Member News

United Arab Emirates

Reminder: Music License Fees for Certain Businesses Forthcoming 14 October 2026

As a reminder, from December 1, 2026, businesses across the United Arab Emirates that use protected music in commercial or customer-facing settings will be required to obtain an annual music license and pay the applicable fee.  

The new requirements are particularly relevant to:  

• Restaurants and cafés, including venues offering DJ or other entertainment; 
• Hotels and floating hotels; 
• Retail outlets and shopping malls; 
• Gyms and fitness centres; 
• Airlines; 
• Radio stations and television channels; and 
• Concerts and comparable commercial events.  

The annual fee is not fixed and will depend on the nature of the business and factors such as seating capacity, floor area, hotel classification and room count, annual revenue or other sector specific criteria.  

Certain uses and organisations are exempt, including government and educational institutions, national occasions and private non-commercial celebrations.

Saudi Arabia 

Electronic and On-Arrival Tourist Visas Now Available to Nationals of Kosovo and Guyana 9 October 2026 

Nationals of Kosovo and Guyana are now eligible to obtain a Saudi tourist visa either electronically prior to travel (an ‘e-visa’) or upon arrival at any of the country’s entry ports.   

The tourist visa allows eligible visitors to travel to Saudi Arabia for tourism purposes including attending events, performing Umrah, and visiting relatives and friends.  

Individuals travelling for other purposes (including study, business or work) must continue to obtain the relevant visa category prior to arriving in the country.  

The tourist visa may be issued as either a single-entry or multiple-entry:  

• Single-entry visa: valid for three months from the date of issuance and allows a maximum duration of stay of up to 90 days. 
• Multiple-entry visa: valid for one year from the date of issuance; allows multiple entries and stays of up to 90 consecutive days.  

The validity periods and permitted durations of stay are general guidelines only. The actual visa validity and length of stay granted are subject to the discretion of the Saudi authorities. 

Both the e-visa and visa on arrival are subject to a fee of SAR 395. 

Reminder:  Saudization Requirement for Certain Administrative Support Roles 6 October 2026

As anticipated, effective October 5, 2026, an 100% Saudization requirement went into effect for 50 administrative support roles. These include inventory movement clerk, shipping clerk, receptionist, information clerk, government relations clerk, public relations specialist, human resources expert, human resources consultant, recruitment specialist, human resources monitoring specialist, and workforce planning specialist.

The 100% Saudization rule had been extended to 19 other administrative support roles earlier this year. 

Electronic Travel Authorisation Launched for UK Nationals 1 October 2026 

UK nationals can enter Saudi Arabia using a new multiple-entry Electronic Travel Authorization (ETA), which is valid for two years and permits a total stay of up to 180 days during its validity period.

Previously, UK nationals could enter Saudi Arabia using an Electronic Visa Waiver (EVW), which was single-entry, valid for 90 days from the date of approval for a maximum duration of stay of 180 days.  

The ETA permits travel for tourism, business purposes and short-term study. It does not permit work, residence or Hajj, for which separate visas remain required.  

While the authorities have not issued detailed guidance defining the full scope of business activities permitted under the ETA, feedback received indicates that this may include activities such as attending business meetings, training, conferences and events. As the scope has not been formally defined, travellers should assess their intended activities on a case by case basis before travelling. 

Rental Behaviour Index Introduced 22 September 2026

Saudi Arabia introduced a Rental Behaviour Index that allows tenants to obtain reports on their rental history. Landlords and licensed real estate brokers can request a prospective tenant’s report with the tenant’s electronic consent.   

The Rental Behaviour Index, introduced through the Sakani and Ejar platforms, assesses tenants across five areas: rent payment history, lease continuity for the same residential unit, financial solvency, communication with landlords or licensed real estate brokers, and compliance with rental regulations and contractual obligations.  

Tenants can access and download their report through the Sakani application or Ejar platform. Landlords and licensed real estate brokers may also request a report, subject to the tenant’s electronic consent.   

The detailed methodology used to weigh the five assessment areas and determine the overall report outcome has not been publicly disclosed, so the report should be used as one factor in leasing decisions rather than as a definitive assessment.  

Qatar 

Wage Protection System Rules Amended 24 September 2026 

Qatar has amended its Wage Protection System regulations. 

Under the amended rules, the following key changes apply: 

Kuwait 

New Digital Wage Payment and Protection System Launched  14 October 2026

Kuwait’s Central Bank launched the Kuwait Wage Payment System on September 28, 2026. The system provides a central platform for processing and monitoring private-sector salary payments through local banks for Kuwaiti and foreign national employees. 

The Kuwait Wage Payment System was introduced as part of the second phase of the Kuwait National Payments System.

The system applies to private-sector employers of all sizes, with no minimum establishment size requirement. 

Benefits of the system  

The new system:  

• based on pre-launch reporting, is expected to support comparisons between transferred salaries and documented employment contracts, as well as administrative justifications relating to suspended employees. 
• improves the security, reliability, efficiency and transparency of wage payments through real-time monitoring of salary transfers; and 
• supports the earlier identification of potential non-compliance with wage-payment requirements.  

It is also expected to reduce manual processes, enhance salary-payment data quality, and facilitate data sharing among relevant authorities.  

New Residence Permit Category Introduced for Certain Former Kuwaiti Nationals  8 October 2026

Effective September 2026, the following changes, among others, went into effect: 

• New residence permit category: 
• Eligibility. A new 10-year residence permit has been created for a) former Kuwaiti nationals whose nationality was withdrawn as part of recent nationality reforms; and b) individuals who acquired Kuwaiti nationality through dependency but then opted for another nationality (thus losing their Kuwaiti nationality). Additional details on permit requirements are expected to be announced in the future.   
• Work authorization. Authorities are yet to clarify work authorization rights (if any) for this permit category.   
• Benefits. Holders of this new permit may remain outside Kuwait for single periods of longer than six consecutive months; whereas generally Kuwaiti resident permit holders are not permitted to do so. Additionally, they are exempt from annual residence permit fees, and they are subject to the same fee for sponsoring domestic workers as Kuwaiti nationals. 
• Family reunification right. Holders of this new permit may apply for residence permits for eligible family members. 
• New Family reunification fee. GCC nationals whose Kuwaiti nationality was withdrawn, and their dependants who returned to their original nationality, now pay KWD 10 per year for a spouse, child or parent, and KWD 300 per year for other relatives. Previously, the fee for a foreign spouse and children of a GCC national was KWD 20 per year.  

Bahrain

Foreign Worker Secondments Now Possible 6 October 2026 

Foreign workers can now temporarily work for another employer in Bahrain for up to 90 days; previously, such secondments were not possible.   

To be eligible:  

• The employee must hold a work permit, including for the entire duration of the secondment. 
• The current employer and the secondment employer, as well as the worker, must approve the secondment. 

If the target Bahrainisation rate of the secondment employer’s entity is lower than that of the current employer’s entity, the secondment employer must pay a BHD 62.5 Bahrainisation parallel fee for the full 90-day secondment period. The assessment is based on the Bahrainisation rates of the two entities, rather than the specific activity the employee will perform.

A BHD 5 administrative fee also applies to the secondment application.

Application process  

1. The secondment employer submits the secondment request through the Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) Expat Management System. 
2. The current employer reviews and approves the request. 
3. The foreign worker receives a notification and provides their approval. 
4. Once all required approvals are completed, the secondment is activated in the LMRA system. 

Health Insurance Now Required for Dependents Applying for New Residence Permits  17 September 2026

The Labour Market Regulatory Authority requires dependents applying for a new residence permit in Bahrain to hold valid health insurance coverage. Previously, health insurance coverage was not a mandatory requirement for dependents applying for a residence permit. Health insurance was required for main applicants only.  

The health insurance policy must be issued by a licensed insurance provider in Bahrain and  must remain valid for the full duration of the residence permit. For example, a dependent applying for a one-year residence permit must hold health insurance coverage valid for at least one year.

At present, no guidance or updates have been issued regarding whether this requirement also applies to renewals. 

Egypt 

Valid Residence Status Required for Foreign Nationals to Obtain Power of Attorney  1 October 2026 

Foreign nationals seeking to obtain a Power of Attorney (POA) or complete any other transaction before an Egyptian Notary Public Office must now present a valid (non-expired) residence permit or an official residence exemption document. Those who are unable to provide the required documentation will not be able to complete the relevant notarial transaction.  

A POA is required for residence permit renewals, allowing a representative to follow up on the application and collect the residence permit card on the foreign national’s behalf.  

Previously, Notary Public Offices occasionally accepted expired residence permits when notarizing a POA. 

ABOUT FRAGOMEN 

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We are structured to support all aspects of global immigration, including strategic planning, efficiency, quality management, compliance, government relations, reporting, and case management and processing. These capabilities allow us to represent a broad range of companies, organizations and  individuals, working in partnership with clients to facilitate the transfer of employees worldwide.

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