| UAE law: Can full-time employees legally start their own business?
Question: I work in a private firm in the UAE. What does the law say about starting a business while being employed full-time? Will it be a legal problem if the business I started and my current job are similar? I work in the HR department in my firm, and the company I plan to start is an HR consultancy. |
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| Alfaisal University partners with Japan’s Medident on health research
Alfaisal University in Riyadh has signed a memorandum of understanding with Medident from Japan to create a model for equitable and technology-driven healthcare innovation that will enhance the contributions of both countries to global health. |
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| WhatsApp divorce: What UAE law says about ending marriage over chat
Question: I am a working lady from an Asian country. I am living alone here, and my husband is in his home country. Due to personal differences, he sent me a divorce in a voice note on WhatsApp. Please let me know what the UAE law says about divorce on WhatsApp. |
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| Kingdom arrests 17,863 illegals in one week
Saudi authorities arrested 17,863 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. |
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| Saudi Arabia, Indonesia sign several deals worth around $27 billion
Saudi Arabia and Indonesia signed several deals and memos of understanding worth around $27 billion between private sector institutions in several fields including clean energy and petrochemicals, the Saudi Press Agecny reported. |
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| Saudi Power Procurement Co. signs $458m wind energy deal for Yanbu project
Saudi Power Procurement Co. has signed a power purchase agreement for the 700-megawatt Yanbu Wind Power Project, backed by an investment exceeding SR1.7 billion ($458 million). |
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| Saudi delegation in Tokyo for talks on GCC-Japan free trade agreement
Farid bin Saeed Al-Asali, the General Authority for Foreign Trade’s deputy governor for international agreements and organizations, is in Tokyo to lead the Kingdom’s delegation in the second round of negotiations on the free trade agreement between the GCC and Japan, which began on June 30 and will run until July 4. |
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| UNHCR, Al-Nouri Charity Society sign grant deal
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity Society signed an annual grant agreement on Sunday to support Syrian refugee families in Jordan. The agreement reflects ongoing humanitarian cooperation between the two sides and underscores Kuwait’s continued commitment to aiding vulnerable communities across the region. |
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| UNHCR, Al-Nouri Charity Society sign grant deal
The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the Sheikh Abdullah Al-Nouri Charity Society signed an annual grant agreement on Sunday to support Syrian refugee families in Jordan. The agreement reflects ongoing humanitarian cooperation between the two sides and underscores Kuwait’s continued commitment to aiding vulnerable communities across the region. |
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| $38m Saudi loan to boost Tunisia’s southern regions
Saudi Fund for Development CEO Sultan Al-Marshad signed a new development loan agreement with Tunisian Minister of Economy and Planning Samir Abdelhafidh to finance the Oasis Hub Project in southern Tunisia. |
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| Saudi Arabia welcomes US-brokered peace agreement between Rwanda and DR Congo
Saudi Arabia has welcomed the signing of a peace agreement between Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, in a deal facilitated by the United States with support from Qatar, the Saudi Press Agency reported. |
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| Dubai convicts 21 individuals in massive visa fraud scheme
Twenty one individuals of different nationalities have been convicted of visa-related crimes in Dubai. The Dubai Citizenship and Residency Court also fined them Dh25.21 million. |
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| Kingdom arrests 13,532 illegals in one week
Saudi authorities arrested 13,532 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. |
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| Dubai: Do tenants have to pay for accidental damage during maintenance?
Question: I live in a two-bedroom apartment in Dubai. One of the major AC components was damaged due to something we did; so basically, it was our fault. Are we responsible for fixing it and covering the cost of the damages, or would this fall under regular maintenance? |
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| Saudi passports department’s expired visa extension initiative
The Saudi General Directorate of Passports has launched an initiative to extend expired visit visas for a final exit. |
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| Scientific Center and KISR ink MoU to boost scientific cooperation
The Scientific Center (TSCK), affiliated with the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences (KFAS), signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on Wednesday with the Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR), aimed at enhancing institutional cooperation and advancing sustainable scientific and educational initiatives aligned with Kuwait’s national development goals. |
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| Cabinet approves draft decree to repeal controversial housing law
Kuwait’s Cabinet on Tuesday approved a draft decree-law to repeal Article 29 (bis) of Law No 47 of 1993, widely known as the “Who Sold His House” law, which has been the subject of long-standing public criticism. |
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| Saudi Arabia, Kuwait sign MoU to boost anti-money laundering efforts
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have signed a memorandum of understanding to bolster cooperation in the fight against money laundering and the financing of terrorism, reinforcing regional efforts to strengthen financial security. |
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| Kingdom arrests 12,066 illegals in one week
Saudi authorities arrested 12,066 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. |
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| KU, Saudi Education Authority sign MoU to boost cooperation
Kuwait University, through its College of Graduate Studies, signed a memorandum of understanding with the Education and Training Evaluation Authority in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, aimed at strengthening academic cooperation and enhancing mutual expertise in the fields of measurement, evaluation, accreditation, and university admission assessments. |
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| Saudi Arabia, France discuss $2.6bn aviation sector investment potential amid flurry of deals
Investment opportunities worth more than SR10 billion ($2.6 billion) were set out at a high-level Saudi-French meeting amid a flurry of deals aimed at strengthening the aviation sector. |
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| Saudi Arabia, Panama sign air transport agreement to strengthen global connectivity
Saudi Arabia and Panama have signed a bilateral air services agreement to enhance air connectivity between the two countries and expand access to global aviation markets. |
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| SIC, Investindustrial forge alliance to drive Saudi industrial expansion
SIDF Investment Co., the financial arm of the Saudi Industrial Development Fund, has entered into a strategic partnership with European private equity firm Investindustrial, marking its first international private equity commitment. |
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| Saudi Arabia advances net-zero goal with landmark carbon credit deal
More than 30 million tonnes of high-integrity carbon credits are set to be delivered by 2030 under an agreement aimed at supporting Saudi Arabia’s net-zero ambitions. |
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| Saudi Arabia arrests 9,639 illegals in one week
Saudi authorities arrested 9,639 people in one week for breaching residency, work, and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. |
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| Kuwait moves to scrap housing law critics say created unequal access
Kuwait’s Cabinet has taken steps to repeal a controversial housing law that critics say unfairly granted a second chance at public housing to a select group of citizens, while thousands of others remained on waiting lists. |
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| Up to Dh1 million fine: UAE media law goes into effect; list of penalties revealed
A new media law has come into effect in the UAE as of May 29, introducing a strict regulatory framework for all media activities in the country. The law carries hefty penalties up to Dh1 million, for violations ranging from insulting religious beliefs to operating without a licence. |
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| UAE: Can employees request to add annual salary increment clause in employment contract?
Question: I am currently employed at a mainland Dubai company that offers bonuses, annual salary increases, and other benefits. I’ve received a job offer from another company that provides a higher base salary but does not mention any annual salary increases. Can I request that a clause guaranteeing annual salary increases be added to the contract? If so, what is the legal standing of such a clause under UAE labour law? Please clarify. |
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| Saudi, Dutch deal to enhance farm services
Saudi Arabia’s National Co. for Agricultural Services, known as AgriServ, and the Netherlands’ Delphy signed a cooperation agreement during the recent GreenTech exhibition in Amsterdam. |
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| Qatar and Kuwait sign tax agreement to boost economic ties
Qatar and Kuwait have signed an agreement to eliminate double taxation and prevent tax evasion and avoidance, aiming to enhance economic coordination and commercial ties. |
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| NBK signs agreement with AIU to enhance career development
The National Bank of Kuwait signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the American International University to provide collaborative and innovative training programs and professional development workshops. |
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| Al-Tijaria, CSCEC sign strategic MOU with to collaborate on govt-tendered projects
The Commercial Real Estate Company (Al-Tijaria), one of Kuwait’s leading real estate companies, has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with China State Construction Engineering Corporation Ltd (CSCEC), a global construction giant based in China, to jointly explore and collaborate on a range of strategically selected development projects tendered by governmental authorities in Kuwait. |
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| Saudi Arabia’s Diriyah Co., Kakao Mobility sign deal to boost smart mobility
Diriyah Co., backed by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, has signed a memorandum of understanding with South Korea-based Kakao Mobility to enhance smart mobility infrastructure across the historic city of Diriyah. |
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| Saudi GO Telecom signs deal to rebuild Syria’s telecom sector
Saudi Arabia’s GO Telecom has signed an agreement with the Syrian government to help modernize the country’s digital infrastructure, marking one of the first major private sector initiatives following the recent easing of Western sanctions. |
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| Kingdom arrests 12,129 illegals in one week
Saudi authorities arrested 12,129 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. |
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| Wives who lost their citizenship can travel with Kuwaiti passport
The interior ministry announced on Thursday that thousands of wives of Kuwaiti men who had their citizenship revoked in the past year will be allowed to travel abroad using their Kuwaiti passport during the summer months. |
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| Sub-letting apartments in Dubai: What tenants, sub-tenants must know
I cannot afford an apartment alone, so I am considering getting a couple of roommates to share a one-bedroom apartment in Dubai. I don’t want to break any laws. Could you please explain the rules around room sharing and how it works? |
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| Kuwait, Japan sign deals during Crown Prince’s visit
Kuwait and Japan signed several memoranda of cooperation on Thursday during a formal ceremony held in Tokyo, under the patronage of His Highness the Crown Prince Sheikh Sabah Al-Khaled Al-Hamad Al-Sabah and Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba. |
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| Saudi EXIM Bank targets African markets with 4 new MoUs
Saudi Arabia is accelerating the expansion of its non-oil exports into African markets, with the Saudi Export-Import Bank securing four new strategic agreements to strengthen trade and investment ties across the continent. |
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| Saudi, US security agencies sign agreements
Prince Abdulaziz bin Saud, Saudi Minister of Interior, has signed a number of agreements with US counterpart agencies, the Saudi Press Agency said. |
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| Dubai: Can expats hire more than one housemaid? Legal requirements clarified
Question: I am an expat resident and recently brought my parents here in Dubai on a residence visa because there is no one to look after them in our home country. I already have a housemaid under my sponsorship. Am I allowed to hire 2 more maids and what are the requirements? |
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| Sub-letting apartments in Dubai: What tenants, sub-tenants must know
Question: I cannot afford an apartment alone, so I am considering getting a couple of roommates to share a one-bedroom apartment in Dubai. I don’t want to break any laws. Could you please explain the rules around room sharing and how it works? |
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| Kingdom arrests 13,118 illegals in one week
Saudi authorities arrested 13,118 people in one week for breaching residency, work and border security regulations, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Saturday. |
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| UAE jobs: Is 6-month sick leave possible in case of major illness?
Question: I have just been diagnosed with a major illness for which I will need to take extended breaks. Can you explain the UAE’s official sick leave policy for private sector employees, both paid and unpaid? Can I also use my paid annual leave for treatment? Are there any humanitarian considerations in this regard? For example, can I request a six-month leave? |
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| Saudi Arabia’s Matarat, Thales sign deal to transform air travel experience
Matarat Holding, the state-owned company responsible for managing Saudi Arabia’s airports, has signed a strategic agreement with French aerospace and defense giant Thales to advance the Kingdom’s aviation sector through cutting-edge digital technologies. |
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| Saudi Arabia, Spain sign MoU to boost SME sectors and deepen economic ties
Saudi Arabia and Spain are set to strengthen cooperation between small- and medium-sized enterprises thanks to a wide-ranging agreement across key sectors. |
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| Shoura Council calls for metro systems in major Saudi cities
Saudi Arabia’s Shoura Council has called for studies into developing metro systems in the Kingdom’s major cities, Asharq Al-Awsat has reported. |
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| Saudi Arabia, Japan sign MoU to boost judicial ties
Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani met with his Japanese counterpart Keisuke Suzuki during an official visit to the East Asian country. |
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| Qatar’s QIA plans to at least double annual US investments over next decade
Qatar’s sovereign wealth fund is planning to at least double its annual US investments in the next decade, its CEO said on Tuesday, after the fund has already pledged to invest $500 billion in the US economy over the next 10 years. |
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| KSrelief, UN sign $5m deal to rehabilitate 33 bakeries in Syria
Saudi Arabia’s aid agency KSrelief has signed a $5 million agreement with the UN Development Programme to rehabilitate damaged bakeries in the Syrian Arab Republic. |