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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 early 2022, the Ministry of Investment Saudi Arabia (“MISA”), together with the Royal Commission for Riyadh City implemented the Regional Headquarters (“RHQ”) Programme, with the primary objective of transforming the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) into a major global economy – part of the country’s impressive Vision 2030 Initiative.
The RHQ Programme is open to companies operating across all industries/sectors and KSA has seen a significant interest in companies seeking to establish their RHQ in KSA.
Al Tamimi & Company has previously issued a briefing on the structure of the RHQ Programme, proposed benefits and overall implications.
By participating in the RHQ Programme, Multinational Groups (being a group of entities operating in one or more jurisdictions with its foreign parent/headquarters outside of the Middle East North Africa Region) will obtain a number of key benefits. Perhaps the most significant benefit/privilege however, would be the ability of the Multinational Group to be eligible for and participate in contracts with Saudi Government Agencies (including Ministries, Authorities, Government Bodies etc.).
There was initially some uncertainty as to how this would apply in practice, but in a very recent and important development, the Council of Ministers (by Royal Ascent) has passed a Resolution No. 377, dated 03/06/1444H (corresponding to 27/12/2022G), which provides and sets out the “Guidelines for Government Contracts with Companies and Related Parties Without Regional Headquarters in KSA” (“ Guidelines”).
Some key features/provisions of the Guidelines include the following:
1. Government Agencies (in carrying out their works and procurements), may not contract companies or any related party that do not have their respective RHQ in KSA, except in the following limited circumstances:
2. Multinational Groups (or related parties) without their RHQ in KSA are not precluded from submitting bids for any public tender put forward by Government Agencies, provided that such Agencies only accept these bids in either of the following cases:
3. Government Agencies are only permitted to invite Multinational Groups (or related parties) that do not have their RHQ in KSA to participate in limited tenders in either of the following cases:
4. Government Agencies are only permitted to invite Multinational Groups (or related parties) to participate in direct purchases in either of the following two cases:
5. A Committee (reporting to the Ministry of Finance) will be formed to consider any applications for exemptions brought by the relevant Government Agency.
For further guidance please contact our Saudi based Corporate Structuring team who will be able to assist and advise on all of aspects relating to this update.
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