Perspective. Analysis. Regional Intelligence.
Commentary and analysis across Corporate Services, Immigration and Relocation across the Middle East
The regulatory and commercial landscape across the Middle East — including the UAE and Saudi Arabia — continues to evolve. Our Insights section provides commentary, analysis and updates designed for executives, HR leaders and investors navigating the region.
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The Importance of Community
They say you only truly know your strength when you are tested, but that is also when you find out your capacity for grace and kindness. In recent weeks the Middle East region has certainly been tested, and it has shown how strong it can be, but, perhaps more impactfully, its nations, governments and people
March 27, 2026
Read more about The Importance of CommunityLatest Articles
No extension, renew, transfer, visit, work or family visa for Syrians
The Undersecretary of the Ministry of Interior for Nationality and Passport Affairs, Brigadier-General Talal Marafie, has issued instructions to the directors-general and their assistants at all immigration departments in the six governorates of Kuwait not to extend, renew or transfer visit, work or family visas for Syrians, reports Al-Anba daily. According to the instructions, which
600 dinar for 10-year residency permit in Bahrain
The 10-year renewable residency permit on a self-sponsorship basis for foreign investors will cost 600 Bahraini dinar (Dh5,835). The fee for the two-year residency permit will be 200 dinar and 400 dinar for the five-year permit, the cabinet said at weekly session on Monday as it endorsed a draft-law on amending some provisions of Edict
Oman working on new temporary work permits for expats
Oman’s government is planning to permit the recruitment of non-Omani workers under temporary employment licenses in specific specialised jobs for a set period of time. The specified professions include medical, academic, technical, consultancy, expertise and training, according to the Implementation Support and Follow-up Unit’s annual report. This amendment is being pursued as a measure to
UAE plans amnesty for visa violators
A general amnesty for foreign violators of the country’s residency laws will shortly be announced by the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (FAIC), a senior official said on Monday. Ali Mohammad Bin Hammad Al Shamsi, Chairman of FAIC, said violators will have the option to either rectify their legal status through paying nominal fees,
June 28, 2018
Read more about UAE plans amnesty for visa violatorsOne-year visa extension for divorcees and widows
The UAE Cabinet has adopted a decision to extend the visas of widowed or divorced women residing in the UAE and their children for one year from the date of the divorce or the death of the spouse, as part of the legislative changes approved by the Cabinet. The decision grants widows and divorced women
Major changes in UAE visa rules
A new insurance scheme for workers’ guarantees has been introduced. The previous mandatory deposit of Dh3,000 per worker is now replaced by a new insurance scheme that cost only Dh60 annually per worker. The decisions were approved on Wednesday during a cabinet meeting chaired His Highness Shaikh Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime
June 28, 2018
Read more about Major changes in UAE visa rulesKuwait to delay VAT implementation until 2021
Kuwait is set to delay its implementation of a regional 5 per cent value added tax until 2021, according to a parliamentary committee statement. An update on the National Assembly’s website from a budget and final accounts committee meeting on Monday appeared to confirm the timeline. “The committee noted that the value added tax will
Oman adds China, Iran, Russia to visa on arrival list
Oman has added passport holders from China, Iran and Russia to a list of countries that do not require a pre-entry tourist visa. The move follows the introduction of new visa rules in the sultanate in March including a new online application process. An official told Times of Oman that the countries join citizens from
Filipino embassy issues guidelines for hiring OFWs in Oman
In an advisory released by Embassy of the Philippines in Muscat, all Filipino workers should draw a minimum salary of OMR290 per month. The hiring advisory comes from the Philippine Overseas Labour Office at the office of the Labour Attache and will guide sponsors on the rights of all Overseas Filipino Workers (OFWs) in the
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