GCC

Qatar has reduced the grace period for expatriates to leave the country after the cancellation of their residence permits from 30 days to 14 days, according to an official from the Ministry of Interior.

Speaking during a webinar on safe travel procedures organised by the ministry’s Public Relations Department, Captain Ali Ahmed Ali Al Kuwari of the Airport Passports Department said the revised rule is now in effect.

“Earlier it was 30 days, but currently it is two weeks,” he said, as quoted by Gulf Times.

He warned that anyone remaining in Qatar beyond the 14-day period after permit cancellation would face a fine of QR10 per day.

The official also reminded visitors to carefully verify the validity and duration of stay stamped on their visas, noting that overstaying a visit visa attracts a penalty of QR200 per day.

Travellers were advised to review their status through the Metrash application before departure to check for unpaid traffic fines, overstay penalties or other dues that could disrupt travel.

Al Kuwari also urged passengers to use the electronic gate system at Hamad International Airport to speed up immigration clearance. The airport currently operates 76 e-gates across its arrival and departure terminals.

He added that residents wishing to transfer their residence permit to a new passport can complete the process through Metrash.

On residency rules for newborns, Al Kuwari said parents must report births to passport authorities and obtain the necessary residence documents. Children born in Qatar must secure a residence permit under their father’s sponsorship after completing embassy formalities.

Without a valid residence permit, a newborn would not be allowed to re-enter Qatar after leaving the country, he said.

Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Justice Walid Al-Samaani has said the Kingdom’s new enforcement system, approved by the Cabinet in April, is founded on a balanced legal framework aimed at safeguarding creditors’ rights while protecting the basic rights of debtors and their families.

In an interview with local media, Al-Samaani said the reformed system was designed to secure legal rights rather than punish individuals. He stressed that the purpose of enforcement is not to cause harm, but to ensure justice is carried out effectively.

“Rights are not fully protected merely through the issuance of a judgment or legal instrument,” the minister said. “What truly guarantees those rights is efficient and dependable enforcement, which in turn strengthens the business climate and builds trust in financial and commercial dealings.”

Al-Samaani revealed that Saudi Arabia recorded 1.6 million enforcement requests in 2025, with a total value of SR165 billion ($43.9 billion), underlining the growing scale and significance of the enforcement sector.

He described the enforcement of contracts and judicial rulings as a cornerstone of investment confidence and economic stability, adding that clear, swift and effective procedures are vital to strengthening the reliability of both the judicial and commercial environment.

Saudi Arabia’s judicial system has undergone sweeping reforms since the launch of Saudi Vision 2030 in 2016, as the Kingdom continues to modernise its legal and institutional framework in line with economic and social transformation.

Al-Samaani, who has served as justice minister since the early formation of the Council of Ministers under Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, has overseen many of these changes.

One of the most significant reforms is the new enforcement law, which introduces major amendments, including the abolition of imprisonment for debtors unable to repay, alongside revised measures governing service suspensions and travel bans.

On the commercial justice front, the minister said Saudi commercial courts have handled around 500,000 cases since their establishment. In 2025 alone, the courts issued more than 97,600 judgments — a 32 per cent increase compared with the previous year.

Al-Samaani also highlighted the rapid digital transformation of the Kingdom’s judicial sector, pointing to advances in service quality and the growing role of artificial intelligence in supporting and modernising the justice system.

A French appeals court has confirmed that Morocco and Paris Saint-Germain star Achraf Hakimi will stand trial in a rape case, lawyers told The Associated Press on Friday.

The defender, currently representing Morocco while competing in international fixtures, had appealed a February decision by an investigative judge. That ruling followed prosecutors’ recommendations that he should face trial.

The Versailles appeals court’s decision was released just hours before Morocco were due to face Scotland in a Group C match. Morocco had drawn 1–1 with Brazil in their opening game.

Hakimi, widely regarded as one of the world’s leading right-backs, denies any wrongdoing. He was placed under preliminary investigation for rape in March 2023 after a 24-year-old woman alleged she was assaulted at his home in a Paris suburb.

Rachel-Flore Pardo, the lawyer representing the complainant, said that after more than three years of legal proceedings, “and after being defamed and dragged through the mud by Achraf Hakimi’s defence,” the court’s decision “brings my client a sense of relief and hope.”

“Relief that she has been heard by the justice system and will have her case heard at trial,” Pardo said in a statement to the AP. “Hope that this trial will help other women and further weaken the fortress of denial and impunity surrounding sexual violence, including within the world of men’s football.”

Hakimi, meanwhile, posted on X that he believes the case would have been dismissed had he not been famous, claiming he has sometimes felt like “an easy target.”

“Justice looked me in the eye and told me: ‘If you were not famous, there would never have been a case,’” he wrote. “I chose to remain silent for years. I believed that staying dignified, being patient, and trusting the justice system would allow the right decisions to be made.”

He added that the proceedings have affected not only him, but also his family, “and above all, the truth.”

“I have been waiting for this trial since the first day. And I am now waiting for it impatiently,” he wrote. “Finally, I will be able to speak.”

A trial date has not yet been announced.

Hakimi’s lawyer, Fanny Colin, told the AP that “the multitude of exculpatory elements uncovered during the investigation and judicial inquiry would, in any other case, have led to the dismissal of the proceedings.”

She added that the defence regretted “that no consequences were drawn from the contradictions and false statements made by the complainant, her concealment of information from the judicial authorities, her obstruction of the search for the truth, and the psychological assessments noting both her ambivalence and her lack of clarity regarding the events she reported.”

His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, Ruler of Bahrain, has issued a series of new laws and key legislative amendments designed to strengthen investment protections and modernise consumer rights, marking a significant update to Bahrain’s regulatory landscape.

The reforms, which come after approval by both the Parliament and the Shura Council, are expected to enhance legal clarity for investors, improve market confidence, and reinforce safeguards for consumers across key sectors of the economy.

The new legislative package is part of broader efforts to align Bahrain’s legal framework with evolving economic needs, particularly in areas related to investment security, commercial transparency, and dispute resolution mechanisms.

Officials said the amendments are intended to create a more stable and predictable business environment, reducing legal ambiguity and ensuring stronger enforcement of rights for both investors and consumers.

Consumer protection provisions under the updated framework are also expected to address unfair commercial practices more effectively, while offering improved mechanisms for complaint resolution and regulatory oversight.

The investment-related reforms are seen as part of Bahrain’s continued push to attract foreign capital and support long-term economic diversification goals.

The issuance of the laws underscores the role of the constitutional process, following detailed legislative scrutiny and approval before being ratified by the King.

Kuwait has announced a new long-term residency plan allowing eligible foreign investors and their families to obtain residency permits of up to 15 years, in a move aimed at strengthening the country’s investment climate and supporting economic diversification.

The announcement was made on Monday, June 15, as part of wider efforts to position Kuwait as a leading regional destination for foreign investment.

Under the new framework, residency permits of up to 15 years will be available to qualified foreign investors, their immediate family members, accredited senior executives, and approved partners linked to investment entities operating in Kuwait.

To qualify, investors must meet several conditions, including ownership of investment entities licensed by the Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority (KDIPA). They are also required to maintain active business operations in Kuwait, comply with prescribed quotas for employing Kuwaiti nationals, and invest in approved activities with a minimum capital of KD1 million.

In addition, entities licensed under the scheme must maintain an overall investment value of at least KD5 million.

The long-term residency is expected to offer greater stability for international investors seeking to establish or expand operations in Kuwait, while supporting the country’s broader push for economic diversification and high-value investments.

According to the Ministry of Interior (MoI), the initiative is aligned with Kuwait’s leadership vision to transform the country into a more attractive financial and commercial hub and enhance its regional competitiveness.

The framework has been approved under Cabinet Resolution No. 651 of 2026 and developed in coordination between the Ministry of Interior’s General Department of Residency Affairs and KDIPA.

Officials said the policy builds on Law No. 116 of 2013 on the promotion of direct investment and reflects ongoing efforts to improve Kuwait’s legal and regulatory environment for foreign investors.

The new visa regime places Kuwait among a growing group of Gulf states offering long-term residency pathways to attract global capital, talent and business commitments.

The UAE’s Golden Visa

Kuwait's Ministry of Finance has issued a warning to holders of permits for state-owned chalets and land plots, stressing that government properties must not be subleased or transferred to third parties under any circumstances.

The Gulf Cooperation Council has launched the “Gulf Legislation Platform” at the headquarters of its General Secretariat, marking a significant step towards deeper legal and legislative integration among member states.

The platform is designed to strengthen coordination across GCC countries by enabling streamlined access to unified Gulf legislation issued under the framework of joint Gulf action, along with national laws from member states. It serves as a single electronic reference point intended to support legislative and legal work across the Council.

GCC Secretary General Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi praised the initiative during the launch, highlighting the efforts behind its development. The platform was established in line with a decision of the Standing Committee of Officials of Legislation Departments in the GCC States, taken at its 19th meeting, which approved the General Secretariat’s proposal to create a specialised legislative portal.

According to officials, the platform is aimed at simplifying access to legal information for government entities, legal professionals, researchers, and other stakeholders. It features advanced search tools that allow users to efficiently browse and review both unified Gulf legislation and national laws across member states.

By consolidating legal resources into a single digital system, the platform is expected to enhance the exchange of legal expertise and improve legislative coordination among GCC countries.

The platform currently hosts more than 24,700 legal and legislative documents, making it one of the most comprehensive regional legal databases launched under GCC cooperation efforts.

Oman has introduced a new legal framework for civil society organisations after His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, Ruler of Oman, issued Royal Decree No. 64/2026 promulgating the Civil Society Institutions Law, marking a significant overhaul of legislation that has governed the sector for more than two decades.

The decree, issued after being presented to the Council of Oman, brings into force the new law and repeals the Civil Associations Law issued under Royal Decree No. 14/2000. The move forms part of a broader programme of legislative modernisation undertaken in Oman in recent years.

Under the new law, all organisations and entities subject to its provisions must regularise their status and comply within one year from the date it comes into force. The transition period is intended to allow existing associations and non-profit entities sufficient time to align their governance structures, operations and registration requirements with the new framework.

The Minister of Social Development has been tasked with issuing the Executive Regulation within one year. The minister will also issue the necessary rules and decisions for implementing the law. Until the new regulations are issued, existing rules will remain in force to the extent that they do not conflict with the new law.

While the full text of the law has not yet been published, it is expected to establish a modern regulatory framework for civil society institutions, replacing provisions that have been in force since 2000. The earlier Civil Associations Law governed non-profit organisations engaged in charitable work, social services, cultural activities and community development.

Legal observers say the reform is aimed at strengthening governance, clarifying legal status, and updating the operational framework of civil society institutions in line with Oman’s evolving social and economic priorities. The shift in terminology from “civil associations” to “civil society institutions” is also seen as indicating a broader regulatory scope covering a wider range of non-profit and community-based organisations.