Managing Partner's Foreword

Welcome to this
month’s Law Update

I would like to begin by wishing you Ramadan Kareem, may this month be filled with good health and joy for you and your family.

Welcome to the March issue of Law Update. In this edition we feature a country focus on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), a jurisdiction that is one of the largest economies in the world, a key market for the region and our firm. We opened our first office in Riyadh, in 2008, and have since expanded our footprint by adding a presence in Jeddah, in 2015 and in 2016 in Al Khobar.

We are proud to have been in KSA for over 15 years, during which time it has gone through significant socio-economic transformation. The progress being made is underpinned by its Vision 2030, a preeminent framework that will diversify the economy and develop key sectors such as health, education, infrastructure and tourism. In addition, Vision 2030 aims to position the KSA as an international investment hub, leveraging its central geographic location by connecting Asia, Europe, and Africa. Achieving Vision 2030 is non-negotiable for the government, and to achieve its ambitious objectives they have greenlit several large value public investment funds and government projects that have acted as a catalyst to boost the economy's growth.

As a firm, we have the pleasure of advising both the public and private sector in KSA. This has provided us with a unique insight and perspective into the progress being made. We have witnessed the emergence of an open and friendly commercial market, one that aligns with global standards of regulation. This has put KSA on the radar of many organisations from across the GCC as a vibrant jurisdiction they want to expand into. We have experienced this first hand with several clients expressing an interest in establishing a presence there.

Given KSA’s significance to the regional economy, this edition of our Law Update aims to provide insights into what is happening on the ground, and give an update on new regulations. This edition will be your guide on matters such as construction law, and employment, where we feature two articles. The first delves into KSA employment considerations under the Regional Headquarters Initiative, and the second discusses the national policy on equal employment opportunities. Furthermore, our lawyers provide details on the first codified personal status law in Saudi that reforms marriage and inheritance rules, and we share an overview of the new Telecommunications & Information Technology law. Emphasising the progress in opportunities, we feature an article on the female trailblazers lighting an innovative path in the Middle East. The article explores what women have been accomplishing in the region (and KSA especially) and it considers how they should be protecting their new innovations. This is only a snapshot of the insights our lawyers have provided. There are many more articles within the focus section that will keep you updated on the legal landscape in KSA.

Outside of the focus section, there are a number of general articles covering; the potential of the Metaverse, and what Impact the New Civil Procedures Law will have on the enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards in the UAE. In addition, we introduce you to a new Omani law that imposes a requirement on businesses to provide transparency on the structure of their shareholders, and there is an article that discusses employment contracts in Kuwait. That is not all, you will find more articles in this packed section of Law Update.

In the final section of this edition, we share a roundup of real-life judgments that provide context to the legal landscape across the region.

I hope you enjoy this issue, and should you have any comments or questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to me or any of the lawyers who have contributed.