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Find out moreWelcome to the first edition of Law Update for 2025. As we begin this exciting year, we are pleased to turn our attention to one of the most dynamic sectors in the UAE and the broader GCC region – healthcare. Over the past several years, the region has seen unprecedented growth in this sector, driven by legislative advancements, technological innovations, and the increasing focus on sustainability and AI. As such, healthcare is set to be one of the most important sectors in the coming decade.
In this issue, we explore key themes that are significantly shaping the future of healthcare in the UAE, such as recent changes in foreign ownership laws. These reforms present a major opportunity for foreign investors, opening up new avenues for international collaborations and improving the overall healthcare infrastructure. The changes in ownership laws are an important milestone, and we provide an analysis of what this means for the industry and the various players involved.
Read NowIn a regional-first, the Central Bank of Bahrain (“CBB”) has issued for public consultation, draft regulations to govern and license “Crypto-asset Platform Operators”. The regulatory framework will be included in Volume 6 of the CBB Rulebook that governs Capital Markets.
The draft rules come off the back of the implementation by the CBB of a regulatory sandbox in June 2017. Since the creation of the regulatory sandbox, various crypto-currency related entities have availed of the opportunity and entered the sandbox, thereby working closely with the CBB in testing and refining their technology based innovative products, services and platforms, in a controlled virtual space without being immediately burdened by the usual regulatory and financial requirements which would otherwise apply to their activities.
The CBB has invited consultations on the draft regulations and comments/feedback may be provided to the CBB through email until 13 January 2019.
We have summarised the key features of the draft regulations for you below:
“Marketing” is envisaged to include any promotion, offering, announcement, advertising, broadcast or any other means of communication carried out to induce purchase, exchange or acquisition of financial services in return for a payment or other consideration.
“Activities” are deemed to be undertaken in or from Bahrain when the platform/person is incorporated in Bahrain or directly solicits clients within Bahrain.
Given the new regulations, Al Tamimi & Company would be delighted to assist you with any enquiries relating to the regulations and any licensing applications. Please do not hesitate to contact:
Rad El Treki
Head of Corporate Structuring – Bahrain
r.eltreki@tamimi.com
Natalia Kumar
Senior Associate, Banking & Finance
n.kumar@tamimi.com
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