draft Insurance Aggregator Rules Issued

27/04/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Central Bank has announced it has issued draft insurance aggregator rules. Insurance aggregators are intermediaries with an insurance broker’s license who operate an online platform, whether hosted on an Internet website or available as a smart device application which provides price comparisons and facilitates the purchase of insurance policies from several insurance licensees. By introducing insurance aggregators, customers will be able to find and choose insurance quotes from several insurance companies under a single electronic platform or mobile device application, instead of obtaining quotes individually and purchase insurance online from a single insurance company. The move is the first step towards Insuretech which is a technology-led transformation of the insurance sector. Copies of the directive are available on the Central Bank Website.

News developments

Bahrain: Draft Law to Regulate Hygiene Approved

20/04/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Shoura Council has approved a draft law to regulate hygiene, following Bahrain Royal Decree No. 86/2014. It will apply to waste and its transportation and disposal. It will also cover waste dumping and depositing waste in incorrect facilities. In addition, it will ban abandoning scrap vehicles on streets and leaving vehicles in public streets and squares to sell. Finally it will allow waste to only be transported by licensed companies and institutions.

News developments

Bahrain: Final Consultation on Batelco Split Launched

13/04/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has launched a final consultation on the reference offer of the split Batelco entity. The consultation ends on 25 April 2019. The new wholesale-only entity (NBNetco BSC) will be formed by the separation of Batelco into two distinct entities. NBNetco will operate and deploy the single national broadband infrastructure in the Kingdom. This is how all telecom services including 5G will be provided. Service providers must therefore be granted access to the infrastructure on fair and reasonable terms.

News developments

Bahrain: Calls to End the System of Flexible Work Permits

08/04/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahraini MPs have called on the Government to end the system of flexible work permits used by freelancers immediately and compensate merchants for damage caused by the system. The Labour Minister has said flexible workers do not have the right to establish a private company and added the practice does not hurt Bahraini employment. Workers will not be allowed to move to another sponsor until two years of service and will pay 500 Dinars in insurance when entering the country to cover any claims against them.

News developments

Bahrain: Independent Family Medicine Clinics for Healthcare Professionals

30/03/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Cabinet has amended standards for health professionals. Doctors qualified to work in public and private hospitals are to be permitted to open and run their own independent clinics, following a training program launched by the Arab Gulf University. The Cabinet amended the requirements for such professionals to permit Bahrainis with at least a masters’ degree in family medicine to become licensed and open private family medicine clinics. The amendments are a part of the National Employment Program, seeking to create more jobs for Bahrainis. The Prime Minister has set a target to employ 240 Bahraini doctors over the coming two years.

News developments

Bahrain: Amendments to the Private Health Establishments Law

16/03/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s King has approved Bahrain Law No. 1/2019 amending Article 14 of Bahrain Decree-Law No. 21/2015 on private health establishments. Article 14A(2) of Bahrain Law No. 21/2015 now states, ‘Priority must be given in a private health establishment to recruitment of Bahraini physicians, technicians and nursing staff who are in possession of the requisite qualification and experience, with the exception of positions that require unavailable rare specialised expertise’. Private health establishments have to comply with this law once their contracts with non-Bahraini physicians, technicians and nursing staff have expired. The Law has been published in the Official Gazette and came into effect on its publication date.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: Final Rules on Crypto-Assets Activities Issued by Bahrain’s Central Bank

03/03/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

Bahrain’s Central Bank has issued the final rules on various activities related to Crypto-Assets, including licensing, governance, minimum capital, control environment and risk management. The Rules are the first of their kind in the region and are aimed at ensuring Crypto-Asset activities are regulated effectively. They also cover anti-money laundering and anti-terrorist financing, business conduct standards, avoiding conflicts of interest, reporting and cyber security for these activities.

In addition, there are provisions on supervision and enforcement standards including those provided by a platform operator as a principal, agent, portfolio manager, adviser and a custodian in or outside Bahrain.

Those licensed by the Central Bank as crypto-asset exchanges will have additional regulatory requirements to comply with. These additional requirements relate to order matching, pre and post-trade transparency, measures to avoid market manipulation and market abuse and conflicts of interest. They also state there is a need for enhanced due diligence when onboarding new clients, requirements to ensure no encrypted safe custody accounts or ‘wallets’ are maintained which cannot be retrieved, a mandate to ensure keyman risks are adequately managed including by having the necessary insurance covers and clients are educated and given clear instructions on using safe custody wallets.

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