Saudi Arabia has made it mandatory for all cafes and restaurants in the Kingdom to provide electronic payment methods to their customers in order to reduce cash circulation and allow consumers to rely on electronic payments. According to the Saudi Press Agency the move is part of an initiative launched by the National Programme to Combat Commercial Cover-up (Tasattur), which came into force from...
The Turkish Education Ministry aims to fully open schools in the new academic year in August and is currently considering four options. The first is that all schools will open to all pupils. Health and safety guidance will be prepared for schools and parents. The second is that face to face and distance learning will both be provided. The third scenario is that schools open in particular cities...
Dubai authorities have started issuing tourist visas to inbound passengers from more countries. The visit visa was suspended in March because of COVID-19. However, according to local reports the General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) in Dubai has started issuing visit visas to most nationalities with a few exceptions. It should be noted that although, applications are now...
The Labour Market Regulatory Authority (LMRA) has announced it will resume the acceptance of work permit applications for foreign workers from 9 August 2020. These applications were temporarily suspended as a result of COVID-19 disruption in March. This will allow private employers to recruit employees from abroad again and follows a decision issued by the Government Executive Committee. However...
The Health Ministry has issued a series of guidelines which will need to be followed by restaurants and coffee shops for their phased reopening which is planned for September. The Health Ministry has stressed that establishments which fail to follow these will be closed. Tables must be positioned two metres apart in four directions. Only 50% of the table capacity can be occupied and there will be...
The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Developemnt (DED) has issued a circular instructing restaurants, coffee shops, cafes and other licensed food outlets inside and outside malls they can operate at 80% capacity. Precautionary measures include ensuring employees in this sector undergo laser-based DPI screening for the virus every two weeks at designated test centres, and there are temperature...
It has been announced by the Government Executive Committee that Bahrain will begin a phased reopening in August. However, the Committee has noted that this reopening will be determined by the total number of daily COVID-19 cases, numbers in intensive care and numbers requiring hospitalisation. The first phase which will begin on 6 August 2020 will involve the opening of gyms, sports halls...
Despite recent new lockdown measures being announced in Oman the Muscat Municipality has announced all commercial activities will now allowed to operate during the weekends at the Ruwi Souk. The municipality has asked that these activities only operate from 7 am to 6 pm and relevant precautions are followed. The decision follows coordination with the Supreme Committee. Full story
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation has announced via their twitter account that all airlines should strictly follow the COVID-19 measures and if they do not they will face penalties and legal action. All passengers arriving in Kuwait must have a PCR COVID test certificate which should not have been issued more than 96 hours from the test. The certificate should be written in English and...
Turkey’s banking watchdog has eased limits on Turkish lira transactions with overseas residents from 28 July 2020. In order to prevent the possibility of economic issues as a result of COVID-19 the Turkish Banking Regulation and Supervision Agency (BRSA) has exempted international development banks from a 1% equity limit on lira-legged transactions that had been introduced for non-residents...