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Find out moreAs we witness the evolution of the regulatory landscape across the MENA region, it was timely for us to investigate and lift the lid, on what is keeping the region’s legal decision-makers awake at night.
Our first-of-its-kind report titled Legal Leaders in MENA is out now! It captures the views of 700 legal decision-makers across nine countries and 13 industry sectors in MENA, as well as in-depth interviews with experts from key sectors such as financial services and education to name a few, which revealed the emerging risks and priorities challenging the legal sector across the region.
Read the full report and share your feedback with us at legalleaders@tamimi.com.
Read the full reportSaudis and non-Saudis who carry out economic activities in the Kingdom have until 15 Rajab 1443H corresponding to 16 February 2022, to rectify any non-compliance with the KSA Anti-Concealment Law and thereby be exempt from penalties stipulated under the law, other penalties resulting from the crime and its proceeds, as well as from paying income tax retroactively.
The KSA Ministry of Commerce, in coordination with the National Anti-Commercial Concealment Program (Tasattur), issued regulations providing six option for companies and individuals to correct their legal status as it relates to commercial concealment, without penalty until 16 February 2022 (which used to be until 23 August 2021 but the initial period has been extended for an additional 6 months).
Typical violations of the Anti-Concealment Law (Royal Decree No. M/4 dated 1/1/1442H (corresponding to 20/8/2020), and its implementing regulations; Ministerial Resolution No. 00479 dated 20/7/1442H (corresponding to 4/3/2021AD)) include:
Regulations for Rectifying the Status of Anti-Concealment Law Violators, (the “Regulations”), as approved by the Ministry of Commerce, provides six options for rectifying the status of businesses in violation of the law, summarised as follows:
Those wishing to correct the situation of their businesses can apply electronically to the Ministry of Commerce by submitting a disclosure form and providing the requested documents and information, depending on the corrective action chosen from the six options outlined, above.
The request to correct a business’ status will be reviewed to verify that it meets the necessary requirements and applicants will be given a period of 90 days from notification of any delinquency to correct the same. If the request is still incomplete after 90 days, the applicant may be granted an additional 180 days to complete the corrective measures.
The Regulations provide that those who submit a request to the Ministry to rectify their status through one of the six options will be exempt from the penalties stipulated in the Anti-Concealment Law, other penalties resulting from the crime and its proceeds, as well as from paying income tax retroactively.
The Regulations clarify that such exemptions from penalties will not include violators who were arrested before submitting a request to rectify their situation, or those who were referred to the Saudi Bureau of Investigation and Prosecution or the competent court before submitting their request.
After 23 August 2021, companies not in compliance with the Anti-Concealment Law may be subject to harsh penalties. In general, violators may be subject to imprisonment of up to five years and/or a fine of not more than five million Saudi riyals, in addition to payment of all Zakat, taxes, and charges, as well as deportation for non-Saudis and the prevention of practicing a commercial activity in the Kingdom for up to five years for Saudi nationals.
Al Tamimi & Company has three offices across Saudi Arabia (Jeddah, Riyadh, and Al Khobar) and are able to assist businesses seeking to rectify their status and put in place associated agreements and contracts to bring their businesses in line with Saudi law.
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