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Expired Qatar Business Law Forum – Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony 2023 – 8th Edition | 14 November 2023 | 06:00 PM to 11:00 PM (Qatar Time)

24/07/202314/11/2023
by Tanya Jain

Event Phone: +971 58 8249821

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Qatar Business Law Forum Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony 2023 - 8th Edition
14/11/2023
6:00 PM - 11:00 PM

Join us in Doha on 14th November 2023 for the Qatar Business Law Forum Gala Dinner & Awards Ceremony 2023 – 8th Edition!

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: LexisNexis MENA Launches a COVID-19 News Blog

05/04/202003/04/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

We have launched a public COVID-19 News Blog, https://www.c19lexismena.com/ which provides free access to the latest legal and tax updates related to COVID-19 in the MENA region in both English and French. It has been produced by Lexis® Middle East and Lexis® Maroc.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: Internet and Skype Restrictions Lifted in the UAE and Oman

23/03/202023/03/2020
by Benjamin Filaferro

Oman’s Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has announced it is lifting Skype restrictions for businesses. It is a landmark move and will allow Skype for Business, Google Meet and Zoom to be used. The aim is boost business continuity and enable communications to continue.

Meanwhile, in the UAE, according to local media reports, the country has lifted some restrictions on internet calls there. However, the Telecommunications Regulatory Authority has not been able to be reached for comment. Under the relaxed rules, businesses will be able to use Microsoft Teams and Zoom. However, the restrictions on Skype, WhatsApp and FaceTime will not be lifted.

News developments

A Unified GCC Environmental Law in the Making

14/11/201911/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

A Unified Environmental Law has been called for following the 21st meeting of the Ministers Responsible for Environmental Affairs. The relevant Ministers also approved the Committee of Ministers Responsible for the Environment Affairs for 2020 to 2024 strategic plan and the strategy of the Committee of Ministers Responsible for Environment Affairs for 2020 to 2024. The operational committees will start their work to implement the plan. Each committee will set the detailed terms of reference for the committee at its first meeting and submit an annual report to the undersecretaries’ committee. A common framework for the GCC countries under the law will be presented at the next meeting

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: Real Estate and Housing Facilities Announced in Abu Dhabi and Oman

08/07/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

This week the spotlight is on real estate developments in the GCC, where Abu Dhabi’s Urban Planning and Municipality Department has announced a number of facilities including real estate developers will be exempt from fines imposed on delays in registering their real estate transactions for the first time. Developers are now exempt from 10,000 AED fines if they are late in registering their businesses. The exemption is valid for all transactions made on properties but which have not been registered.

Elsewhere, Oman’s Housing Ministry has announced it has set up a centre to help developers clear all project approvals in 27 days. The aim is to boost the sector in the Sultanate and reduce paperwork levels. Previously developers had to approach different Government agencies to get approvals which could take upto two years.

News developments

The Impacts of the GDPR on Corporate Governance Practices in the GCC – by Robert L. Ford

10/06/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The European Parliament and Council passed a regulation (EU) 2016/679 to refresh the data and privacy protection laws for European Union States. The new regulation is commonly known as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and came into effect on 25 May 2018. The GDPR has defined the rights of EU individuals relating to how their data is collected, stored, processed and used by organisations. Any organisation that handles the data of any EU citizen is bound by the provisions of the GDPR. This regulation is applicable globally and fines of up to 4% of worldwide turnover or 20 million euros (whichever is greater) will be levied on businesses breaching them. GCC organisations and businesses need to consider whether they collect, store, process or control any data for EU citizens and revise their own governance and enterprise risk management frameworks to comply with the GDPR provisions.

Read full article here.

News developments

GCC Monetary Agencies and Central Banks Have Agreed to Establish a Gulf Disbursements Company

17/03/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

The Governors of the GCC monetary agencies and Central Banks have agreed to establish a Gulf disbursements company to facilitate money transactions between them. All members have contributed to the company’s capital and are seeking specialist consultations on the payment system. The company will be headquartered in Riyadh and a secondary office will be based in Abu Dhabi. The aim is to provide a quick and safe environment for financial transactions between them.

Weekly Spotlight

Weekly Spotlight: Latest VAT developments in the GCC

07/01/201811/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

This week the spotlight is on VAT developments in the GCC. Whilst Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s VAT regimes have come into force and the first knock-on effects have been felt and additional clarifications and exemptions have been issued in both jurisdictions there have been interesting developments elsewhere in the GCC region.

In Bahrain, the First Deputy Chairman of the Kingdom’s Parliament, Ali Alarady has said VAT will be introduced at 5%. However it will not be introduced before June 2018. The draft VAT law will be considered by Parliament once it is referred by the Finance Ministry to discuss the amount, the way to impose it and exempted services and goods. It comes as the Kingdom has started implementing the selective tax on a number of products including fizzy drinks, energy drinks and tobacco.

Meanwhile in Oman, according to local newspaper reports, the authorities have announced VAT will not be introduced in the Sultanate until 2019. It is understood they want to give businesses in the country more time to prepare. However the authorities added selective tax on some goods will be introduced later in the year. The affected goods are fizzy drinks, cigarettes and energy drinks.

News developments

GCC: VAT is likely to be introduced at different times across the GCC region

04/11/201711/12/2019
by Benjamin Filaferro

According to senior International Monetary Fund officials, VAT is likely to be introduced at different times across the GCC region. They had intended to introduce VAT simultaneously in January but so far only Saudi Arabia and the UAE look like they will do so. When it is introduced VAT will be introduced at 5%. It will require significant administrative and technical changes including detailed regulations and making sure all affected companies are registered. However all six GCC states remain committed to introducing it.

Tag: <span>GCC</span>