01 | Oman puts refunds, insurance and delivery deadlines into recruitment agency obligations

As of 2026-11-06, businesses hiring expatriate workers in Oman through recruitment agencies should review refund, replacement, insurance and delivery terms as one set of contractual obligations. The new rules take effect on 2027-01-01 under Ministerial Decision No. 390 of 2026.

Agencies must bring recruited workers into Oman within 45 days after signing the recruitment service contract, unless the parties have agreed to a shorter period. If an agency misses the deadline, the employer may terminate the contract or agree in writing to an extension of up to 30 days. During the first 90 days after a worker starts employment, an employer may receive a full refund of the recruitment service fee in specified circumstances or agree with the agency on a replacement worker. For domestic workers, a partial refund may also be available after the initial 90-day period and up to two years, subject to regulatory conditions.

Agencies must insure their service contracts, with the estimated premium set at approximately 1% of the recruitment contract value. Coverage for specified claims, including natural death and qualifying disability, starts when the worker arrives in Oman or is transferred to the employer. Coverage for refusal to work without an acceptable reason or departure without lawful justification begins after the first 90 days. An agency must also deposit an OMR 5,000 financial guarantee with the Ministry of Labour and pay OMR 300 for a two-year licence. Price alone is no longer enough when screening an agency: the contract’s treatment of these obligations and deadlines will determine the employer’s options if the service fails.

Source: The Economic Times, 2026-11-05

02 | Saudi Arabia sanctions 67 recruitment agencies as refunds and complaints draw enforcement attention

Businesses selecting a recruitment provider in Saudi Arabia should confirm that it remains authorised to operate and retain records of refunds and complaints. Following inspections in the third quarter of 2026, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development took action against 67 recruitment agencies: 66 were suspended immediately, while one had its licence revoked after failing to correct violations within the prescribed period.

The violations included breaches of recruitment and labour service rules, delayed customer refunds and failure to resolve beneficiary complaints. The ministry advised employers and other users to hire domestic workers through Musaned, where they can sign electronic contracts, check approved agencies, track applications and report violations. Prior approval does not prove that an agency is still permitted to accept business, so its current status should be checked before signing a contract or making payment.

Source: Gulf News, 2026-11-05

03 | UAE opens applications for AED 1 billion industrial fund, subject to project and credit criteria

The UAE National Industrial Resilience Fund has opened its online financing portal, but the funding is for eligible industrial projects rather than a general business subsidy. Emirates Development Bank and the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology launched the portal to support the localisation of critical industries, import substitution, domestic supply-chain resilience, and the adoption of AI and advanced manufacturing technologies.

The five-year fund has a total value of AED 1 billion. Eligible new factories and existing industrial companies may seek loans for new factories, production lines, machinery, expansion, storage facilities, strategic inventory, supplier payments and working capital. Qualifying projects can receive financing at 0% interest until the end of the programme period, subject to an annual service fee of 0.75%. Financing is capped at AED 100 million per group, while capital expenditure financing may cover up to 80% of eligible project costs. Final eligibility remains subject to the fund’s terms and Emirates Development Bank’s credit assessment.

Applicants should first confirm that their products fall within the eligible scope, then determine whether capital expenditure, procurement needs and market orders can support a complete financing application. The fund specifically identifies pharmaceuticals, medical supplies, food and food processing; other strategic industries require approval from the Joint Governance Committee.

Source: Gulf News, 2026-11-04

04 | Egypt’s minimum wage increase is still being finalised, so businesses should not revise budgets yet

Egypt is preparing a minimum wage increase, but the new rate, effective date and scope have not been announced. Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly has instructed the Ministry of Finance to accelerate preparations, and the finance minister said the implementation plan is receiving its final revisions before submission to the Cabinet and an official announcement.

The measure remains in the policy-preparation stage and should not be treated as an implemented wage adjustment. Businesses with teams in Egypt can reserve room for higher payroll costs, but employment contracts, payroll records and budget assumptions should wait until the official announcement defines the rate and scope.

Source: EgyptToday, 2026-11-05

05 | Workers in Oman should approve employment contracts online themselves

Oman’s Ministry of Labour has advised workers to approve their employment contracts online themselves and keep their civil ID cards in their possession throughout the process. Workers should not hand their IDs to employers or other people to approve contracts on their behalf, as doing so can put personal data and employment rights at risk.

The advisory is intended to curb fictitious employment. It clarifies the existing contract approval process and safe handling of identity documents; it does not introduce a new penalty or approval regime. Businesses arranging onboarding should make the worker’s personal approval an explicit step and avoid holding the worker’s ID or completing the process on their behalf.

Source: Oman Observer, 2026-11-05

Other updates

  • 07 | Saudi Commerce Ministry warns against misuse of establishment bank accounts: An establishment’s account may be used only for its own commercial activities. Business owners should continuously monitor contracts, transactions and transfers, avoiding deposits from unknown parties or transfers to parties with no contractual relationship. (Source: Saudi Gazette, 2026-11-04)
  • 08 | Dubai invitation-only tourism membership includes a five-year multiple-entry visa: GDRFA Dubai and the Dubai Department of Economy and Tourism announced details of Dubai Access Club. Eligible frequent visitors who are invited may receive a five-year multiple-entry visa, shopping credits and exclusive privileges; membership is not automatically available to all tourists. (Source: Gulf News, 2026-11-05)
  • 09 | Disruption continues on some UAE-Saudi routes: Delays continue in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, with some flights between the UAE and Saudi Arabia cancelled. Etihad has extended the suspension of its Riyadh and Dammam routes until November 19. (Source: Gulf News, 2026-11-05)
  • 10 | Bahrain’s Gateway Gulf forum announces USD 22.3 billion in projects and partnerships: The fourth Gateway Gulf forum produced more than 110 announcements covering USD 22.3 billion in projects, partnerships and deals, including more than 75 agreements and memoranda of understanding. The total does not represent completed capital expenditure. (Source: Securities.io, 2026-11-04)
  • 11 | Egypt returns to international debt markets through a USD 500 million bond reopening: The reopening consists of USD 150 million in three-year notes maturing in 2030 and USD 350 million in six-year notes maturing in 2033. (Source: TradingView, 2026-11-04)
  • 14 | Egypt targets annual production of up to 100,000 electric vehicles by 2032: The government is advancing the localisation of electric vehicles and components to reduce import dependence and expand exports. (Source: Daily News Egypt, 2026-11-04)
  • 16 | Woodside’s Louisiana project agrees to supply QatarEnergy for 20 years: QatarEnergy will purchase LNG from Woodside’s project under construction on the US Gulf Coast for 20 years, with supply rising to as much as 3 million metric tonnes per annum and cargoes expected from 2030. (Source: Rigzone, 2026-11-04)
  • 17 | Qatar Investment Authority and Brookfield invest GBP 2.5 billion in a UK data centre: The partners announced an investment to develop a data centre at the Drax power station site in northern England, with the first phase planned to start operating in Q1 2028. (Source: Jawlah, 2026-11-04)
  • 20 | Pakistan confirms rollover of a USD 3 billion Saudi deposit: Pakistan’s finance minister confirmed the rollover of the Saudi cash deposit. The report did not disclose a new interest rate or the full extension period. (Source: Daily Times, 2026-11-05)
  • 21 | Saudi consultation platform publishes 71 economic and development draft measures: The National Competitiveness Center’s unified public consultation platform released 71 draft measures involving 32 government bodies, allowing stakeholders to submit comments before approval. (Source: Mubasher)
  • 23 | Saudi Public Investment Fund secures USD 3 billion in Italian export credit support: The SACE-guaranteed facilities comprise a USD 1.78 billion tranche and a EUR 1.035 billion green tranche, designed to expand opportunities for Italian companies supplying goods and services to PIF and its portfolio companies. (Source: Pulse 2.0, 2026-11-05)
  • 24 | EBRD has invested EUR 2.5 billion in Türkiye this year: Of its 2026 investment to date, EUR 1.7 billion has gone to green projects. The bank expects the year-end total to reach EUR 2.7 billion, which remains a forecast. (Source: Hürriyet Daily News)
  • 25 | Türkiye targets 175,000 MW of wind and solar capacity by 2040: The energy minister estimated that reaching the target would require approximately USD 100 billion in investment. This amount is a planning estimate. (Source: Hürriyet Daily News)
  • 26 | Study finds around 3,000 Turkish companies exposed to funds under liquidation: A Turkish central bank blog analysis found that, as of 2026-09-15, around 3,000 non-financial companies held TRY 116 billion in the affected funds, while retaining access to bank credit. (Source: Hürriyet Daily News)
  • 27 | Türkiye’s 2027 trade roadmap seeks to expand free-trade cooperation: The annual programme proposes reactivating the suspended free-trade agreement with Syria and advancing talks with Canada, Japan, the Gulf Cooperation Council and other partners. These remain policy plans. (Source: Hürriyet Daily News)
  • 28 | Türkiye’s tenders for 18 wind and solar sites are expected to generate USD 1.9 billion in investment: The projects are expected to produce 6.1 billion kWh of clean electricity annually. The investment figure is an estimate associated with the tenders. (Source: Hürriyet Daily News)
  • 29 | World Bank works to secure approximately USD 4 billion in new financing for Türkiye: The financing under preparation would support transport, energy and water infrastructure, as well as projects to improve SME competitiveness. (Source: Hürriyet Daily News)
  • 30 | ADIPEC announces USD 67 billion in energy agreements: ADIPEC 2026 recorded more than 50,000 deals over four days, with an estimated value of USD 67 billion, up 26.4% from 2025. The figure represents the value of agreements, not funds fully disbursed or projects already operating. (Source: Gulf News, 2026-11-05)

Last updated: November 2026. This content is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal or tax advice.