Al-Mirsal

Insights and commentary on legal developments in the Middle East

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The Legal Landscape for Drones in the UAE

February 28, 2017

The use of “unmanned aerial systems” or “drones” for commercial, government and consumer purposes has significantly increased in recent years across the globe. In the UAE, the office of H.H. Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai, introduced the Drones for Good Award at the Government Summit held in Dubai in February 2014 to promote the development of drone technology in the consumer market in the UAE. This post explores…

Al-Mirsal

The Legal Status of Bitcoin in the United Arab Emirates

February 16, 2017

This is the first in a series of articles considering legal issues relating to bitcoin, cryptocurrencies and blockchain in the UAE. In this article we focus on the legal status of bitcoin and address the question of whether bitcoin is banned in the UAE. In part two we will consider the case for regulating bitcoin and cryptocurrencies and in part three we will consider legal issues relating to the adoption of blockchain technology by public…

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United Arab Emirates – the New Digital Payments Regulatory Landscape

By Madonna Kobayssi

February 16, 2017

New Regulations balance innovation in the payments sector with safety, security and maintaining the public’s trust in the UAE payment ecosystem. After a long period of consultation, on 1 January 2017 the Central Bank in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued the Regulatory Framework for Stored Values and Electronic Payment Systems (Electronic Payment Regulation). The Electronic Payment Regulation’s key message is that all eligible participating institutions (whether they are banks, payment networks, telecommunications companies, government…

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5 Preventative Actions for Mitigating Cybersecurity Risk

By Latham & Watkins LLP

November 21, 2016

By Jennifer C. Archie, Gail Crawford, Andrew Moyle, Serrin A. Turner, and Brian Meenagh Given the potential reputational, legal and financial fallout from a cybersecurity incident, thoughtful preparation and communication throughout an organization can deliver substantial and valuable benefits and minimize legal and reputation risk. While no one can predict when or how a cybersecurity breach will occur, organizations should take active steps to prepare. The following five actions can help…

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Interview with The Banker on the Rise of the DIFC

By Latham & Watkins LLP

October 24, 2016

Dubai Managing Partner Villiers Terblanche spoke recently to The Banker on how the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) has fared in the past during turbulent times. …

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Climate Change Further Threatens MENA Water Security

By Paul Davies

June 2, 2016

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) is home to 14 of the 33 most water scarce countries globally, with six times less water availability than the worldwide average and less than 2 percent of the world’s renewable water supply. The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) states – Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Oman – all rank in the top 10 most water scarce countries. The water crisis in the…

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Telemedicine in the UAE

By Christopher Lester & Donya Fredj

May 25, 2016

Telemedicine is a product of 20th century information and communication technologies. It is generally defined as the provision of healthcare services from a healthcare professional to a patient from a remote location using a telephone or the internet. International and local health providers are increasingly looking to provide telemedicine services in the region, specifically in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Dubai Healthcare City (DHCC). The regulation of telemedicine in the UAE, to date, has been inconsistent…

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New Saudi Companies Law – Accumulated Losses and Risk of Statutory Dissolution

By Sami Al-Louzi & Noor Al-Fawzan

March 31, 2016

For the past few decades, the obligations of companies with losses reaching 50% or more of their share capital has been a topic of high debate in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. That is due to the uncertainty surrounding the application of Articles 148 and 180 of the current Companies Law (Current Companies Law), which regulate this matter in connection with joint stock companies (JSCs) and limited liability companies (LLCs), respectively. On 9 November 2015,…

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6 Unique Challenges for Protecting and Exploiting Intellectual Property in the United Arab Emirates

By Madonna Kobayssi

March 20, 2016

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is an attractive global business centre and gateway to the wider Middle East region for international companies seeking to commercialise and exploit their brands, products and technologies. However, the UAE is often considered to present risks from an intellectual property (IP) infringement perspective – a perception that potentially can undermine a business’s strategy and desire to build strong brand awareness and regional demand. Protection of IP International companies seeking to…

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Middle East Privatisation – Saudi Arabia Par Excellence?

By Derek McKinley

March 3, 2016

Saudi Arabia’s recently announced plans to privatise several key industries in the Kingdom has once again brought the Kingdom’s privatisation agenda back into the spotlight. The announcements form part of the countries transformational initiatives as part of The 2016-2020 National Transformation Plan (NTP) to improve public sector efficiency and boost non-oil revenues in the region, and will reportedly include airports, municipalities, hospitals and education. Privatisation covers many types of transactions but typically includes the divestiture,…

Al-Mirsal

Insights and commentary on legal developments in the Middle East

The Legal Landscape for Drones in the UAE

The Legal Status of Bitcoin in the United Arab Emirates

United Arab Emirates – the New Digital Payments Regulatory Landscape

5 Preventative Actions for Mitigating Cybersecurity Risk

Interview with The Banker on the Rise of the DIFC

Climate Change Further Threatens MENA Water Security

Telemedicine in the UAE

New Saudi Companies Law – Accumulated Losses and Risk of Statutory Dissolution

6 Unique Challenges for Protecting and Exploiting Intellectual Property in the United Arab Emirates

Middle East Privatisation – Saudi Arabia Par Excellence?

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