The United Arab Emirates’ federal-level financial services regulator relevant to securities, commodities and now Virtual Assets Service Providers, the UAE Securities and Commodities Authority (SCA), has just issued two new regulations relevant to Virtual Assets:
1. SCA Chairman of the Board of Directors’ Decision No. (26/RM) of 2023 in relation to Virtual Assets Platform Operators
2. SCA Chairman of the Board of Directors’ Decision No. (27/RM) of 2023 amending SCA Chairman of the Board of Directors’ Decision No. (13/RM) of 2021 in relation to the SCA Rulebook
South Africa’s newly enacted Employment Equity Amendment Act (EEA Act) includes changes to the legislation governing workplace transformation, as well stricter compliance measures for designated employers. Once in force, the EEA Act will oblige designated employers to prepare employment equity plans. It will be essential for such employers to align their plans to achieve the targets for the employment of black people under the broad-based black economic empowerment codes of good practice with their employment equity plans.
In recent weeks, the EU Draft Directive on Packaging and Packaging Waste as well as communiqués on the inspection of compliance with relevant standards or technical regulations for certain imported and/or exported products have been published in the commercial and trade sector. In addition, various amendments were made to the Customs Regulation, the Regulation on the Principles and Rules to be Applied in Retail Trade, and the Law on the Regulation of Retail Trade.
On 18 April 2023, the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) launched a 30-day public consultation on the proposed amendments to the Personal Data Protection Regulations to establish additional areas of regulation that would support the strong implementation of the DIFC Data Protection Law No. 5 of 2020. The proposed amendments are aimed at enhancing the current data protection framework in the DIFC and addressing the means for better, safer and more ethical management of personal data processing and operations.
The Personal Data Protection Law of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) was recently amended pursuant to Royal Decree No. M/148, dated 05/09/1444H (corresponding to 27 March 2023G) (“Amended PDPL”). These amendments were preceded by a public consultation launched by the Saudi Data and Artificial Intelligence Authority in late 2022.
The Amended PDPL expands the scope under which Controllers could collect personal data from third parties, and process it for purposes other than that for which it was originally collected. It also provides additional grounds for Controllers to disclose personal data, and introduces an updated regime for personal data transfers outside of KSA.
The annual quota for frozen bone-in cuts of the species Gallus Domesticus originating in, or imported from, the United States has been increased from 71,290 tonnes to 71,632 tonnes, with retrospective effect from 1 April 2022.
Join us for a four-part webinar series as our US moderators welcome colleagues from around the globe to share the latest labor and employment law updates and trends. US-based multinational employers with business operations in Asia Pacific, Europe, the Middle East and Africa, and the Americas regions will hear directly from local practitioners on the major developments they need to know, and come away with practical tips and takeaways to implement.
The South African Department of Finance has published Directive 8 on the compulsory screening of employees for competence and integrity. Failure to comply means that such businesses will risk sanction, including a fine of up to ZAR 50 million. Accountable institutions must record how the screening has been conducted and keep records of the outcome of such screening, which must be made available to the Financial Intelligence Centre upon request. It has been stipulated that screenings should begin as soon as possible.
The 2023 Guide to Doing Business in the United Arab Emirates is your simple but comprehensive guide to understanding and navigating the current investment climate and the most important laws regulating investments and commercial activities in the UAE.
The guide features various topics, including the history, geography and economy of the UAE, the legal and judicial systems, foreign investment models, real estate ownership and leasehold, and employment. It also provides a comparison of the available legal investment vehicles that may potentially be used to enter the UAE market.
In a time of recession, competition law regulations do not change in their content or enforcement. On the contrary, it is vital for companies to remain compliant with applicable antitrust laws and continue their commercially independent behavior. We provided an overview perspective on key antitrust and competition trends for emerging markets including, Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, South Africa and Saudi Arabia in 2023.