Member News

United Arab Emirates

15 September 2023 - End-of-Service Savings Initiative Forthcoming for Private Sector Employees

The UAE Cabinet approved a new, optional, end-of-service savings initiative for private sector employees. The initiative will provide employees with low-risk investment options for end-of-service gratuity payments, overseen by the Securities and Commodities Authority and the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratization, in order to increase their financial returns and savings. Employees are only eligible to receive their end-of-service gratuity payments upon termination of their employment if they have worked for the employer for at least one continuous year. Employees working in the private sector, in both the mainland and free zones, are eligible for this scheme. Public sector employees are also eligible to voluntarily opt into the scheme, although they have additional investment schemes in which they can take part. The scheme is expected to have three investment options: risk-free investment to maintain capital; risk-based investments where the risk level varies between low, medium and high; and Sharia-compliant investments. The new initiative will enhance the attractiveness of the UAE as a global hub for foreign talent as it provides a scheme for a monthly allowance or payment during retirement in the country. The government has not yet announced when the scheme will be implemented but further details are expected in coming months. Currently, there are limited investment options for foreign nationals in the private sector. In 2020, the Dubai Financial Center Employee Workplace Savings Scheme was introduced for private sector employees employed by companies in the Dubai Financial Center, and in 2022, the Golden Pension Plan was introduced by the Investment Corporation of Dubai.

25 September 2023 - New Dubai Health Authority Training Initiative for Emirati Nationals Forthcoming

The Dubai Health Authority has announced a new training initiative for Emirati nationals – called the “Elite Program” – through which eligible Emirati nationals may take part in one-year training opportunities to gain industry-relevant experience, skills and capabilities. Program graduates may then become eligible for various specialized roles with the Dubai Health Authority. Emirati nationals interested in the initiative – which is part of broader government efforts to advance Emiratization – will be able to apply through the Dubai Careers website once the program is launched. Further information on the program, including its commencement date, is expected in the coming months. We will continue to monitor developments and will provide further updates when possible.

28 September 2023 - Visa Waiver for Armenian Nationals Entering United Arab Emirates

Armenian nationals will soon be eligible for visa-free entry into the United Arab Emirates for stays of up to 90 days for tourism. Once implemented, eligible individuals will be required to hold a passport valid for a minimum of six months from the intended date of entry, valid health insurance and a return or onward ticket. Those traveling for other purposes, including study or work, must still obtain the relevant visa in advance. Further information, including the implementation date, is expected to be announced in the coming months. UAE nationals are already permitted to enter Armenia visa-free for up to 180 days.

Qatar

05 September 2023 - Forthcoming Expansion of Hayya Card to Expo 2023 and AFC Asian Cup 2023 Visitor

The Hayya Card will soon be expanded to individuals traveling to Qatar for the AFC Asian Cup 2023, which will be held January 12-February 10, 2024; and the Expo 2023, which will be held October 2, 2023-March 28, 2024. Hayya Card applications will have special entry procedures and conditions (i.e. the card will be linked to the event), and the government is expected to announce these details at a later date. The Hayya Card is expected to facilitate tourism as it has for other recent events, such as when it was introduced to identify fans and as an entry permit for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. The Ministry of Interior subsequently expanded the Hayya Card to all individuals entering Qatar for tourism through January 24, 2024.

02 October 2023 - Certain Categories Exempt from Mandatory Health Insurance

Twelve categories of individuals are now exempt from mandatory health insurance obligations, including: temporary residence permits holders; visa-on-arrival visitors traveling for a period of up to 30 days (such individuals staying beyond 30 days must purchase health insurance); temporary entry travelers; transit passengers; diplomats, their spouses, and their children under the age of 16; non-Qatari women married to Qatari nationals; children whose mothers are Qatari nationals married to non-Qatari nationals; widows or divorced non-Qatari women, unless they were married to a non-Qatari national; up to four domestic workers per Qatari national household; detainees and prisoners; orphans in care homes; and children whose fathers are unknown. Since 2022, Qatar has imposed mandatory health insurance obligations on certain foreign nationals and employers. These requirements were expanded to include visitor visa holders February 2023 and then multiple-entry work visas in August 2023.

Kuwait

14 September 2023 – Resumption of Issuance of Family Residence Visas for Applicants in the Medical Field

Effective immediately, Kuwait’s Ministry of Interior has resumed issuing family residence visas for the wife and children (males under the age of 15 and females under the age of 18) of Kuwaiti residents working as medical staff in the Ministry of Health. This group was considered a priority to resume processing in order to retain medical professionals, particularly those in highly specialized fields. These applications have been suspended since August 2022, when the Ministry of Interior suspended the issuance of family residence visas in order to restructure Kuwait’s regulatory framework. In December 2022, the Ministry of Interior resumed issuing family residence visas for children below the age of five under certain circumstances. It is unclear at this time when the suspension will be lifted for other categories of applicants.

21 September 2021 – Foreign Nationals Must Now Settle All Government Debts to Renew Residency Permit

Foreign nationals seeking to renew their residence permit must now first settle all outstanding government debts. Residence permit renewal applicants can pay outstanding debts either through the relevant government agency websites or through the Sahel application. This new policy aligns with an ongoing initiative to collect government debts, following a recent change which required foreign nationals exiting Kuwait to first pay all outstanding utility bills and traffic fines.

Egypt

11 September 2023 – Restrictive Entry Measures for Canadian Nationals Postponed to October

The scheduled cessation of the e-visa and visa-on-arrival program for Canadian nationals entering Egypt has been postponed to October 1, 2023 (as opposed to the original scheduled date of September 3, 2023). Once the cessation goes into effect, Canadian

nationals will need to obtain a pre-arranged visit visa from an Egyptian consular post prior to traveling to Egypt, which can take up to five business days to process.

However, dual nationals of Canada and Egypt traveling to Egypt will have the following two additional options for entry to Egypt. First, they can obtain a free visa from an Egyptian consular post prior to entry. Applicants will need to submit proof of Egyptian nationality – such as a birth certificate, Egyptian national identification document or Egyptian passport (these documents can be expired). Alternatively, they can obtain a visa-on-arrival, which will cost USD 25. Prior to traveling to Egypt, applicants opting for the second method must obtain a certificate from an Egyptian consular post that proves their Egyptian nationality. Government details remain unclear about the exact process or timeframes for obtaining this certificate.

Note that after October 1, 2023, Canadians traveling to Egypt for business or short-term work purposes must follow the new requirements for entry to Egypt listed above, but they must also obtain a short-term work authorization from the Ministry of Manpower as is current practice.

25 September 2023 – Immigration Fees Must Now be Paid in U.S. Dollars

Foreign nationals must now pay immigration-related fees in U.S. dollars, including payments for residence permit applications (new permits or renewals), in-country visitor visa extensions, and immigration fines (including overstay and non-registration fines). To pay such fees, foreign nationals must now first convert U.S. dollars into Egyptian pounds in person at any of the following three banks: National Bank of Egypt/Al Ahly Bank, Banque Misr, or Banque du Caire. The bank will then issue a receipt in the applicant’s name, stating that the currency conversion was for the purpose of a “government fee payment”. Applications must then be submitted within 15 days of obtaining the currency conversion receipt. Otherwise, applicants will be required to conduct a new currency conversion. Previously, foreign nationals could pay immigration fees in Egyptian pounds. Through this amendment, the government is seeking to replenish foreign currency reserves.

Morocco

27 September 2023 - Minimum Salary Level Increased for Agricultural, Industrial, Trade and Service Sector

The Government of Morocco has increased the monthly minimum salary level by 5 percent for employees in the agricultural, industrial, trade and service sectors.

The minimum salary levels are now:

• Agricultural sector: MAD 2,303 (around USD 225) – up from the previous MAD 2,193.

• Industrial, trade and service sectors: MAD 3,111 (around USD 303) – up from the previous MAD 2,970.

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