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Find out moreThe final Law Update of 2022 is here, and it’s packed full of articles. The double edition features two focus areas, first is a spotlight on Energy and Resources and second we feature a collection of articles on Transport and Logistics. The developments occurring in these sectors in the MENA region are unprecedented and our lawyers cover vast themes for you.
The Energy and Resources focus features topics such as diversifying energy resources, solar PV, mining in the Middle East, renewable energy and green hydrogen. From a transport perspective, we draw attention to the Bahrain metro project, discuss the challenges and remedies associated with the repossession of an aircraft, and there is advice on what to consider should a party vary the terms of a shipping contract.
This edition navigates you through updates from across jurisdictions such as, Oman, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Iraq, Qatar, and the UAE. Each article is timely and provides insights into legal issues and cases that are affecting these sectors across the region.
Read the full editionAhmad Al Jaafir
Qatar has amended the foreign investment law no (13) of 2000 regulating foreign investment in economic activities by virtue of law no (1) of the year 2010 to include additional sectors to be permitted for foreign investors allowing them to own up to 100% of the share-capital in any company in the following sectors:
These sectors were added to the previous permitted sectors, being Agriculture, Industry, Health, Education, Tourism, Development and Exploitation of natural resources, Energy and Mining.
Process Boost:
To promote such a vision, the Ministry of Business and Trade (“MBT”) has granted the “Investment Promotion Department (IPD)” at the MBT with full authority to recommend the approval of applications made by foreign investors to invest in the permitted activities as described above. The IPD will have a private role in facilitating investment procedures through liaising and coordinating with other governmental departments and competent authorities in relation to each of the permitted activities to include without limitation;
Once the application is submitted to the IPD, they will coordinate with the competent authority in order to facilitate and accelerate the process of granting the approval, after fulfilling all the requirements and completing all the required documentation to include:
The Investment Promotion Department itself has the following sections to supervise certain sectors:
1. Investment Opportunities Section
2. Joint Ventures Section
3. Promotion Media Section
4. Investors Service Section
Investment Promotion Department is headed by Dr. Khalid Al-Derbasti.
We met with Dr. Khalid to understand more on the anticipated implications of such step. Dr. Khalid noted that this is a significant step undertaken by the MBT to provide a unified application process to expedite the registration procedures. “We are taking all measures necessary to facilitate the process of welcoming foreign investor into Qatar through this investment regime route and we can now say, with certainty, welcome to Qatar business world quite swiftly” he added.
Conclusion:
This is a major procedural step that will most definitely bolster the position of Qatar’s Investment law regime, just on time for major projects in the pipeline.
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