Arab British Chamber of Commerce Newsletter 11 by Distinctive Media Group Ltd

Arab-British Business Volume 36 Issue 7 October 2013 Monthly bulletin of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce

Ajman Free Zone aims to attract UK firms Doing business in Ajman See report page 18

AJMAN

CHAMBER NEWS

Berkeley Engineering Consultants CEO, Irteza Piracha, with UK Prime Minister David Cameron

Monthly bulletin of the A-BCC Editorial Team Abdeslam El-Idrissi Cliff Lawrence David Morgan Dr Yasmin Husein Arab-British Chamber of Commerce 43 Upper Grosvenor Street London W1K 2NJ Tel: +44 (0) 20 7235 4363 Fax: +44 (0) 20 7245 6688 d.morgan@abcc.org.uk (English Editorial) y.husein@abcc.org.uk (Arabic Editorial)

BERKELEY ENGINEERING CONSULTANTS INVITED TO NO 10 DOWNING ST ABCC member, Berkeley Engineering Consultants CEO, Irteza Piracha, recently met with UK Prime Minister, The Rt Hon David Cameron MP and the Chancellor of the Exchequer, The Rt Hon George Osborne MP.

in Saudi Arabia, Berkeley Engineering Consultants and Thaim Construction were invited to meet the British Prime Minister and the Chancellor of Exchequer at 10 Downing Street.

Following the meeting, Mr Piracha said; "It gives me great pleasure that, in recognition of our worldwide efforts and ongoing success

For more information see http://www.berkeleyeng.com/contact_ berkeley.html

www.abcc.org.uk

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Disclaimer Distinctive Publishing or Arab-British Chamber of Commerce cannot be held responsible for any inaccuracies that may occur, individual products or services advertised or late entries. No part of this publication may be reproduced or scanned without prior written permission of the publishers and Arab-British Chamber of Commerce. ISSN No: ISSN 0958-8116

… and with Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne.

“We would like to thank all our customers for the tremendous support as always and we will continue to make our company stand proud.” Berkeley Engineering is an engineering and management consultancy with a head office in Mayfair, London. The organisation is established in order to assist its clients in the execution of projects in the upstream oil and gas, refining and petrochemicals sectors.

CONTENTS Chamber News

Deauville Partnership Investment Conference

11-12

Business & Project News

14-17

Ajman Free Zone

18-21

Announcement Creativity Award

Legal

Reports in Arabic

24-30

Tenders

32-34

Business Events & Trade Fairs

CHAMBER NEWS

ABCC SIGN MOU WITH TRIPOLI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby, ABCC Secretary General & CEO, signs the MoU with Mr Khalil Masoud Mahfud, Chairman, Tripoli Chamber of Commerce

Rt Hon Baroness Symons, ABCC Chairman

The Arab British Chamber of Commerce has reached a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Tripoli Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture in Libya in an initiative designed to foster closer partnership between the two organisations. The accord was hailed as a ‘’great step forward’’ for deepening British-Libyan business co-operation. The MoU sees the ABCC and the Tripoli Chamber pledging to work closer together to help their respective members take advantage of the new opportunities emerging for business between the UK and Libya.

Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby stated that conditions were becoming much more favourable for British and Libyan companies to do business together for mutual benefit and prosperity. The MoU was signed on behalf of the ABCC by Dr Al-Shuaiby and on behalf of Tripoli Chamber of Commerce by Mr Khalil Masoud Mahfud, Chairman of its Board of Directors.

The MoU was formally launched at a reception held at the Arab British Chamber of Commerce premises on the evening of 17 September before an audience of diplomats, senior executives and in the presence of Libya’s Minister of Culture.

“Our agreement comes in a week when the Prime Minister of Libya, HE Mr Ali Zeidan, has been leading a delegation of ministers and senior officials to London with the aim of forging closer links with the UK business community,” Dr Al-Shuaiby noted.

Rt Hon Baroness Symons PC, Chairman of the ABCC, hosted the event and opened proceedings by stating how the Chamber was ‘’very pleased’’ to be able to implement an idea that had been in the planning for several months.

Welcoming the initiative, Rt Hon Lord Trefgarne PC, chairman of the Libyan British Business Council and deputy chairman of the ABCC, described the agreement as a positive step forward.

She said that the MoU enabled the two chambers to formalise their relationship.

He expressed the hope that more British companies would be looking to the Libyan market to do business in future and that they would soon be taking a trip to Tripoli.

Khalil Masoud Mahfud thanked the ABCC for successfully launching the agreement and hailed the long history of friendship enjoyed by the two countries which provided a firm basis for future business. The launch concluded with the formal presentation of a gift from Tripoli Chamber of Commerce to Dr Al-Shuaiby, which she accepted on behalf of the ABCC. The agreement begins a new chapter in co-operation between the two chambers and should benefit their joint memberships. As Dr Al-Shuaiby stated, “We firmly believe that this agreement will make a contribution towards encouraging and facilitating closer relations between the private sectors in Britain and Libya. The Chamber looks forward to playing its part in the deepening bilateral trade, investment and economic collaboration between our two countries.”

CHAMBER NEWS

ABCC HOSTS BUSINESS ROUNDTABLE WITH DELEGATION FROM TUNISIA The Arab-British Chamber of Commerce welcomed a senior delegation from Tunisia on the morning of 17 September. The members of the Tunisian-British Chamber of Commerce were in London to participate in the G8 Deauville Investment Conference that had taken place on the previous day. The delegation to the Chamber was headed by Mr Hassine Doghri, Chairman of the TBCC and a Board Member of the ABCC. The discussions, hosted by Rt Hon Baroness Symons, ABCC Chairman, and Dr Afnan AlShuaiby, Secretary General and CEO of the ABCC, were aimed at strengthening contacts between the British business community and investors and Tunisia. Welcoming the delegation, Rt Hon Baroness Symons stated that a key challenge for Tunisia today was job creation, an issue of some urgency for all the countries going through transition. The discussions focused on how the Chamber can assist Tunisian economic growth and foster closer relations with the UK. Rt Hon Baroness Symons stressed the importance of training, vocational education and partnerships particularly with Small and Medium-sized Enterprises. Big corporations also had a key role in engaging local participation in supply chains and in labour markets. She mentioned the successful Tunisian businesswomen whose achievements had been recognised with awards at the G8 Deauville Partnership Arab women’s conference held in June.

Rt Hon Baroness Symons (head of the table) in discussion with the Tunisian delegation

The roundtable heard that significant opportunities in Tunisia were opening up for British business in a wide range of commercial activities, especially in those sectors where UK firms enjoy a high reputation for expertise and innovation. Tourism, healthcare, education, IT, agrobusiness, financial and legal services were all areas where the Tunisian market offered attractive investment potential. Dr Al-Shuaiby told the meeting that the Chamber was keen to assist companies seeking to extend their business activities in Tunisia. She said that Tunisia had great potential and was now at a point where it was ready to move on and build its economy for the future. Mr Alan Morrison, Head of Commercial Section, British Embassy Tunis, said that his main aim was to encourage more UK firms to go to Tunisia. He highlighted some of Tunisia’s attractions as a market such as its stability and determination to develop a healthy democracy. Mr Steven Schofield, Shell, stated that his company, which had been active in the Tunisian energy sector since the 1920s, was confident of the potential of oil, gas and renewables in the country.

Mr Hassine Doghri emphasised the positive role of the business community in working to normalise the situation in the country and to establish a stable environment necessary for economic growth. Mr Doghri said that there was a need for more dialogue between Tunisian business and potential investors to achieve better understanding and improve confidence in the market. He believed that the ABCC could play an important strategic role in bringing UK and Tunisian businesses together. Tunisian executives needed to be put in touch with the right people in the UK who could contribute most effectively towards the country’s economic development, Mr Doghri stated. The roundtable discussion was part of the Chamber’s ongoing series of activities aimed at improving co-operation between the UK and Tunisia. The Chamber was planning to lead a major UK business delegation to Tunisia within the next few weeks, the meeting was informed.

ECONOMICNETWORKING FOCUS SYRIA EVENT BID TO WOO INVESTORS

Mr Mark Njoroge, ABCC Finance Controller

ABCC HOLDS MEMBERS’ NETWORKING EVENT

Mr Abdeslam El –Idrissi, ABCC Director of Trade Services

Mr Mohamed Abdelwahab, RE/MAX Prestige

A networking event followed by lunch was held for members of the Arab British Chamber of Commerce on the morning of 26 September 2013. The event successfully brought together new and established members from a range of sectors to exchange ideas and explore the potential for building business relationships.

The Arab economies remained strong despite current circumstances in parts of the region and opportunities for business were strong, he said.

The event also provided an ideal opportunity for the Chamber to meet its members and learn about their business needs.

Mr El-Idrissi stressed that the Chamber’s remit was to facilitate bilateral trade and ensure that bilateral trade flows operated smoothly and efficiently.

Some invaluable feedback was received from members concerning the various services that the Chamber provides. Mr Mark Njoroge, ABCC Finance Controller, welcomed everyone to the Chamber on behalf of Dr Afnan Al-Shuaiby, ABCC Secretary General & CEO, and the Rt Hon Baroness Symons, ABCC Chairman. He said the Chamber recognised the value of networking for its members and aimed to host members’ events on a quarterly basis in future.

Chamber’s Services Mr Abdeslam El-Idrissi, Director of Trade Services, ABCC, delivered a brief overview of the history of the Chamber, during which he explained its unique origins and the many ways that it can help member companies to succeed in their business.

The Chamber, functioning under an Arab League mandate since 1975, was not a selfappointed institution and its legitimacy acted as a seal of authority to member companies exporting to and active in the Arab region, he explained. He emphasised the relevance of the Chamber’s services and how they could assist companies. In particular the Arab Certification of Origin provided an added protection for goods, helping to ensure payment and offering an extra safeguard against fraud. The main purpose of the meeting was to allow member companies to deliver brief presentations about their activities and explore how they might work with other members.

Members’ Presentations Some fifteen Chamber members covering a broad range of service and industry sectors delivered individual presentations at the event. These companies were: 360ict , a technology support services company which offers a total package of telephone and computer management for clients. Carfax Education, a consultancy providing British-educated tutors, placements for boarding and day schools around the world. Moroso, an Italian family enterprise producing designer furniture for the luxury ends of the home and commercial markets. Muslim Aid, a British based charity operating in 38 countries including the Middle East. Oxford Professionals, a UK-based accountancy and business advice firm providing management accounting, analysis and training for executives. Page Group, a company offering background checking on companies, commercial due diligence and assistance with managing complex financial investigations.

ARAB CHAMBER NETWORKING OF COMMERCE EVENT

Mr Kinan Haddad, Oxford Professionals

Mr John Carnt, Page Group

Mr Damir Eskerica, Moroso

Mr Maurico Almonacid, Radisson Blu

Mr Salman Mujtaba, Muslim Aid

Ms Anna Suprun, Carfax Education

Radisson Blu Portman Hotel, a central London hotel with many facilities for business clients and services tailored for Arab clientele. RE/MAX Prestige, the newly opened London branch of a global real estate company with nearly 100 thousand agents worldwide.

Basra Oil & Gas Hub Limited (BIOGH), a London based company working to promote the new Basra Oil & Gas Free Zone scheduled to open in the third quarter of 2014.

Closing Remarks

PDM Clinic, a specialist clinic for prevention and disease management offering a simple, safe and sustainable method of treatment for diabetes.

By way of conclusion, Dr Peter Smith, a longstanding member of the ABCC, shared his experiences of using the Chamber’s services over more than a decade.

Garth Coates Solicitors, immigration and nationality law specialists with a presence in Dubai.

Currently working in Saudi Arabia with AlMasader Al-Dualiyah for Environment and Quality Systems Co, Dr Smith described how a company can benefit from membership of the Chamber, which he described as a ‘’strategic organisation’’ for making new contacts.

The Savoy Hotel, the recently renovated famous hotel which has special services for the Middle East market including luxury suites. A Club, a new venture designed to help clients achieve a more balanced life pattern applying business tools to healthcare treatment and was working with business and the creative industries. Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, the luxury hotel attracting a large number of guests from the Middle East. London & Partners, the city’s official promotional organisation which works to attract investors, students and tourist visitors.

Mr Roy Charles, 360ict

He spoke highly of the networking opportunities, documentation service and publications that are provided by the Chamber. Finally, during a question and answer session, members shared ideas with ABCC staff and provided valuable feedback that will enable the Chamber to develop and enhance its services in future. It was generally agreed that the event had been extremely successful in giving a platform for Chamber members and assisting communication with them.

Mr Jason Kitt, The Savoy Hotel

TRADE SERVICES

ARAB BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE www.abcc.org.uk

FOREIGN OFFICE SERVICE

LIBYA VISA SERVICE

ARAB BRITISH CHAMBER OF COMMERCE

LIBYA Business Visa Service

For visa enquiries please email Therese on t.bebawi@abcc.org.uk or call 0 20 7659 4861

We are pleased to announce that the Arab British Chamber of Commerce has now reinstated the BUSINESS VISA SERVICE to

LIBYA

If you are traveling on business or taking a trade delegation to the Arab world and need your visa secured quickly and efficiently, the Arab British Chamber of Chamber's Visa Section is the ideal point of contact. This service is available only to companies based, or with offices, in the UK. The Arab British Chamber of Commerce, 43 Upper Grosvenor Street, London W1K 2NJ

founded in 1975, is a membership organisation that exists to promote trade and economic activity between the United Kingdom and the 22 member states of the Arab League. Over the past four decades the Chamber, building on its experience, has developed a range of services which are proved invaluable to Arab and British companies. With the assistance and expertise of our organization, British companies are now able to achieve their international business aspiration.

NEW MEMBERS

NEW MEMBERS Jersey Finance Limited 4th Floor, Sir Walter Raleigh House, 48-50 Esplanade, ST HELIER, JERSEY JE2 3QB Tel: +44(0)1534-836 000 Fax: +44(0)1534-836 001 Email: jersey@jerseyfinance.je; richard. corrigan@jerseyfinance.je; sean.costello@ jerseyfinance.je; lauren.fletcher@jerseyfinance.je Website: www.jerseyfinance.je Contact Ms Lauren Fletcher Technical Manager Business Activity: Jersey Finance is a nonprofit making organisation formed in 2001 to represent and promote Jersey as an international financial centre of excellence. Jumeirah Carlton Tower On Cadogan Place, LONDON SW1X 9PY Tel: +44(0)20-7235 1234 Fax: +44(0)20-7858 7164 Email: jctinfo@jumeirah.com; adele.taylor@ jumeirah.com Website: www.jumeirahcarltontower.com Contact Ms Adele Taylor Diplomatic Advisor Business Activity: Hotels *****, Luxury Hotel with 216 Rooms and suites, flexible meeting & event space, leisure facilities including Spa and swimming pool. Reputation Institute 16 Park Crescent, LONDON W1B 1AH Tel: +44(0)20-7291 5345 Email: rparmar@reputationinstitute.com Website: www.reputationinstitute.com Contact Mr Raakesh Savji Parmar Head of Business Development Business Activity: Consulting services within reptutation management Petroleum Software Limited 109 Gloucester Road, South Kensington LONDON SW7 4SS Tel: +44(0)20-7341 7870 Fax: +44(0)20-7341 78788 Email: haluk.toral@petroleumsoftware.co.uk Website: www.petroleumsoftware.co.uk Contact Mr Haluk Toral Managing Director Business Activity: Multiphase flow metering for oil and gas industry by software analysis of hydro-dynamic signals. Mental Performance Society 23 Holybourne Avenue, LONDON SW15 4JJ Tel: +44(0)20-8788 5370 Mob: +44(0)794-0577458 Email: richard.swift@alkhair.org Contact Mr Richard Swift Director Business Activity: Assists clients to achieve a more balanced life pattern by applying business tools to healthcare treatment to improve performance

I-Flow Autotec Limited 36 Ellesboro Road, HARBORNE, Birmingham B17 8PT Tel: +44(0)121- 260 0526 Email: hocine.idjer@i-flowautotec.com Website: www.i-flowautotec.com Contact Mr Hocine Idjer Managing Director Business Activity: Unique management solution to the auto industry encompassing sales, engineering, manufacturing and logistics and the development and execution of new products. Cinema AV Design 62 South Ealing Road, LONDON W5 4QB Tel: +44(0)20-3137 2966 Email: info@cinemaavdesign.com Website: www.cinemaavdesign.com Contact Mr Moses Opone Proprietor Business Activity: Home cinema, multi-room audio/video, lighting control, home automation, control system. McGee Group Limited 340 - 342 Athlon Road, WEMBLEY Middlesex HA0 1BX Tel: +44(0)20-8998 1101 Fax: +44(0)20-8997 7689 Email: michael.mcgee@mcgee.co.uk Website: www.mcgee.co.uk Contact Mr Michael McGee Director Business Activity: Broad based construction company and multi-disciplined specialist and civil contractor; construction, demolition, decontamination and civil engineering works as a main contract or as a specialist subcontractor. Trak Microwave T/a Kaelus 1 Aquarius Court, Viking Way, Block 29 Dunsinane Avenue ROSYTH Dundee DD2 3QF Tel: +44(0)138-3437 920 Fax: Email: kevin.mullen@kaelus.com Website: www.kaelus.com Contact Mr Kevin Mullen Operations Business Activity: Designs and manufactures a wide range of innovative RF and microwave solutions for the wireless telecommunications sector experience and understanding of the radio environment enables it to excel by developing technically differentiated offerings that improve network performance.

The London Clinic 20 Devonshire Place, LONDON W1G 6BW Tel: +44(0)20-7935 4444 Ext 3268 Fax: +44(0)20-3219 3516 Email: n.qureshi@thelondonclinic.co.uk Website: www.thelondonclinic.co.uk Contact Ms Nadia Qureshi International Manager Business Activity: Private healthcare RFIB Group Limited 20 Gracechurch Street, LONDON EC3V 0AF Tel: +44(0)20-7621 1263 Fax: +44(0)20-7623 6175 Email: adrian.spooner@rfib.co.uk Website: www.rfib.com Contact Mr Adrian Spooner Director Business Activity: Insurance and reinsurance; Lloyd's Insurance broker Vtrade Worldwide Limited Unit 22 Henfield Business Park Shoreham Road, HENFIELD West Sussex BN5 9SL Tel: +44(0)127-349 7050 Fax: +44(0)127-349 5015 Email: vanessa.adamson@vtradeuk.com; michael.foreman@vtradeuk.com Website: www.vtradeuk.com Contact Mr Michael Foreman Director Business Activity: Military vehicle design and build Grosvenor House Apartments Parke Lane, LONDON W1K 7TN Tel: +44 (0)20 7518 4444 Email: sarah.tobler@jumeirah.com Website: www.jumeirahcarltontower.com Contact Ms Sarah Tobler Marketing Manager Business Activity: Luxury five-star hotel facilities Dr Samia Al-Shouli E 201 Castle Exchange, 11 Lenton Street NOTTINGHAM NG1 3AB Email: samiashouli@yahoo.com Contact Dr Samia Al-Shouli Business Activity: Clinician and Artist Associate Member Malath Instalments, P.O.Box 62061 Riyadh 11585, SAUDI ARABIA Email: mazen@malathmoney.com Website: www.malathmoney.com Contact Mr Mazen Al-Zamel Partner & Board Member Business Activity: Small loans for business projects

DEAUVILLE PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT CHAMBER CONFERENCE NEWS

AIMS OF THE G8 DEAUVILLE PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT CONFERENCE The UK Presidency of the G8, in association with the European Bank for Reconstruction & Development and the Islamic Development Bank, held a Deauville Partnership Investment Conference in London on 16th September, at the Park Plaza Hotel, Victoria. The conference brought together ministers, business leaders, investors and senior government officials from across the G8, the Arab Countries in Transition across the Middle East and North Africa and Deauville regional partners such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait and the UAE, as well as major international financial institutions. Overcoming barriers to investment is at the centre of this initiative. Transition countries will set out opportunities for investment and present the steps they are taking to attract and support investors. Existing and potential investors can share experiences and build relationships with country representatives and experts throughout the day. The conference will contribute to the Deauville Partnership’s long-term goal of generating job creation and prosperity for the people of the Arab Countries in Transition. Events in the region underline the importance of making progress in this area. The Deauville Partnership is a major opportunity for the G8 to help tens of millions of people. It is not just about investment today, but about investment in the future. The conference aimed to: l Provide networking opportunities with a

focus on supporting new investors.

l Sector focused panel discussions helped

facilitate discussions between investors, governments and the financial institutions about challenges and policy barriers to attracting greater investment; and also facilitate one-to-one discussions.

l Practical sessions covered managing

investment risks in the transition countries and how to access local skills and supply chains.

l It also acted as a platform for Arab

countries in transition to showcase foreign direct investment opportunities and the action that governments are taking to improve their investment climate.

View from the UK The Deauville Partnership Investment Conference in London was opened by Foreign Office Minister for the Middle East and North Africa, Alistair Burt MP. Here is some of what the minister said: “The changes that we have seen in the Middle East and North Africa since 2011 have been momentous and I believe that, when taken together, they constitute the most significant international development so far of the 21st century. These changes have taken different forms in different countries, but the underlying motivation for the uprisings that swept the region has always been the same: the demand for legitimate rights and respect for individual dignity; including the prospect of finding a job and of citizens being able to ply their trade without state interference. Meeting the high expectations of the people is a complicated and challenging task, and it is one that a fragile security environment makes even more difficult. wSo our priority this year, as holders of the Deauville Partnership Presidency, has been to support governments in addressing these pressures, focusing on those areas which really matter to the countries in transition and adding value beyond the existing international support. We know – from listening to the region – that one of the greatest challenges faced by the transition countries is responding to their peoples’ demand for economic opportunity. To meet that demand, forty million jobs will need to be created across the MENA during the next decade. We also know that the private sector will be critical in fuelling the growth that is needed to create those jobs. Business is already playing a bigger role than it ever has before, but that role must grow larger if it is to become the source of jobs that we, and the people, need it to be.

That is why increasing inward investment is so critical to the region’s future. So, in addition to our work to further women’s economic empowerment; to work towards the recovery of stolen assets, and to develop SMEs, we are also ensuring that the Deauville Partnership has a tangible impact on supporting investment. This event is an integral part of our overall theme for the UK’s G8 and Deauville Presidency, which is the “golden thread” of conditions that enable open economies and open societies to create prosperity and growth for all. There are two main objectives for today’s conference: l The first is to focus on overcoming the

difficulties that the transition countries face in attracting investment, and the actions that they are taking to improve their business environments.

l The second is to consider the long-term

strategic opportunities, such as in renewable energy, agribusiness, tourism, banking and finance, but also to discuss the potential risks. I believe that the Deauville Partnership can play a unique and effective role in supporting the transition countries and the one thing that they need more than anything else is economic growth. This is a region where there are certainly immediate challenges, but there are also significant long-term opportunities. If those opportunities are taken, then the MENA will take a major step towards securing the sustained and inclusive economic growth that is so vital for its future stability and so needed by the population.”

FCO, 16/09/2013

DEAUVILLE PARTNERSHIP INVESTMENT CONFERENCE

ERBD CALLS FOR MORE SUPPORT FOR ARAB COUNTRIES Sir Suma Chakrabarti, President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (ERBD) “This Investment Conference comes at a crucial time for the countries supported by the Deauville Partnership. When the EBRD was first asked to become part of the international response to the political changes in North Africa and the Middle East, we were under no illusions about the challenges that lay ahead. Twenty years of supporting transition in Eastern Europe and the former Soviet Union have demonstrated just how complex this process can be. We have been active across the entire spectrum of economic activity, promoting the stability of financial sectors, the expansion of small and medium sized enterprises, developing manufacturing, supporting sustainable agriculture, and ensuring food and energy security. We have been pioneering in our work on energy efficiency, making economies more competitive, while at the same time combatting climate change. Our very successful track record in Turkey showed that we could work outside of our “traditional” region. It gave the EBRD’s management and shareholders confidence that we could also use our expertise to make a positive difference in the countries of the “Arab spring”. So it was that the EBRD responded decisively and swiftly to calls to extend the mandate to what we call the southern and eastern Mediterranean region, or SEMED – represented by Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Tunisia. We have built up a presence in all four countries.

Investments have been flowing to the region since the fall of 2012. We are supporting economic growth in different sectors. For example, we initiated our infrastructure projects in the region by providing US$ 100 million to Al Manakher power plant in Jordan. And along with our support to SMEs, we have also invested in banks and equity funds, while investing directly in retail and manufacturing, such as our investment in a white goods factory and in a retail and entertainment centre. Our work in the SEMED region has been a joint effort. The EBRD and its fellow international financial institutions have been working together in response to calls for economic change in this region. We all agreed, from the very beginning, that we would not be competitors but partners – each bringing our own special skills, and each complementing the efforts of the others. In our case, that meant concentrating particularly on the private sector, working to develop SMEs that have the greatest capacity to create employment. But it also involves a focus on improving infrastructure, strengthening the agricultural base of economies, and ensuring energy security and efficiency. We are committed to helping the people of this new EBRD region, as they work towards meeting their aspirations for change and a more stable economic future. We should be in no doubt about the size of this task, though. Part of the motivation for change in the region was that desire of younger people for a better economic future. The needs are huge. Although the international community has committed a great deal, it will need to scale up its help if transition is to be successful.” EBRD, 16/09/2013

Kuwait Kuwait Ambassador to the United Kingdom and Dean of the Diplomatic Corps in London HE Khaled Al-Duwaisan pledged his country’s continued economic support for the other Arab countries which are undergoing the challenges of transition. “The state of Kuwait is one of the main donors for the Arab countries such as Egypt, Jordan, Morocco, Libya, Tunisia and Yemen,” he told KUNA, 16/09/2013. The ambassador said the conference provided an opportunity for major British corporations to hear from representatives of the governments of Arab countries in transition, and explore ways for addressing their economic needs. “The conference gathered representatives of some Arab private sector corporations including the Islamic Development Bank Group (IDB),” Ambassador Al-Duwaisan pointed out.

Yemen Undersecretary of the Yemeni General Authority for Investment Mohamed Ahmed Hussein told the conference of Yemen’s economic and investment priorities in its period of transition. “Despite the challenges facing the investment environment in our country, the government was able to achieve positive reconciliation indicators in improving and attracting investment projects,” he added. He also noted to steps taken by the authority in providing new amendments to the Yemeni investment law to facilitate procedures relating to the implementation of developmental projects in rural areas for investors, reported Saba News, 17/09/2013.

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BUSINESS & PROJECT NEWS

WORLD BANK TO HELP LENDING TO SMES IN JORDAN The World Bank Group signed an agreement to help increase lending to smaller enterprises in Jordan, part of efforts to spur economic growth in the kingdom and the wider region. The two key agencies of the World Bank Group - the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD) and the International Finance Corporation (IFC) - will support the Jordan Loan Guarantee Corporation (JLGC) as it scales up its lending operations. The JLGC guarantees loans between borrowers and banks, and many of its customers are micro, small, and medium enterprises that have struggled to obtain financing. “This partnership will enable JLGC to enhance its loan guarantee programme to help more creditworthy firms get the financing they need to grow their business and contribute to the economic welfare of our country,” said Mohammed Al Ja’fari, Director General of JLGC. Although smaller businesses form the backbone of most economies in the region, they often have trouble securing loans and other forms of financing. In the MENA, about a third of SMEs report difficulty in getting

JEDDAH LAUNCHES NEW PROJECTS Jeddah’s municipality has launched several new projects including public parks and children’s play grounds across villages in the Al-Kamil governorate, said a report. Tendering of more than 25 projects for 2015 was announced by Jeddah’s mayor Hani Abu Ras, including service projects in Jeddah, Al-Qunfudha Al-Laith and Al Kamil, said the Arab News report. The first stage of developing the southern part of the Corniche in Jeddah was tendered upon the completion of the executive plan and the landscape designs, Abu Ras was quoted as saying. The mayor indicated that further stages to develop the entire strip of the southern Corniche would follow with aims of making it one of the most beautiful tourist attractions in the city. Trade Arabia, 23/09/2013

finance, and in Jordan they only receive 10% of all loans, half the average other middleincome countries. “A lack of access to finance remains a strong barrier to economic growth and job creation in the region,” said Ahmed Attiga, IFC’s Principal Country Officer in Jordan. “Enabling financial institutions to support smaller businesses will accelerate growth, alleviate poverty, and foster a dynamic and sustainable economy.” The initiative is part of a strategy to encourage private sector development in Jordan by improving the performance of the financial sector, supporting smaller businesses, and promoting private sector engagement in infrastructure projects. The agreement was signed at the Central Bank of Jordan and was attended by a number of high-profile members of the banking sector, including CBJ Governor Ziad Fareez.

SAUDI SMES GEAR UP FOR REGIONAL GROWTH Small- and medium-sized enterprises in Saudi Arabia are gearing up for a technology-fuelled expansion drive across the region, according to a new worldwide survey. To become more competitive and help drive job creation in the region, nearly two-thirds (63%) of the kingdom’s SMEs have either completed, are undergoing, or are planning a business transformation, according to the new Oxford Economics survey ‘SMEs: Equipped to Compete.’ Of those, about two-thirds (65%) are planning to enter new geographic markets, nearly double the global average of 37%. In three years, no SME in the kingdom expects to be operating solely in the country, whereas the number operating in six or more countries will rise from 16 to 41%, it said. About 31% of SMEs said they use cloud computing, but that is projected to skyrocket to 54% in three years – a growth rate of 72.4%. Trade Arabia, 23/09/2013

IFC, 15/09/2013

KUWAIT COMPLETES NEW COMMERCIAL LICENCES LAW Kuwait has completed a new commercial licences law, significantly streamlining the process for new businesses in a bid to attract more foreign trade. Under the new legislation, all paperwork and permits for potential new companies will be processed through one state body rather than a variety of state institutions and ministries. Commerce and Industry Minister HE Anas Al Saleh said the new law would bring Kuwait into line with other countries and was an unprecedented development in the emirate’s legal history. “It has the very important aim of attracting trade and investment in the Kuwaiti market – in a business environment that is flexible, up-todate and that serves the needs of investors,” he was quoted as saying on KUNA news agency. “The know-how and practical experiences of nations of huge (commercial) expertise

in issuing commercial licenses have been studied closely, in order for us to determine the exact errors and obstacles affecting our current system, particularly amid the direction the ministry has compelled itself to in improving the (Kuwaiti) industrial and commercial environment. “The law takes into account the public’s interest, and organises documentation required for each and every step related to issuing these licenses according a precise timeframe.” Traders will be given a temporary permit allowing them to operate during the processing period. Companies will need to renew their licences every four years. The fee structure also is to be overhauled. Arabian Business, 16/09/2013

BUSINESS & PROJECT NEWS

‘CITY OF THE FUTURE’ PLAN FOR BAGHDAD The UAE developers have announced Dh16.6 billion ($4.5bn) investment plan to build a ‘City of the Future’ in the Iraqi capital Baghdad. The Dubai-based Al Handal International Group and Abu Dhabi-based Bloom Properties signed an investment deal to develop the residential project, spreading across a surface area of 58 million square feet and can accommodate up to 150,000 people. The mega project will create more than 10,000 jobs in the country and will be completed by 2020. Chairman of the National Investment Commission (NIC) Dr Sami Al Araji and vice-chairman of Handal International Group Hardan Al Handal signed the deal in Baghdad.

The landmark project, which will be built in phases spanning seven years, will include 30,000 residential units, five shopping centres, 18 schools and 12 kindergartens, several commercial buildings, a state-of-theart hospital, a police and civil defence station, a mosque and as well as a health centre. The new project, which will be built to international standards and specifications, is targeted at most slices of Iraqi society, mainly the middle-income segment. Chairman of the NIC Dr Sami Al Araji said that the ‘City of the Future’ will become one of the most prominent modern urban residential projects in Baghdad. “Located on the outskirts of Baghdad, ‘City of the Future — Madinat Al Mustaqabal’ will undoubtedly serve as an exemplary urban city model,” Dr Al Araji said. The project features contemporary architecture designs of its residential buildings and 50 per cent of its total surface area is green open spaces.

The online resource will also outline the skills and education demanded by employers, allowing youth to better choose programs that prepare them for work in the field. The fast-growing logistics sector is expected to create 60,000 new jobs by 2016, but employers often struggle to find qualified workers. “Skills development is a priority of the national logistics industry,” said Younes Tazi, General Director, AMDL. “We aim to redesign education programmes for young people who currently lack the relevant skills. We will improve the quality of

Energy-focused health and safety specialist Cresent has become the largest Control of Work (CoW) provider in Iraq after winning a contract worth $1.7 million with Russian oil company, LUKOIL Mid-East Ltd. The contract will involve Aberdeenbased Cresent delivering an electronic version of its flagship CoW system WorkSafe® across the second phase of the West Qurna Field. The firm will supply the software in Arabic, English and Russian. Cresent will also be tasked with delivering training for LUKOIL personnel in the run-up to the system going live in November this year. A support and maintenance contract for a three-year period following the system launch is in place. The new project comes less than a year after Cresent rolled out a similar contract at the nearby Rumaila field. Iraq Business News, 18/09/2013

Khaleej Times, 19/9/2013

NEW INITIATIVE TO IMPROVE SKILLS IN MOROCCO’S LOGISTICS SECTOR The Moroccan Agency for Logistics Development (AMDL) has signed an agreement with the IFC to launch an online platform showcasing job opportunities in the logistics field, helping improve the employment prospects of young people in Morocco.

SCOTTISH FIRM WINS IRAQ CONTRACT

training and outline the skills and education in demand by employers.” The transportation and logistics sector is one of the main job providers in Morocco. “It is vitally important to train young people with the skill sets that employers are looking for,” said Aziz Rabbah, Morocco’s Minister of Infrastructure and Transportation. “In this way we will improve the employability of Moroccan youth, and encourage economic development across the country, especially in the fast-growing and labour-intensive logistics sector.” The online platform is part of the IFC’s E4E Initiative for Arab Youth which is designed to help equip young people in Tunisia, Egypt, Jordan and Morocco with the skills and education in demand among employers. IFC, 16/09/2013

VALUATION OF $3BNPLUS ON LONDON LISTING FOR DUBAI DEVELOPER DAMAC Damac Properties, the upmarket Dubai developer, could have a market valuation of more than $3 billion when its lists its shares on the London Stock Exchange in the next couple of months, higher than market estimates so far. A source familiar with the preparations for an initial public offering said that the valuation process was at an early stage, and several factors could ultimately decide the eventual price at which the company’s shares would list. But between $3bn and $4bn was a realistic assessment of Damac’s worth, the source said. Damac is believed to have retained the investment banks Deutsche Bank and Citibank as principle advisers and book-runners on the IPO process, but the formal announcement of an “intention to float” (ITF) document was a few weeks away, the source added.T he National, 18/09/2013

BUSINESS & PROJECT NEWS

UAE TO HOST ARAB WORLD’S FIRST BRITISH BUSINESS CENTRE Dubai and Abu Dhabi will have the business centres in the first quarter and fourth quarter respectively. The Dubai Centre will be created under the auspices of Dubai Economic Department in partnership with SME Dubai and FDI Dubai. The business centre format will house up to 50 UK SME companies on a ‘hot desk’ basis with office infrastructure and support. “Dubai has got one of the best Business Groups anywhere in the world, so they start from much stronger position then in the case with British network in some other countries,” Lord Stephen Green of Hurstpierpoint, UK Minister of State for Trade and Investment, told Khaleej Times at the launch. The minister stated that there will be more business centres in other Gulf countries and discussion with Qatar was at an advanced level. “The plan for British Business Centre in Dubai would be end of Q1, 2014. So we have a target launch date March 2014. And we want to follow that with the business centre in Abu Dhabi in October or November 2014,” stated British Business Group chairman for Dubai and Northern Emirates Jonathan Davidson.

“Today is the launch of the implementation stage. We are recruiting a chief executive officer and a team and that team will make the necessary preparation to launch the business centre,” he explained. Lord Green was on an official visit to celebrate UK education excellence and to further strengthen business ties between the UK and the UAE. During the visit, the minister officially opened the second phase of Heriot Watt University campus in Dubai and met senior government officials. Lord Green commented: “The UK and UAE share an excellent business relationship which continues to grow. There was a 9% increase in UK exports to the UAE this year and an even larger increase in UAE exports to the UK. ‘’On top of the trade in tangible goods,’’ he continued, ‘’the UK and UAE are partners in education which is critical to the future of both our economies. Since the establishment of a UK-UAE Taskforce in 2010, we continue to look at ways to collaborate even further.” Khaleej Times, 23/09/2013; UKTI, 22/09/2013

QATARGAS AND PETRONAS UK SIGN 5-YEAR LNG SUPPLY DEAL

FGB PARTNERS WITH MANCHESTER CITY FC TO LAUNCH UAE CREDIT CARD

Qatargas 4 and Petronas LNG (UK) signed a five-year sale and purchase agreement (SPA) for an annual LNG volume of 1.14mn tonnes, with effect from January 2014.

First Gulf Bank (FGB), one of the leading banks in the UAE, has formed a new partnership with the UK Premiership Manchester City Football Club to become the Club’s Official Affinity Credit Card Bank Partner.

The LNG will be supplied from Qatargas 4 (Train 7), a joint venture between Qatar Petroleum and Shell, which started production in January 2011. This will be delivered on board Q-Flex LNG vessels to Petronas Dragon LNG Terminal located in Milford Haven. Minister of Energy and Industry HE Dr Mohamed bin Saleh al-Sada, also Qatargas chairman, signed the SPA on behalf of Qatargas 4 while Petronas executive vice president (gas & power business) Anuar Ahmad signed on behalf of his company. Gulf Times, 18/09/2013

The ground-breaking deal, which is slated to last three years, will see the launch of the first English football club credit card for fans in the UAE. The First Gulf Bank Manchester City Football Club Credit Card is designed with the fan firmly in mind and will provide its holders with benefits including special deals on official club merchandise, personalised gifts and souvenirs via the Club’s online store. Emirates News Agency, 17/09/2013

LIBYA PLANS TO LIST MOBILE OPERATOR LIBYANA IN 2014 Libya aims to list one of its two stateowned mobile phone operators next year, the head of the North African country’s telecoms operator said, as it seeks to open up a sector long isolated from foreign investment. Government-run Libyan Post, Telecommunication and Information Technology Co (LPTIC) owns the country’s two mobile operators Al Madar and Libyana as well as the main Internet provider, with the telecoms sector cut off from foreign competition for decades. Libyana, which has annual revenue in excess of $1bn, could make its debut on the Tripoli stock exchange in the second quarter of 2014. It has about a 70% market share. “This is a company we want to do an IPO for hopefully next year,” Faisal Gergarb, LPTIC chairman, said on the sidelines of the FDI Libya conference in London. “The time frame is Q2 next year ... that’s the plan. It all depends on the local stock exchange, whether they’re ready, it depends on Libyana as well but that’s the intention.” Libya’s telecoms ministry has already announced plans to launch a tender next year to award the country’s first private mobile phone licence. This comes amid government plans to decrease its hold over the sector and boost private involvement. Reuters, 18/09/2013

BUSINESS & PROJECT NEWS

SENERGY PLANS M&A AFTER LLOYD’S REGISTER STAKE SALE Senergy, a UAEbased energy services company, plans to hit the M&A trail after selling a controlling stake in the firm to the UK’s Lloyd’s Register, its chief executive James McCallum said. With a capital boost from its new parent group, Senergy plans to use the acquisitions and organic growth to help achieve its target to increase its turnover by over two thirds to £200 million (Dh1.18 billion) by 2015. Senergy had held talks with a number of private equity firms before agreeing the deal with Lloyd’s Register The company, which has offices in Dubai and Abu Dhabi, hopes to make two to three acquisitions a year over the next three years in order to grow and help reach its targets. After the Lloyd’s Register deal, Senergy now expects be able to target acquisitions in the £10m to £20m range compared to previously focusing on the £5m to £10m range. “Clearly we have an extremely capable organisation functioning in Europe right now, we have an embryonic capability in Senergy developing in Asia and we want to strengthen it. We have an embryonic capability in the Americas and we want to strengthen that,” said Mr McCallum. The National, 19/09/2013

TECHNOLOGIES TO SHAPE FUTURE BANKING IN MENA The future of banking in MENA is technology-led and innovations such as in-memory computing, mobile and cloud are set to play an increasingly influential role, senior banking executives and leading industry experts agreed. “Banks need innovations such as cloud computing. Lack of transaction visibility and control, a lack of agility, multiple failure points and complex infrastructures, as well as considerable maintenance and expertise costs means they simply cannot be ignored,” said Ross Wainwright, Global Head of Financial Services Industries, SAP. Banks are expected to spend almost $180 billion on IT this year, according to research company Celent. But while cloud-based services currently account for a fraction of

this, some estimates predict spending by financial-services firms on the public, private and hybrid cloud solutions will total $26bn in 2015. A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers survey of financial services executives supports this notion of momentum. Seventy one percent said they will invest more in cloud computing this year — up from 18% who said the same in 2012. In addition, 50% plan to invest in private cloud technology. Saudi Gazette, 18/09/2013

QATAR ISLAMIC BANKS POISED FOR GROWTH Growth of Shariah-compliant banks in Qatar is poised to outpace that of the UAE lenders as borrowing rises amid $200bn in government spending for the 2022 soccer World Cup. Qatar’s four Islamic lenders will almost double their asset base to $100bn by 2017, Standard & Poor’s has said in a report. The assets of the largest Shariah-compliant bank in the country, Qatar Islamic Bank, last year grew five times faster than those of the biggest one in the UAE, Dubai Islamic Bank. Spending for the world’s most-watched sporting event will spur lending for roads, stadiums and hotels. Bond sales by Qatari Islamic banks, only two of which have sold sukuk, also stand to benefit from the implementation of new global capital rules, S&P said. “Qatari banks in general clearly have substantial scope to grow their asset base given the sheer magnitude of projects and infrastructure development going on in Doha at present,” said Chavan Bhogaita, head of markets strategy at the National Bank of Abu Dhabi.

The project pipeline in the UAE is also flowing, “albeit not at the same aggressive pace,” he added. QIB’s Islamic bonds due in October 2017 yielded 2.74% by afternoon in Doha, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. DIB’s sukuk maturing in May the same year has a yield of 3.34%. Both banks are rated A by Fitch Ratings, the sixth-highest investment grade. That compares with a yield of 3.32% for the HSBC/ Nasdaq Dubai GCC Financial Services US Dollar Sukuk Index. Qatar now has one of the fastest-growing Islamic banking industries in the world because of the surge in demand for local credit, S&P said. Qatar’s economy will grow 5.2% next year, the fastest in the GCC, according to the median of 17 estimates compiled by Bloomberg. Economic growth will reach 3.4% in the UAE and 4.2% in Saudi Arabia. Gulf Times, 19/09/2013

AJMAN

AJMAN SEEKS TO ATTRACT LONDON ENTREPRENEURS

London entrepreneurs seeking opportunities overseas met with senior representatives from the Ajman Free Zone Authority in the UAE, at the London Chamber of Commerce on 9 September, to unlock business opportunities across the Middle East. The networking reception enabled business executives from the Ajman Free Zone Authority - Nader Eldesouky, deputy general manager, Rishi Somaiya, director of sales and marketing, and Ali Fahmi, head of customer service – to meet with city professionals to discuss the free zone and the advantages of working in Ajman. Ajman executives were joined by guest speakers Mr Abdeslam El-Idrissi, director of trade services, Arab British Chamber of Commerce, and Mr Matthew Smith, director general, Middle East Association. Nader Eldesouky, deputy general manager, from Ajman Free Zone Authority, said: “I thoroughly enjoyed meeting with London’s businesses to discuss the lucrative investment opportunities in the UAE and

how this can benefit companies across the Capital, promoting trade and industry between our two countries.” Mr El-Idrissi said: “This was a great opportunity to meet with like-minded people who were interested in expanding their businesses to trade across the Middle East. We hope that today we’ve been able to facilitate some trading objectives for those wanting to begin trade across the Arab world.” Ajman Free Zone Authority’s Deputy General Manager, Nader Eldesouky, added: “Ajman Free Zone is deemed as one of the fastest growing free zones in the region and it will continue to grow over the years because time and energy is invested into the customer and the services offered to them.”

Rishi Somaiya, director of sales and marketing, said: “Ajman Free Zone Authority is the first to offer flexible payment facilities to its clients in up to twelve easy and convenient instalments. This payment facility will act as a springboard for entrepreneurs who find entry cost to business prohibitive and result in development.” Elaborating on the many other attractions, Mr Somaiya explained that “inexpensive energy, an extremely economic wage structure, total exemption from all import and export duties and exceptionally low handling charges, gives AFZA a collective competitive edge,” reported AME Info, 17/09/2013.

AJMAN

INTRODUCING AJMAN FREE ZONE What you need to know about doing business in the Emirate of Ajman. Ajman, located on the western coast of the UAE, is currently witnessing a flurry of construction activities in the industrial areas, the port and Al Zawra, an indication of spectacular economic growth in the emirate. Despite the absence of oil, Ajman continues to develop its infrastructure and broaden its economic base. Ajman Free Zone, established in 1988, was granted autonomous status under Amiri decree no. 3 of 1996 issued by H H Sheikh Humaid Bin Rashid Al Nuaimi, the Ruler of Ajman. Ajman Free Zone Authority has been named as the sole regulatory agency for Free Zone in the Emirate. The formation of the Free Zone Authority in 1996 has given great impetus to industrial activity in the Free Zone which has resulted in quadruple growth in the number of companies during the last few years. Ajman is also home to UAE’s prime stateof-the-art hospitals which include the GMC Hospital, Sheikh Khalifa Hospital and many others. Ajman Free Zone with its package of unbeatable advantages and facilities. It is now widely recognised as an entrepreneurs’ haven. A massive multi-million Dirhams development plan on over a million square metre area is under progress at the Free Zone, which on completion will be able to accommodate 1,500 companies. Strategically situated at the entrance of the Arabian Gulf, Ajman Free Zone is well placed to serve the eastern and western markets. Ajman’s proximity to Sharjah and Dubai provides easy access to two international airports and four ports. Ajman Port, which serves over 1,000 vessels in a year, has emerged as an important maritime focal point in the region. It has twelve berths and a massive development plan for Ajman Ports, in progress, seeks to enhance its facilities to world level in the near future.

The Hutchison Whampoa group, the world’s largest port operator, recently signed a 10year concession contract with Ajman Port Authority to develop, expand and run the port.

l Free Zone incentives Chemicals and

plastic products industries.

l Free Zone incentives Non-metal mineral

products.

l Basic metal industries.

ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT PROVIDE A DECISIVE EDGE The main economic factors of Ajman that attract investors are: l Strategic and central location l Free Zone incentives l Ready/easy availability of raw

l Metal products, machinery and

equipment industries.

l Other conversion industries.

OST ADVANTAGE – A CRITICAL COMPONENT l Cheap energy l The most economical wage

materials

structure and easy access to vast work force

l Competitive handling charges

l Total exemption from all import

l Lower prices of land and office

rents

l Low cost of living l Conducive business environment l Modern infrastructure

IMPRESSIVE INDUSTRIAL GROWTH Ajman today has approximately 256 industrial firms which constitute 20% of the total number of industrial units in the UAE and ranks third among all the Emirates. Goods from Ajman are exported to over 65 countries. Firms based in Ajman can be classified as follows: l Free Zone incentives Textile, ready-made

garments and leather industries.

l Free Zone incentives Food, beverages and

tobacco industries.

l Free Zone incentives Timber, furniture

and wood product industries.

l Free Zone incentives Paper, paper

products, printing and publishing industries.

and export duties

l Total elimination of all service

charges and hidden fees

l Exceptionally low handling charges l This 20 years land contract is

renewable for another 20 years guaranteeing 40 years tax and customs free operations

l Low lease prices l World class infrastructure l Lowest tariffs in the region

CORPORATE BENEFITS Ownership, Taxation, Repatriation Advantage l 100% foreign ownership l 100% repatriation of capital and

profits

l No personal income tax l No corporate tax

ECONOMICAJMAN FOCUS SYRIA BID TO WOO INVESTORS

CUSTOMS DUTY EXEMPTION IN GCC COUNTRIES

EASY ACCESS

INDUSTRIAL LICENCE

Distance of the other Emirates from Ajman:

Goods produced by the companies having National Industrial Licence in the Ajman Free Zone with 51% shareholding with GCC nationals are eligible for “UAE Certificate of Origin” from the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, UAE, qualifying them for a customs duty exemption in member states of the GCC, provided the value addition in Ajman Free Zone has been at least 40% of the total final value of the relevant product.

l Dubai 12km

This licence is issued to foreign/UAE companies/Free Zone Entities who wish to carry out manufacturing activities in the Free Zone.

l Sharjah 2km

l Umm–Al–Quwain 21km l Ras–Al–Khaimah 70km l Fujairah 120km l Abu Dhabi 180km

TYPES OF LICENCE

TRANSPORT

Ajman Free Zone, in its endeavour to eliminate bureaucratic procedures, has developed four types of licences:

AIR: Two international Airports, within 25 minutes’ drive from the Ajman Free Zone.

l Trading

SEA: Ajman Free Zone is adjacent to the Ajman Port. Sharjah’s Khorfakkan Port, Port Khalid and Dubai’s Port Rashid are within 35 minutes’ drive from Ajman Free Zone.

l Industrial

ROAD: Extremely efficient international road network connects the Ajman Free Zone to Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Kuwait and beyond to Europe.

TRADING LICENCE

l Professional/Services l National Industrial Licence

This licence is issued to foreign/UAE companies/Free Zone Entities who wish to carry out trading activities in the Free Zone.

PROFESSIONAL/ SERVICES LICENCE This licence is issued to foreign/UAE companies/Free Zone Entities who wish to carry out the business of providing professional/services in the Free Zone.

NATIONAL INDUSTRIAL LICENCE This licence is issued to a registered company operating in the Free Zone who meets the following eligibility criteria: l The company should be registered within

GCC with a GCC national/s owing majority shareholding of 51% or above.

l At least 40% of the manufacturing process

should be accomplished in the Free Zone. Companies holding a National Industrial Licence are eligible for duty free exports to the member states of the Arab Gulf Cooperation Council.

ARAB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AJMAN 21

FREE ZONE ENTITY (FZE) FZE is an entity formed and registered in Ajman Free Zone and regulated by the Free Zone Authority, in accordance to the Amiri Decree No. 3 of 1988 as amended by the Amiri Decree No. 3 of 1996. FZE enjoys a separate legal entity and is owned (100%) by either a person or a corporate body. Such an entity must have a capital equivalent to $50,000. The liability of the owner is limited to the amount of the share capital.

FORMATION AND REGISTRATION OF THE FZE BY A CORPORATE ENTITY A. Any corporate entity wishing to establish an FZE must complete an application form provided by the Authority and attach the following documents: l The feasibility study of the project and

the anticipated schedule for its completion together with relevant plans and drawings (for industrial project).

l The memorandum and/or Articles of

Association of the corporate entity.

l Incorporation or Registration Certificate

from the competent authority in the country where the corporate entity is formed.

l Decision or Board resolution of the

competent authority of the corporate entity authorising a representative or manager with Power of Attorney duly notarised and legalised.

l Passport copy of the representative or

manager.

l The above documents should be certified

by the Chamber of Commerce and the UAE Embassy in the Country of origin. B. The Free Zone Authority being satisfied that the relevant documents are submitted, shall register the FZE and issue a Certificate of Registration and a Free Zone Licence.

FREE ZONE COMPANY (FZC) Licences under this category are issued to Free Zone Companies incorporates within the Free Zone in accordance with the Amiri Decree. Such company enjoys a separate legal identity and the liability of its owner is limited to the value of the paid up shared capital.

BRANCH OF A LOCAL COMPANY (BLC)/ BRANCH OF A FOREIGN COMPANY (BFC)

BRANCH OF A LOCAL COMPANY Licences under this category are issued to companies holding a valid licence from any UAE licensing authority except from other Free Zones.

BRANCH OF A FOREIGN COMPANY Licences under this category are issued to companies established outside the UAE. The ownership of the company should be 100% foreign. However, sales can be made through a UAE registered agent or a distributor only. The activity may be commercial, industrial or professional/services. Contact Ajman Free Zone Tel: +971 6 701 1555 Fax: +971 6 742 9222 PO Box 932, Ajman, UAE Email: info@afza.gov.ae Website: www.ajmanfreezone.ae

ANNOUNCEMENT - CREATIVITY AWARD

KING ABDULLAH II IBN AL HUSSEIN AWARD FOR CREATIVITY The Arab British Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce details of the King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein Award for Creativity and highlight its call for submissions. The 7th edition of the Award (2013 - 2014) has recently been announced and seeks to broaden the scope of Arab talents’ participation in the award.

The three main fields of the award are: l Literature and arts, in the topic:

Children’s Literature in the overall production of the author.

l Science, in the subject: Modern

applications in the use of solar energy.

l The Arab city, on the subject: Furnishing

the streets in the Arab city / practical model.

Eligibility of Applicants l The applicant must be a citizen and

resident of an Arab country.

The submitted work should: l Be published, explained or translated into

Arabic;

l Be both original and unique, and is a real

addition to the field;

How to Apply l Five copies of the nominated work are

submitted and sent to the Office of the King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein Award for Creativity / Greater Amman Municipality.

l Submitted works shall not be returned to

the sender, regardless of whether or not they win.

l Participants sign a pledge that the

submitted work has not won any local, Arab or international awards.

l Have not won any local, Arab or

international awards.

Individuals are nominated by institutions and relevant bodies.

Award The winner will receive a certificate, a cash reward of twenty-five thousand dollars for each field stated in the award, and a gold

medallion bearing the portrait of His Majesty King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein and the logo of the Greater Amman Municipality and the name of the award.

Deadline Works and nominations must be submitted at a maximum date: 31-12-2013 For more information King Abdullah II Ibn Al Hussein Award for Creativity Bureau Al Hussein Cultural Center – Amman PO Box 123 Fax: 00 9624790425 Email: creativiyaward @ammancity.gov.jo

LAW

BAHRAIN EYES KEY ROLE IN COMMERCIAL ARBITRATION Bahrain is striving to become the GCC’s commercial arbitration centre in line with its distinctive economic and financial position in the region, Industry and Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro has said. The minister was delivering the inaugural speech at the International Commercial Arbitration seminar on the theme “Overview of the main arbitral institutions in Europe and their practices”. The event, the first of its kind in Bahrain, was organised by the Association of International Arbitration based in Belgium in co-operation with Gulf International Conferences Management Company at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

“Bahrain, with its solid, historic legal and legislative base, is keen to provide the necessary legal foundation to attract regional and international investments,” he said. The minister pointed out that the government is striving to spread the culture of commercial arbitration and boost its role as a safe instrument for prompt and fair settlement of commercial disputes, in addition to provision of the necessary legal procedures.

Dr Fakhro said competitiveness and economic challenges today require everyone to keep pace and catch up to maintain the gains and consolidate the kingdom’s long history as a strategic location for businesses and economic services and a gateway for global investments. Association of International Arbitration (AIA) chairman John Billiet stressed Bahrain’s importance in the Middle East as an investment hub. “The enforcement of basics of commercial arbitration encourages more investors to enter the market and generates great economic opportunities in the countries which apply it,” Mr Billet said. “We live in a micro-world and there is need to explore and avail of opportunities,” he added.

“Everybody knows that commercial arbitration has become a key issue in strategic planning of countries that seek to consolidate an investment-attractive legal and legislative structure.”

The seminar also addressed and discussed a lot of research and studies on international commercial arbitration processes and arbitration institutions in Europe and their practices in terms of quick decisions, confidentiality, and commercial issues fees in this field.

He expressed hope that commercial arbitration will become a vital tool for establishments in the local market.

GDN, 05/09/2013

NEW GCC TRADEMARK LAW

1. The definition of a trademark has been broadened to include sound and smell marks. 2. A trademark may be individual or collective. 3. A separate application is required for each class.

The Saudi government's decision approving the unified GCC Trademark Law has recently been published in the country's Official Gazette.

as the case is with the GCC Patent Law. Trademark applications will continue to be filed separately in each GCC member state for protection.

The Law was ratified in Saudi Arabia in 2007 and is expected to enter into force in the country six months after its implementing regulations are issued by the GCC Trade Cooperation Committee (made up of the Trade Ministers of the GCC member states).

The GCC Trademark Law was initially submitted by the GCC General Secretariat and approved by the GCC Trade Cooperation Committee in 1987. Since then, the GCC member states used the Law for consultative purposes only.

The governments of Qatar and the UAE have also announced their approval of the unified GCC Trademark Law back in 2007 (Qatar: Decree no. 18/2007; UAE: Federal Decree no. 52/2007), but the Law has still not entered into force in both countries.

By the end of the year 2005, the GCC Trade Cooperation Committee approved amendments to certain articles of the unified Trademark Law and recommended the submission of the amendments to the GCC Supreme Council for endorsement. The Law was then ratified by the Supreme Council in its 27th summit in 2006.

The purpose of the GCC Trademark Law is to replace the local trademarks laws of each of the GCC member states (Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE) and, thereby, creating unified implementing regulations for trademark protection in all states. However, the GCC Trademark Law is not expected to offer a unified filing system

The 50-article Law outlines the general directives and rulings governing trademark registration, renewal, assignment, and cancellation procedures in the GCC. The main features of the Trademark Law are as follows:

4. Claim of priority, based on an earlier-filed foreign application, is possible. 5. Trademark applications accepted by the Registrar will be published for opposition purposes. Oppositions must be filed within 60 days from publication date. 6. Trademark registrations are valid for 10 years from filing date and are renewable for like periods. There is a grace period of six months for late renewals. 7. A trademark is vulnerable to cancellation by any interested party if there has been no effective use of the mark for a period of five consecutive years after registration. 8. The Law shall recognize famous trademarks that are well-known in the GCC member states and shall ensure protection thereof even if the marks are not registered. 9. The Law gives the right to trademark owners to initiate civil and criminal actions against any infringing party. Penalties include a maximum of five year imprisonment and payment of fines of up to $270,000. Saba IP, September 2013

‫‪ARABIC SECTION‬‬

‫ بعد ‪ 6‬أبريل ‪ ،3102‬سيتم تحديد ضريبة اإلقامة في المملكة المتحدة على األفراد وسيدخل تحت تطبيق االختبار الجديد لإلقامة القانونية (تلبية معايير‬‫معينة)‪ .‬وتشمل القواعد الجديدة اختبارين‪ .‬ويتم تطبيق االختبار الثاني إذا لم يكن االختبار األول مقنعا‪.‬‬ ‫ إذا لم توفر حالة االقتناع في االختبارين (األول والثاني) يعتبر الفرد غير مؤهل لإلقامة‪ ،‬أو أنه ال يحمل صفة اإلقامة في المملكة المتحدة ألغراض‬‫ضريبة‪.‬‬

‫ الشركة التي تأسست في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬أو‬‫ الشركة التي توجد إدارتها وسيطرتها المركزية في المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬‫وفي كل الحاالت‪ ،‬يجب على الشركة أن تأخذ المشورة المتخصصة فيما يتعلق بأي مشروع مقترح (تأسيس شركة) لتحديد ما إذا كان سينظر للمستثمر‬ ‫بصفة "غير المقيم" من عدمه‪.‬‬

‫من غاية ‪ 6‬أبريل ‪ 3102‬تغيرت القواعد التي تحدد ما إذا كان شخص مقيما ألغراض الضريبة في المملكة المتحدة‪ .‬وهذا ما يطلق عليه أو‬ ‫ما هو معروف باسم اختبار اإلقامة القانونية (‪ .)SRT‬فبالنسبة لغالبية الناس ما إذا كانوا مقيمين أم ال‪ .‬وألغراض الضريبة‪ ،‬فإن قواعد‬ ‫االختبار الضريبي ألغراض اإلقامة واضحة‪ ،‬وسوف لن تتغير‪ .‬أما بالنسبة لألشخاص من ذوي الحاالت المعقدة فإن اختبار اإلقامة ‪SRT‬‬ ‫الجديد سيوفير مزيدا من اليقين بشأن وضع إقامتهم‪.‬‬ ‫بشكل عام‪ ،‬فإنه قبل ‪ 6‬أبريل ‪ ،3102‬كان الشخص يعتبر مقيما في المملكة المتحدة إذا تواجد فعليا في المملكة المتحدة خالل (في بعض‬ ‫أجزاء) السنة الضريبية (من غاية ‪ 6‬أبريل إلى غاية ‪ 4‬أبريل من السنة التالية)‪ .‬وكان يعتبر الشخص مقيما في المملكة المتحدة إذا ما قضى‬ ‫‪ 002‬يوما أو أكثر في السنة الضريبية (وال يوجد استثناء لهذه القاعدة)‪ ،‬أو أن الفرد يزور المملكة المتحدة بانتظام ويقضي فيها معدل ‪00‬‬ ‫يوما من السنة الضريبية (سنويا) خالل فترة تتجاوز ‪ 5‬سنوات‪.‬‬

‫‪24‬‬

‫‪25‬‬

‫ ‬

‫ ‪ARABIC SECTION‬‬

‫* األول‪ :‬اختبار اإلقامة التلقائي؛‬ ‫* الثاني‪ :‬اختبار نوعية (القرابة) العالقات االجتماعية‪.‬‬ ‫أن التشريعات الجديدة في المملكة المتحدة تميّز بين الذين‬ ‫"يغادرون" اإلقامة في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬وأولئك "القادمون"‬ ‫لإلقامة في المملكة المتحدة‪ .‬وللتبسيط نشير لهؤالء األشخاص‬ ‫على النحو التالي‪:‬‬ ‫• "المغاردون"‪ ،‬وهم أولئك األفراد الذين كانوا يحملون صفة‬ ‫المقيم في المملكة المتحدة ألي من السنوات الثالث الماضية‪.‬‬ ‫• "القادمون"‪ ،‬وهم أولئك األفراد الذين لم يقيموا أو لم يحملوا‬ ‫صفة المقيم في المملكة المتحدة ألي سنة من السنوات الثالث‬ ‫الماضية‪.‬‬ ‫يتم استيفاء اختبار اإلقامة تلقائيا إذا ما كان الفرد مستوجبا‬ ‫(يلبي) أية من االختبارات التلقائية األربعة في المملكة المتحدة‪،‬‬ ‫وفيما إذا كان الشخص يلبي شروط أية من االختبارات التلقائية‬ ‫في الخارج (‪.)overseas‬‬ ‫ويشمل نوعين من االختبارات حيث يتم النظر‬ ‫في الثاني إذ لم يلبي األول بالغرض‪:‬‬ ‫ اختبار اإلقامة التلقائي في المملكة المتحدة؛‬‫‪ -‬اختبارات المملكة المتحدة التلقائية في الخارج‪.‬‬

‫‪-0‬‬ ‫‪-3‬‬

‫‪-2‬‬

‫‪-5‬‬

‫‪-4‬‬

‫* يعمل الشخص بدوام كامل في الخارج‪ ،‬ويقضي أقل من ‪ 00‬يوما من السنة‬ ‫الضريبية في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬وأقل من ‪ 20‬يوما عمل في المملكة المتحدة وألكثر‬ ‫من ‪ 2‬ساعات في اليوم‪.‬‬ ‫* توفي الشخص في الخارج بعد أن كان من غير المقيمين في المملكة المتحدة لمدة‬ ‫سنتين‪ ،‬وقضى أقل من ‪ 56‬يوما في المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬

‫إذا كان الفرد ال يلبي أي‬ ‫موجود في المملكة المتحدة لمدة ‪ 082‬يوما في السنة من الشروط الموجودة في اختبار (األول) اإلقامة التلقائي في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬أو أي‬ ‫من االختبارات التلقائي (األول) في الخارج‪ ،‬يجب حينها النظر في اختبار كفاية‬ ‫الضريبية في المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬ ‫الشخص لديه منزال متاحا له ولمدة أكثر من ‪ 01‬يوما الروابط العالقية‪.‬‬ ‫في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬وأن الشخص يزور هذا المنزل‬ ‫لمدة ‪ 21‬يوما في السنة الضريبية‪ ،‬وأن؛ وهناك اثنان من مستويات االختبار‪ -‬األول يخص القادمون والثاني أكثر صرامة‬ ‫* أن هذا المنزل هو الوحيد لهذا الشخص‪ ،‬يخص المغادرون‪ .‬عموما يعتبر الشخص مغادرا المملكة المتحدة للسنوات الثالث‬ ‫* أن هذا الشخص لديه منزل في الخارج ولكن ال األولى بعد مغادرته للمملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬وسوف يعامل في السنة الرابعة على أنه‬ ‫يستخدمه لمدة ‪ 21‬يوما على األقل في السنة "قادم"‪ -‬وبعبارة أخرى أن الضوابط والقواعد المعمول بها تكون أكثر تساهال من‬ ‫غاية السنة الرابعة لألشخاص غير المقيميين في المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬ ‫الضريبية‪.‬‬ ‫أن الشخص يعمل بدوام كامل في المملكة المتحدة‬ ‫ولمدة ‪ 264‬يوما (سنة كاملة) أو أكثر دون انقطاع‬ ‫في أية سنة ضريبية واحدة بأكثر من ‪ %14‬من هذه‬ ‫األيام‪.‬‬ ‫األفراد الذين يقيمون بالفعل في المملكة المتحدة من غير المحتمل أن يروا أي تغيير‬ ‫أن الشخص توفي وكان من قبل مقيما في المملكة في وضعهم‪ .‬وسيكون للقواعد والضوابط الجديدة تأثيرا كبيرا على األشخاص الذين‬ ‫المتحدة خالل كل سنة من السنوات الثالث السابقة‪ ،‬يعتبرون أنفسهم من غير المقيميين في المملكة المتحدة ولكن مع اإلبقاء على‬ ‫وعلى نطاق أوسع لدى الشخص منزال في المملكة عالقاتهم واالتصاالت في المملكة المتحدة‪ .‬حسب الضوابط الجديدة‪ ،‬سيتم خفض عدد‬ ‫المتحدة عندما توفي‪.‬‬ ‫األيام وبشكل كبير التي يمكن لهؤالء األفراد أن يقضوها في المملكة المتحدة قبل أن‬ ‫يصبح من فئة المقيميين في المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬ ‫إذا ما كان الشخص المعني يلبي واحدا من اختبارات‬ ‫المملكة المتحدة التلقائية‪ ،‬ومن ثم فمن الضروري وكذلك‪ ،‬غير المقيمين الذين كثيرا ما يزورن المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬على سبيل المثال رجال‬ ‫النظر في ما إذا كانت اختبارات المملكة المتحدة األعمال من الذين ليس لديهم ارتباطات أخرى مع المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬فمن المرجح أن‬ ‫التلقائية في الخارج تنطبق على منح‪/‬منع الفرد من يكونوا بمنأى عن التغييرات الجديدة‪ ،‬بشرط أن يُعلم عدد ايام إقامتهم في المملكة‬ ‫الحصول على صفة مقيم في المملكة المتحدة‪:‬‬ ‫المتحدة‪ ،‬وتصديق هذه المعلومات من قبل الفندق أو النزل الذي سيقيمون به في‬ ‫المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬

‫* مغادرون – قضى الشخص أقل من ‪ 06‬يوما في المملكة‬ ‫المتحدة‪.‬‬ ‫* قادمون – قضى الشخص أقل من ‪ 56‬يوما في المملكة‬ ‫المتحدة‪.‬‬

‫وتدخل القواعد الجديدة في هذا الخصوص حيز التنفيذ من غاية ‪ 6‬أبريل ‪.3102‬‬ ‫وسوف لن يسمح بتطبيق هذه القواعد على األفراد بأثر رجعي لشؤون تحديد وضع‬ ‫إقامتهم عن السنوات السابقة‪.‬‬

‫‪ARABIC SECTION‬‬

‫حيثما تعود ملكية االستثمارات في العقارات لشخص غير مقيم في‬ ‫المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬سيكون تطبيق قواعد ضريبة الدخل موجبة على هذا‬ ‫الشخص فيما يتعلق بإيرادات اإليجار‪ .‬ويتم احتساب الدخل لألغراض‬ ‫الضريبية‪ ،‬على نطاق واسع‪ ،‬على أساس مبادئ المحاسبة التجارية‪.‬‬ ‫وتحسب الفوائد التجارية المترتبة على القرض الخاص بشراء‬ ‫العقارات‪ ،‬جنبا إلى جنب مع النفقات المترتبة على اإلصالحات‪ ،‬حيث‬ ‫ستكون هذه النفقات موجبة في الخصم‪ .‬وسوف يكون الفرد خاضعا‬ ‫لضريبة الدخل (حاليا بمعدالت تصل إلى ‪.)%54‬‬ ‫وتطبق قواعد ضريبة الدخل على اإليرادات المستحصلة من قبل‬ ‫الشركة غير مقيمة في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬وال تطبق في هذه الحالة‬ ‫الضريبة التجارية‪ ،‬بل ضريبة الدخل‪ ،‬ولكن بمعدل محدود وبنسبة‬ ‫‪ %31‬فقط‪ .‬ويتم تطبيق ضريبة الدخل باستقطاع نسبة ‪ %31‬من‬ ‫إيرادات اإليجار المدفوعة للمالك غير المقيم في المملكة المتحدة‪ .‬ويتم‬ ‫استقطاع نسبة ‪ %31‬من اإليجار للعقارات المملوكة من قبل أشخاص‬ ‫غير مقيميين في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬ويتم االلتزام بدفع نسبة ‪ %31‬أما‬ ‫من قبل المستأجر أو عن طريق وكيل إداري للعقارات المعنية‪ ،‬وفي‬ ‫الحالة الثانية تقع المسؤولية على عاتق الوكيل‪.‬‬

‫إذا تم شراء العقارات في المملكة المتحدة من قبل شخص غير مقيم في المملكة‬ ‫المتحدة أو من قبل شركة ألغراض التنمية أو التداول والربح‪ ،‬ففي هذا الحالة‬ ‫سيتم التعامل مع المشتري غير المقيم كما تنص عليه قواعد التجارة في‬ ‫المملكة المتحدة حيث سيكون الشخص أو الشركة مسؤوال عن دفع ضريبة‬ ‫الدخل (األفراد) أو الضريبة التجارية (على الشركات)‪ ،‬على األرباح المحرزة‬ ‫من تنمية رأس المال وضريبة الدخل على العقارات التي يملكها (وكذلك تنطبق‬ ‫قواعد مكافحة التهرب الضريبي الخاصة بشأن المعامالت على األرض)‪ .‬وكذلك‬ ‫تكون الضريبة موجبة على المكاسب واألرباح المحرزة في المملكة المتحدة من‬ ‫ألغراض ضريبة التركة‪ ،‬فإن أصول الشخص المقيم في المملكة‬ ‫قبل غير المقيميين سواء كانوا أشخاص أو شركات‪.‬‬ ‫المتحدة في جميع أنحاء العالم سوف تشكل جزءا من ممتلكات ذلك‬ ‫الشخص الخاصة وتحسب ألغراض ضريبة التركة‪ .‬أما في حالة الفرد‬ ‫الذي ال يكون مقيما في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬فإن األصول التي يمتلكها‬ ‫ذلك الشخص في المملكة المتحدة هي التي تحسب فقط‪ .‬وقد يحسب‬ ‫‪ ‬يتحمل الشخص دفع ضريبة أرباح رأس المال فيما يتعلق بأي‬ ‫الشخص مقيما في المملكة المتحدة وفقا لحالة معينة (حالة قانونية‬ ‫مكاسب محرزة لمصلحته من ممتلكاته في المملكة المتحدة في أي‬ ‫تستدعي بقاء الشخص في المملكة المتحدة)‪ ،‬أو إذا الشخص "اعتبر‬ ‫سنة ضريبية للمدة التي كان فيها مقيما ا في المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬ ‫مقيما" طبقا لقانون الضرائب في المملكة المتحدة (إذا ما كان‬ ‫وبموجب القواعد الضريبية الجديدة المقترحة في مشروع قانون‬ ‫الشخص قد قضى مدة ‪ 01‬سنة من أصل ‪ 31‬سنة ضريبية)‪ ،‬وقد دفع‬ ‫المالية‪ ،‬ال يتحمل الشخص أية أعباء ضريبية عن األرباح المحرزة‬ ‫لهذه المدة ضريبة الدخل‪.‬‬ ‫لممتلكاته في المملكة المتحدة للجزء من السنة الضريبية أثناء‬ ‫تواجده خارج المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬ ‫‪ ‬وهذا ال ينطبق على األفراد من الذين ال يملكون عنوان إقامة في‬ ‫يمكن لغير المقيميين االستفادة من عدد من االعفاءات الضريبية‬ ‫المملكة المتحدة (غير المقيميين) ممن اختاروا الخضوع للضريبة‬ ‫وخاصة ما يدعى "تفعيل الهيكلية"‪ .‬وفي هذه الحالة يمكن الح ّد من‬ ‫على أساس التحويالت‪ ،‬فيما يتعلق بأي مكاسب أو‬ ‫الضرائب على الدخل وكذلك التخلص من أية ضريبة على المكاسب‬ ‫‪ ‬أرباح محرزة عند التخلص أو بيع أصول لهم تقع خارج المملكة‬ ‫واألرباح‪ .‬وتبعا لالستشارة القانونية يمكن تحديد بعض المواضيع التي‬ ‫المتحدة‪ ،‬وال تخضع هذه األصول أو األرباح الناشئة عنها إال إذا ما‬ ‫يمكن أن تقلل من اآلثار الضريبية على بعض االستثمارات‪ .‬وهذا‬ ‫تم جلبها أو عائداتها مرة أخرى إلى المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬ ‫الوضوع يجب أن يدرس مليا من خالل استشارة قانونية متخصصة‬ ‫خمسة‬ ‫عن‬ ‫تقل‬ ‫‪ ‬الشخص الذي لم يعد مقيما ا في المملكة المتحدة لمدة‬ ‫حيث يتم دراسة عدد من العوامل التي من شأنها تعريف وضع أي‬ ‫أية‬ ‫عن‬ ‫كامل‬ ‫بشكل‬ ‫أعوام ضريبية سيكون خاضعا ا لقواعد الضريبة‬ ‫مستثمر فيما يتعلق باإلقامة‪ ،‬وفيما إذا كان المسثمر فردا أو شركة‪،‬‬ ‫المتحدة‪،‬‬ ‫المملكة‬ ‫خارج‬ ‫مكاسب أو أرباح ناشئة في فترة أقامته‬ ‫ومحل إقامته الفعلية‪ ،‬وإمكانية توافر اتفاقات االزدواج الضريبي‪،‬‬ ‫المتحدة‪.‬‬ ‫المملكة‬ ‫في‬ ‫اإلقامة‬ ‫يدفعها في السنة التي سيعاود فيها‬ ‫وميزات خاصة تتعلق بأداة االستثمار المختارة‪.‬‬ ‫(وبموجب التشريع الجديد سيتم تمديد هذا ليشمل األرباح وإيرادات‬ ‫الدخل األخرى من غاية ‪ 6‬أبريل ‪.)3102‬‬ ‫أن اختيار البنية االستثمارية المالئمة لغرض االستثمار في العقارات‬ ‫في المملكة المتحدة هو أحد االعتبارات الرئيسية‪ .‬وتعتمد الهيكلية‬ ‫األكثر مالئمة لالستخدام في هذا النوع من االستثمار على مجموعة‬ ‫بالنسبة لألفراد الذين يغادرون إقامتهم في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬فمن الممكن أن متنوعة من العوامل‪ ،‬بما في ذلك طبيعة المعامالت االستثمارية‪،‬‬ ‫يطلبوا دفع الضريبة لقسم من السنة‪ ،‬شرط استيفاء شروط معينة‪ .‬قواعد قسم ووضع األطراف المعنية بهذا االستثمار‪ ،‬ومحالت وإقامتهم‪،‬‬ ‫من السنة (على أساس تقسيم السنة) تتيح للفرد أن يعامل على أنه غير مقيم ومتطلبات التمويل‪ ،‬وإستراتيجيات الخروج من هذا االستثمار‬ ‫(اإلتفاق)‪.‬‬ ‫في المملكة المتحدة من غاية تاريخ مغادرته‪ ،‬على شرط‪-:‬‬

‫• أن ينخرط في عمل بدوام كامل في الخارج‪.‬‬ ‫• أن يغادر الشخص مع شريك حياته (زوجة أو زوج) على شرط أن ينخرط هذا‬ ‫أن اختبارات اإلقامة القانونية (‪ )SRT‬هي التي تحدد ما إذا كان الفرد‬ ‫الشريك في عمل بدوام كامل في الخارج‪.‬‬ ‫• أن يغادر الشخص المملكة المتحدة للعيش في الخارج‪ ،‬وال يملك منزال أو مقيما أو غير مقيما في المملكة المتحدة في السنة الضريبية (ضريبة‬ ‫عنوانا في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬وبعد ذلك أن يمضي فترة أقل من ‪ 06‬يوما في الدخل‪ ،‬وضريبة األرباح الرأسمالية وضريبة الميراث)‪.‬‬ ‫المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬

‫‪26‬‬

‫‪27‬‬

‫ ‪ARABIC SECTION‬‬

‫ان القواعد المتعلقة بقانون الضرائب وعالقته باإلقامة في المملكة المتحدة‬ ‫معقدة للغاية‪ .‬ومع ذلك فمن الممكن أن تحدد الخطوط العريضة لما يشكل صفة من غاية ‪ 6‬أبريل ‪ 3102‬تغيرت القواعد التي تحدد ما إذا كان شخص‬ ‫اإلقامة في المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬ ‫مقيما ألغراض الضريبة في المملكة المتحدة‪ .‬وهذا ما يطلق عليه أو‬ ‫ما هو معروف باسم اختبار اإلقامة القانونية (‪ .)SRT‬فبالنسبة‬ ‫صفة الفرد المقيم قد يكون لها تأثير على ما هو الهيكل األكثر مالءمة الذي لغالبية الناس ما إذا كانوا مقيمين أم ال‪.‬‬ ‫سيستخدم المتالك عقارات في المملكة المتحدة من قبل الشخص المعني‪ .‬كما‬ ‫هو معلوم‪ ،‬إذا كان الشخص مقيم في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬فإن أصول الفرد في وألغراض الضريبة‪ ،‬فإن قواعد االختبار الضريبي ألغراض اإلقامة‬ ‫جميع أنحاء العالم سوف تشكل جزءا من ممتلكات الفرد الخاص وتحسب في ما واضحة‪ ،‬وسوف لن تتغير‪ .‬أما بالنسبة لألشخاص من ذوي الحاالت‬ ‫يتعلق بضريبة الميراث لهذا الشخص‪ .‬وال ينطبق هذا إذا ما كان الشخص غير المعقدة فإن اختبار اإلقامة ‪ SRT‬الجديد سيوفير مزيدا من اليقين‬ ‫مقيم في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬حيث يتم إدراج أصول ذلك الشخص وممتلكاته بشأن وضع إقامتهم‪.‬‬ ‫الموجودة في المملكة المتحدة فقط عند حساب ضريبة الميراث‪.‬‬ ‫ألغراض ضريبة الميراث في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬سيعتبر الشخص مقيما في أهم ما يجب أن نلقي الضوء عليه في هذا الشأن‪ ،‬هو عدم وجود أية‬ ‫المملكة المتحدة إذا كان ذلك الشخص قد أمضى ‪ 01‬سنة ضريبية من مجموع ضرائب عند البيع النهائي للعقارات من قبل الشخص أو الشركة غير‬ ‫‪ 31‬سنة مقيما في المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬ ‫المقيميين في المملكة المتحدة‪.‬‬ ‫أن عدم وجود ضرائب (حرة من الضريبة) على فيما يتعلق بالمكاسب‬ ‫ إذا كان والده مقيما في المملكة المتحدة عندما ولد الطفل في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬واألرباح حين بيع العقارات (بشكل نهائي) للشخص أو الشركة غير‬‫المقيميين في المملكة المتحدة‪ ،‬يعتبر أو يشكل هذا نقطة الجذب األكبر‬ ‫ثم لم يغادرا بعد ذلك إلى بلد آخر؛‬ ‫ إذا لم يكن والد الشخص المعني مقيما في المملكة المتحدة عندما ولد الطفل‪ ،‬للمشترين المستثمرين في العقارات في المملكة المتحدة من غير‬‫لكن العائلة انتقلت إلى المملكة المتحدة للعيش‪ ،‬وجعلت من المملكة المتحدة المقيميين‪ .‬وحاليا‪ ،‬ينطبق هذا على كل أنواع المستثمرين من غير‬ ‫موطنا دائما لها‪.‬‬ ‫المقيميين بغض النظر عن كونهم أفراد أو شركات‪.‬‬

‫ ‬

‫‪ARABIC SECTION‬‬

‫تتمتع بها كل دولة من دول المغرب العربي‪ ،‬تسعى كل واحدة من هذه الدول إلى تطوير قطاع النقل الوطني لديها وتطوير كيفية الربط‬ ‫وشبكات المواصالت بينها وبين القارة األوروبية وكذلك باقي النواحي في اإلقليمية في القارة األفريقية‪ .‬وتمكنت القمة من تغطية قطاع‬ ‫النقل في الدول المغاربية من حيث وسائل الربط التي تخص التجارة إضافة إلى السفؤ السياحي الخاص والتجاري‪ .‬وأهم ما في ذلك عرضت‬ ‫القمة الفرص االستثمارية المتوفرة ودعت االستثمارات األجنبية والوطنية لإلقبال على هذه الفرص‪ .‬وقامت القمة بتغطية مشاريع النقل‬ ‫الرئيسية داخل كل بلد؛ من تطوير أسرع وصالت السكك الحديدية على الصعيدين الوطني واإلقليمي‪ ،‬لمطارات توسيع والموانئ الرئيسية‪،‬‬ ‫وبناء األنفاق التي تربط القناة إلى أوروبا‪ ،‬وبناء الطرق البرية الجديدة‪ .‬وسلطت القمة ‪ 5102 MIC‬الضوء على مشاريع واسعة النطاق‬ ‫رئيسية في المنطقة ووجهت المستثمرين المعلومة المهمة ونحو االتجاه الصحيح‪.‬‬

‫منذ حلول الربيع العربي قبل ما يقارب على الثالث سنوات‪ ،‬قد تضررت البنية التحتية لبعض البلدان مثل تونس‪ .‬إآل أن استتباب األوضاع‬ ‫السياسية في الفترة القريبة الماضية قد احضر معه الضرورة لوضع خطط جادة لتطوير مشاريع البنية التحتية ومن ضمنها قطاع الطاقة‬ ‫وذلك من خالل بناء محطات جديدة لتوليد الطاقة من الموارد المائية وفي جميع أنحاء المغرب العربي‪ ،‬وكذلك تأسيس شبكات الطاقة‬ ‫الكهربائية بين البلدان المغربية عبر الحدود‪ .‬وتقدم الدعم العديد من المؤسسات األوروبية ألجل إيجاد نوع من التكامل في منطقة المغرب‬ ‫العربي‪ ،‬والطريقة الرئيسية لتحقيق هذا هو العمل معا في إيجاد وخلق الطاقة المستدامة للمنطقة واالستفادة من إمكاناتها الكاملة السيما‬ ‫االستفادة من الطاقة الشمسية والرياح‪ .‬وتمتلك هذه المنطقة قدرا كبيرا من الطاقة الكامنة غير المستغلة في المنطقة‪ .‬وهذا ما ناقشته القمة‬ ‫من خالل عرض أحدث المشاريع مثل مشروع الطاقة الشمسية في المغرب (‪ ،)Quarzazate‬وتناولت أيضا أحدث المشاريع اإلقليمية على‬ ‫هذا الصعيد السيما مشاريع التوربينات‪ .‬وبما أن بناء البنية التحتية في هذه الدول تلعب دورا مهما في إنجاز مثل هذه المشاريع العمالقة في‬ ‫المنطقة المغاربية‪ ،‬فقد عرضت القمة الخطوط العريضة للطريقة التي يمكن للمستثمرين المهتمين في االستثمار بهذه المشاريع وكيفية‬ ‫التغلب على العقبات والتحديات المحتملة‪ ،‬وأول هذه األمور تعزيز العالقة بين المستثمرين المحليين واألجانب وبين القطاع العام الخاضع‬ ‫للدولة‪.‬‬

‫‪28‬‬

‫‪29‬‬

‫ ‪ARABIC SECTION‬‬

‫قمة بالد المغرب العربي (‪ )MIC‬تبحث مشاريع اإلعمار والبنية التحتية عام ‪ 3102‬هي واحدة من المناسبات التي سلطت الضوء على فرص‬ ‫االستثمار في مشاريع اإلعمار والبنية التحتية داخل المنطقة المغاربية‪ .‬ففي خضم األزمة االقتصادية العالمية واالضطرابات السياسية التي‬ ‫شهدتها منطقة شمال أفريقيا‪ ،‬أثبتت بلدان المغرب العربي استمرارية احراز معدالت النمو االقتصادي وكذلك االجتماعي‪ .‬فقد شهدت المنطقة‬ ‫زيادة في االستثمارات األجنبية المباشرة‪ ،‬فضالا عن انشاء العديد من مشاريع البنية التحتية الوطنية‪ .‬وتناولت هذه القمة بحث أحدث‬ ‫الفرص االستثمارية في كل من المغرب‪ ،‬والجزائر وتونس‪ ،‬وأقيمت للفترة من ‪ 52-52‬من شهر أيلول (سبتمبر) ‪ 5102‬في الدار البيضاء في‬ ‫المملكة المغربية‪ .‬وكانت القمة بمثابة فرصة ذهبية للشركات ورجال األعمال للتعرف على الفرص التي تطرحها هذه المنطقة السيما‬ ‫مشاريع ضخمة في مجال البنية التحتية ضمن قطاعات رئيسية مثل النقل والطاقة‪.‬‬ ‫"إنترناشونال ريسيرج نت ورك (‪ ،") IRN‬المنظمة للقمة‪ ،‬هي الهيئة المتخصصة في تنظيم مؤتمرات عالمية بخصوص مشاريع البنية‬ ‫التحتية واألسواق المشتركة‪ .‬وتقوم ‪ IRN‬بتنظيم وإدارة مؤتمرات عالمية بشكل دوري سنوي‪ ،‬وهي قد حازت على سمعة ممتازة على‬ ‫الصعيد الدولي‪ .‬فبعد النجاح الكبير الذي حققته قمة ليبيا‪ :‬اإلعمار والبنية التحتية‪ ،‬وقمة العراق‪ :‬اإلعمار والبنية التحتية عام ‪،3102‬‬ ‫وقمة دول البلقان‪ :‬البنية التحتية واإلعمار‪ .‬وقد وفرت ‪ IRN‬الفرصة الممتازة إلقامة قمة بالد المغرب لعام ‪.3102‬‬ ‫ووفرت هذه القمة ولمدة يومين جدول أعمال شامل استطاع أن يغطي كل المنطقة المغاربية ويتناول أهم المسائل التي تهم المستثمرين‬ ‫المحتملين السيما المعلومات التي يحتاجون إليها‪ ،‬وسواء كان ذلك بخصوص االستثمارات الخاصة أو العامة‪ ،‬وأهم اإلجراءات المرافقة‬ ‫للعطاءات‪ ،‬وسبل التغلب على التحديات والعقبات الرئيسية التي ممكن أن تصاحب موضوع عمليات العطاءات في منطقة المغرب العربي‬ ‫وكذلك المخاطر والعوامل األخرى‪ .‬ووفرت القمة منصة معلوماتية لكل الحاضرين سواء كانوا هيئات حكومية أو رجال أعمال ومقاولين‬ ‫وشركات‪.‬‬ ‫وجذبت القمة المغاربية (‪ 5102 )MIC‬مجموعة واسعة من كبار المتحدثين وفي جميع القطاعات‪ ،‬من الهيئات الحكومية وشركات البنية‬ ‫التحتية اإلقليمية‪ ،‬والمؤسسات العالمية‪ ،‬والمصارف والمستثمرين الدوليين‪ .‬وسلطت القمة الضوء على العديد من الفرص ووضحت‬ ‫تفاصيل مهمة بشأن كيفية االستثمار وتنمية العائد على رأس المال االستثماري للمستثمرين‪ .‬وذهبت القمة أيضا بعيدا باضافاتها المستنيرة‬ ‫حول المنطقة‪ ،‬وعرفت الحضور بالشركات والشركاء المحليين في كل بلد من البلدان المغاربية التي شملتها تغطية القمة‪.‬‬

‫أن البلدان المنطقة المغاربية تتمتع بميزة تجعلها من أحد المناطق المفضلة في العالم من حيث التجارة واالستثمار‪ ،‬فهي تعتبر بمثابة الممر‬ ‫الرئيسي الرابط بين أوروبا وشمال شرق البحر األبيض المتوسط وباقي األراضي في القارة ا ألفريقية‪ .‬وبسبب هذه الميزات الخاصة التي‬

‫ ‬

‫‪ARABIC SECTION‬‬

‫يعلن مجلس أمناء الجائزة عن فتح باب التقديم في الدورة السابعة (‪ )3102-3102‬في الموضوعات التالية‪-:‬‬ ‫‪ -0‬حقل األداب والفنون في موضوع‪ :‬أدب األطفال عن مجمل إنتاج المؤلف‪.‬‬ ‫‪ -3‬حقل العلوم في موضوع‪ :‬تطبيقات حديثة في استخدام الطاقة الشمسية‪.‬‬ ‫‪ -2‬حقل المدينة العربية‪ :‬في موضوع الشوارع في المدينة العربية ‪ /‬نموذج تطبيقي‪.‬‬

‫أن تتوفر فيه األصالة والتمّيز‪ ،‬وأن يتضمن أضافة حقيقية في مجاله‪.‬‬ ‫أن ال يكون منشورًا أو مشروحًا باللغة العربية أو مترجمًا إليها‪.‬‬ ‫أن يكون المتقدم أحد مواطني الدول العربية‪.‬‬ ‫يتم ترشيح األفراد عن طريق المؤسسات والهيئات ذات العالقة‪.‬‬

‫‪ -1‬يقدم من العمل المرشح للجائزة خمس نسخ ترسل إلى أمانة عمّان الكبرى‪ /‬مركز الحسين الثقافي ‪ /‬مكتب جائزة الملك عبد‬ ‫هللا الثاني أبن الحسين لإلبداع‪.‬‬ ‫‪ -3‬ال تعاد األعمال إلى مرسليها سواء فازت بالجائزة أو لم تفز‪.‬‬ ‫‪ -2‬يوقع المشارك على تعهد بأن العمل المشارك به لم يفز بجائزة محلية أو عربية أو دولية‪.‬‬ ‫‪ -2‬يقوم المشارك بتعبئة نموذج طلب بالتنسيق مع مكتب الجائزة‪.‬‬

‫‪ -0‬شهادة باسم الفائز وعنوان الموضوع أو العمل الذي أهله لنيل الجائزة‪.‬‬ ‫‪ -3‬مكافأة نقدية مقدارها خمسة وعشرون ألف دوالر لكل موضوع من مواضيع الجائزة‪.‬‬

‫‪ -2‬رصيعة ذهبية عليها صورة جاللة الملك عبد الثاني أبن الحسين وشعار األمانة واسم الجائزة‪.‬‬

‫‪30‬‬

ARCHITECTURE

trinéire

INTERIOR DESIGN

Trinéire is a London based Architects and Interior Designers practice established in 1992 providing an all encompassing professional service in the UK and overseas. From initial design to full completion, we at Trinéire ensure all areas of a project meet the highest standards. Trinéire manage all aspects of a project from foundations to furniture and remove the worry and stress often associated with getting that dream property. We guide our clients every step of the way through the course of a project with our personal service, be it refurbishing and extending old buildings or constructing new contemporary or traditional properties to the highest level of bespoke design. Working on UK properties while clients reside overseas, we provide the professional link and peace of mind. Contact us to find out more. (Members of the Royal Institute of British Architects and the British Institute of Interior Design)

384 Lee High Road, London SE12 8RW

t:+44(0)20 82974144/8728 e: info@trineire.com w: www.trineire.com

architects & interior designers

TENDERS

BAHRAIN BAHRAIN MINISTRY OF WORKS – SANITARY ENGINEERING PLANNING AND PROJECTS DIRECTORATE Tender for Investigations and CCTV Survey Works 2013-2015 (Project ID: SES-13-30-004) Tender No: SES-13/0035 Bid Bond: BD2,500 Document Cost: BD50 Contact Tender Board Kingdom of Bahrain Email: helpdesk@tenderboard.gov.bh http://www.tenderboard.gov.bh/ Deadline: 09/10/2013

MINISTRY OF HEALTH DIRECTORATE OF MATERIALS MANAGEMENT Construction of X-Ray and Dental Clinic at Zallaq Health Centre Tender No: MOH 125/2013 Bid Bond: BD1000 Document Cost: BD25 Contact Tender Board Kingdom of Bahrain Email: helpdesk@tenderboard.gov.bh http://www.tenderboard.gov.bh/ Deadline: 30/10/2013

EGYPT LEASING AND EXPLOITATION OF EXISTING COMMERCIAL AREAS AS DUTY FREE SHOPS AT TRAVEL LOUNGE AND ARRIVAL HALL OF NEW TERMINAL OF HURGHADA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT Tender No: 5/ 2013/ 2014 Document Cost: $1,500 Bid Bond: $375,000 Contact Egyptian Airports Co Airport Road, Cairo Tel: 02 - 22739459 Fax: 02 – 22739069 Email: info@eac-airports.com www.eac-airports.com/ContactUs.aspx Deadline: 23/10/2013

CONSTRUCTION OF 51 BUILDINGS COMPRISING 1,020 HOUSING UNITS Document Cost: LE1,000 Bid Bond: LE1,000,000 Contact General Authority for New Urban Societies, Tenth Ramadan City Development Agency Tel: (015) 410435 Fax: (015) 410438 Deadline: 31/10/2013

REQUEST OF OFFERS REGARDING THE TANKS FIELD PACKAGE PERTAINING TO SOUTHERN HELWAN 3 X 650 MW ULTRA HIGH VOLTAGE POWER STATION Document Cost: LE5,000 Bid Bond: LE970,000 Contact Upper Egypt Electricity Production Co (UEEPC) c/o New Assuit Power Station in El Walidiya, Assuit Tel: 02 – 38462393 Fax: 02 – 38462865 www.ueepc.com Deadline: 27/10/2013

SUPPLY OF DIFFERENT PURPOSE MEDICINES, LABORATORY CHEMICALS, SOLUTIONS, SURGICAL MACHINES, VEGETABLES & FRUIT Ten Separate Tenders Ref: 10 to 19 Document Costs: In range of LE250 to LE400 Bib Bonds: From LE3,500 to LE55,000 Contact Mansoura University, the Cancer Treatment Centre, Elgomhouria St, Mansoura City 35516 Tel: +20 (50) 2315738/2397054 Fax: +20 (50) 2397900 Deadline: 21/10/2013

IMPLEMENTATION OF PHASE 3 OF RESIDENTIAL HOUSING PROJECT, AL KHAMAYEL COMPOUND, 6TH OCTOBER CITY Document Cost: LE2,500 Bid Bond: LE550,000 Contact Real Estate Projects Agency of the Ministry of Interior 11 Sayeda Zeinab Square, Cairo Deadline: 06/10/2013

OMAN REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF AN INDEPENDENT WATER PROJECT AT QURAYYAT (QURAYYAT IWP) Tender No: 94/2013 Document Cost: RO175 Contact Oman Tender Board Muscat Oman PO Box 787/133 Al Khuwair Tel: +968 24602652 Tenderom@Omantel.net.om http://www.tenderboard.gov.om/eng/ Deadline: 28/10/2013

ELECTRO-MECHANICAL AND CIVIL OPERATIONS AND MAINTENANCE SERVICES AT SULTAN QABOOS UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL Tender No: 93/2013 Document Cost: RO1250 Contact Oman Tender Board Muscat Oman PO Box 787/133 Al Khuwair Tel: +968 24602652 Tenderom@Omantel.net.om http://www.tenderboard.gov.om/eng/ Deadline: 28/10/2013

DEVELOPMENT OF RAS AL-HADD REGIONAL AIRPORT Tender No: 89/2013 Document Cost: RO3000 Contact Oman Tender Board Muscat Oman PO Box 787/133 Al Khuwair Tel: +968 24602652 Tenderom@Omantel.net.om http://www.tenderboard.gov.om/eng/ Deadline: 04/11/2013

DEVELOPMENT OF SOHAR REGIONAL AIRPORT Tender No: 88/2013 Document Cost: RO3000 Contact Oman Tender Board Muscat Oman PO Box 787/133 Al Khuwair Tel: +968 24602652 Tenderom@Omantel.net.om http://www.tenderboard.gov.om/eng/ Deadline: 04/11/2013

ANCILLARY SERVICES MAINTENANCE OF GRID STATIONS Tender No: 87/2013 Document Cost: RO2500 Contact Oman Tender Board Muscat Oman PO Box 787/133 Al Khuwair Tel: +968 24602652 Tenderom@Omantel.net.om http://www.tenderboard.gov.om/eng/ Deadline: 14/10/2013

TENDERS

QATAR EPIC OF WASTE MANAGEMENT FACILITY AT RLC Tender No: GT13109700 Scope of Work Project consists of two parts: Part-A is Construction of Waste Transfer Facility This includes construction of 1. Transfer Station and 2. Administrative Building with all Building Utilities and Services. AFC documents are provided for the above construction. Part-B is EPIC of Improvement of Waste Management Facility This includes EPIC for 1. New 100T Weighbridge 2. Modification to the existing Control room 3. Improvement to the current road 4. Bid Bond: QR2,500,000 Tender Document Cost: QR500 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4440 2000; Fax: +974 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 27/10/2013

EPIC FOR IMPLEMENTATATION OF 6 MECHANICAL PCRS IN NGL 3, GAS OPS, MESAIEED Tender No: LT13108200 Scope of Work Qatar Petroleum intends to improve its operational processes, environmental controls and safety regime at its existing NGL Plants, Gas Operations by implementing additions and modifications as described hereinafter. The contractor shall carry out the work that includes Engineering verification, procurement, material supply, installation / construction, inspection, testing, pre-commissioning and commissioning for implementation of the following Six Mechanical Plant Change Requests for NGL#3 at QP's NGL Plants in Mesaieed as detailed in this Appendix-A. 1, OEE/GP/10/342: Providing safety shower at NGL-3 Effluent unit hypoclorite tank area. 2., 2, OEE/GP/10/345: Connect Vent line of Booster Turbine Filter FG Skid to Flare at NGL3 3,OEE/ GP/12/393: Sample Point modification in NGL-3 (Molecular Sieve Unit) 4,OEE/GP/12/397: Upgrading the cooling water system of the Stabilizer Reboiler Pumps 6112-P-02 A/B at NGL-3 5, OEE/GP/12/415: Pipeline connection from 6939-V-01 (NGL-3 Cold Drain Drum) to 6922-P-07 (Heavy Oil/Slops Pump) at NGL-3. 6, OEE/GP/13/425: Provision of Tie-In for Rich/ Lean Glycol Exchanger (6117-E-12 and 6117E-22 to facilitate chemical cleaning) at NGL-3. Duration of Contract: Thirteen (13) calendar months. Bid Bond: QR70,000 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4440 2000; Fax: +974 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 13/10/2013

SERVICES FOR REFURBISHMENT OF GAS LIFT VALVES ON CALL-OFF BASIS IN DUKHAN Tender No: ST13104800 Scope of Work QP requires the services of a qualified and experienced contractor for servicing/ refurbishing of 3" Gas Lift Shutdown Valves on Call-off basis in Dukhan Field Bid Bond: QR 21,000 Tender Document Cost: QR200 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4440 2000; Fax: +974 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 30/09/2013

EPIC FOR UPGRADE OF DM PLANT PLC & CHEMICAL INJECTION PUMP CONTROL Tender No: LT13107700 Scope of Work EPIC For Upgrade of DM Plant PLC & Chem Injection Pump Controller at NGL-3 Mesieed A) Replacement of Methanol Injection 6842-A-01 Control System @ NFGP B) Replacement of DM Plant Control System at NFGP Contract Duration: Twelve calendar months Bid Bond: QR75,000 Tender Document Cost: QR200 Contact Qatar Petroleum PO Box 3212, Doha, Qatar Tel: +974 4440 2000; Fax: +974 4483 1125 www.qp.com.qa Deadline: 29/09/2013

SAUDI ARABIA O & M OF POWER AND TELECOM NETWORK SYSTEMS Tender No: 355-S19 Scope of Work This contract covers operation and maintenance of facilities and equipment, which are electrical in nature or support an electrical function or telecommunication in nature or support a telecommunication and/ or electronics function in Jubail Industrial City. RFP Documents Cost: SR5,000 Contact Royal Commission in Jubail Supply Management Department Attention: Contracts Section Tel: (03) 341-4127/4163 Fax: (03) 341-2201 Deadline: 24/10/2013

CONSTRUCTION OF LABOUR HOUSING PHASE 2 Tender No: PIC F-8131 Scope of Work Work includes procurement and construction of infrastructure and improvements including roads and utilities, buildings, and compound support facilities located in Haii Al-Sawari, MYAS. RFP Documents Cost: SR3,000 Contact Supply Management Dept Royal Commission at Yanbu PO Box 30031 Yanbu Industrial City Tel: (04) 321-6021 Fax: (04) 321-6092 Email: smcontract@rcyanbu.gov.sa www.rcjy.gov.sa Deadline: 11/11/2013

CONSTRUCTION OF TWO SCHOOLS FOR SECONDARY BOYS SCHOOL IN AL-AZIZIYAH 5 AND INTERMEDIATE BOYS IN AL JAAR 1 Tender No: PIC G-1507 A Scope of Work Work includes, but is not limited to the procurement and construction, testing, commissioning and all works necessary for the complete operational facilities of the intermediate boy’s school and secondary boy’s school in accordance with the contract documents RFP Documents Cost: SR9,000 Contact Supply Management Dept Royal Commission at Yanbu PO Box 30031 Yanbu Industrial City Tel: (04) 321-6021 Fax: (04) 321-6092 Email: smcontract@rcyanbu.gov.sa www.rcjy.gov.sa Deadline: 30/10/2013

TENDERS

MADINAT YANBU AL-SINAIYAH GATE PROJECT

SUPPLY OF LOW VOLTAGE POWER CABLES

Tender No: PIC F-8127 Scope of Work

Tender No: 2051300062 Tender Document Cost: AED2000 Contact Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager, Zabeel East, PO Box 564, Dubai Tel: +971 4 3244444 Fax: +971 4 3248111 Email: contracts@dewa.gov.ae www.dewa.gov.ae Deadline: 09/10/2013

Includes procurement and construction of building works for Main Building, Accommodation Building, Multipurpose Building, Guard Room Building, Mechanical Building, Mosque, Checkpoint, Guardhouse and Shade Building, Potable Water Tank with Pumps, Fuel Tank with Pumps & Site Works, including Trash Enclosures, located at the south bound end of Tareeq Al-Malik Abdul Aziz. RFP Documents Cost: SR1,000 Contact Supply Management Dept Royal Commission at Yanbu PO Box 30031 Yanbu Industrial City Tel: (04) 321-6021 Fax: (04) 321-6092 Email: smcontract@rcyanbu.gov.sa www.rcjy.gov.sa Deadline: 28/10/2013

UAE Supply of Crimping Type Bi-Metallic and Copper Cable Sockets Tender No: 2051300063 Tender Document Costs: AED200 Contact Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager, Zabeel East, PO Box 564, Dubai Tel: + 971 4 3244444 Fax: + 971 4 3248111 Email: contracts@dewa.gov.ae www.dewa.gov.ae Deadline: 23/10/2013

SUPPLY, INSTALLATION, TESTING & COMMISSIONING OF 132 KV CABLE LAYING WORKS FOR 3 NOS. 132/11 KV SUBSTATIONS AND ASSOCIATED WORKS Tender No: 2131300052 Tender Document Cost: AED5000 Contact Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager, Zabeel East, PO Box 564, Dubai Tel: +971 4 3244444 Fax: +971 4 3248111 Email: contracts@dewa.gov.ae www.dewa.gov.ae Deadline: 09/10/2013

INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCER (IPP) ADVISORY SERVICES FOR HASSYAN CLEAN COAL POWER PLANT - PHASE-I Tender No: 2131300051 Tender Document Cost: AED2000 Contact Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager, Zabeel East, PO Box 564, Dubai Tel: +971 4 3244444 Fax: +971 4 3248111 Email: contracts@dewa.gov.ae www.dewa.gov.ae Deadline: 08/10/2013

CIVIL MAINTENANCE OF DEWA BUILDINGS AT VARIOUS LOCATIONS Tender No: CG/0012/2013 Tender Document Cost: AED500 Contact Dubai Electricity & Water Authority Office of the Contracts Manager, Zabeel East, PO Box 564, Dubai Tel: +971 4 3244444 Fax: +971 4 3248111 Email: contracts@dewa.gov.ae www.dewa.gov.ae Deadline: 07/10/2013

MEMBERS TENDERS NEWS

DR MOHAMMAD AL-HEZZANI CENTER LEGAL CONSULTANT & LAWYER

ABCC member, Dr Mohammad Al-Hezzani Center, a Riyadh based law firm and consultant, offers the following services to businesses operating or seeking to operate in Saudi Arabia:

2) Commercial documents: Different cases of commercial documents with governmental agencies and others.

Legal Consultation

6) Stocks: clearance of real estate stocks and stocks trading.

Preparation, drafting and checking of contracts and agreements Representation in judicial proceedings and to semi-judicial authorities Preparation of arbitration documents and completion of procedures Assisting in the reconciliation process and submission of reconciliation documents to the relevant authorities.

Specific Areas of Expertise 1) Financial transactions: Different types of financial transactions, such as sales, partnership, mortgage, proxy, donation, guarantee and endowments.

3) Financial markets: Cases of financial markets, all aspects related to capital markets and others financial governmental agencies. 4) Human and financial resources: Cases of human and financial resources in companies, with governmental agencies and others. 5) Companies: undertaking procedures for company establishment and authentication, registration agencies and trademarks.

7) Inheritance: preparation of commandments, division and administration of inheritances. 8) Insurance: cases of insurance. 9) Training: Training of employees in judiciary, legal consultations and legal profession.

Clients Individuals; general establishments; international companies with operations in Saudi Arabia; the private sector; international firms seeking to work in Saudi Arabia; and government agencies. Dr Mohammad Rashid Al-Hezzani, the owner and director of the company, is a member of the following organisations: 1) Saudi Jurisprudential Association. 2) Saudi Scientific Judicial Association. 3) Certified arbitrator at the Ministry of Justice. 4) Certified consultant for educational consultations. 5) Certified consultant for administrative consultations. 6) Saudi laws association. Contact Dr Mohammad Al-Hezzani Center, Legal Consultant & Lawyer

10) Regulations: Preparation, drafting and development of regulation projects, engineering and documentation procedures and design models.

Tel: +966 1 4169436 Fax: +966 1 4169437 Mobile: +966 0534503882

11) Banks: Legal consultations for banks.

Riyadh PO Box 8245 Postal Code 11482 Email: DrAlhezzaniLawyer@gmail.com/ DrAlhezzani@DrAlhezzaniLawyer.com Website: www.DrAlhezzaniLawyer.com

INVESTING IN EGYPT

EGYPT’S ROAD MAP TO PROSPERITY By Karim Salem, Partner, AbouElfadl, ElKassed & Partners

Following massive public protests that began on June 30, Egypt’s military removed President Morsy from power and set a new political road map for the country that includes organising new presidential elections that are to take place within a year. Adley Mansour, who headed Egypt’s Supreme Constitutional Court, was chosen by the military to replace Morsy as interim president during the transitional period. Following his appointment, Mansour immediately declared that the constitution would be amended and Egyptians will be asked to vote on the amendments. Following the approval of the amendments by the people, parliamentary elections would be organised followed by presidential elections.

I believe the current Egyptian government realises the importance of consistency and it has taken a significant step towards achieving it by reinstating Mr Osama Saleh as Minister of Investment, who occupied the same position from June 2012 till May 2013, to continue his work on attracting FDI into the country. It may be argued that it is during Mr Saleh’s previous period as Minister of Investment that the most significant steps were taken by the Ministry to attract FDI.

Now that a new government has been appointed headed by Prime Minister Hazem Al Beblawi, an economist, questions are being posed on the ability of the economy to stand on its own feet following the instability over the last two and a half years.

The plans that Mr Saleh is expected to resume are the many PPP projects the Ministry had been preparing for investors during the last year, including eight major investment projects that he detailed last April. These projects are in the agriculture, industrial, tourism, petrol, electricity, and water treatment sectors.

For now, it appears that there is no short term risk that the government wouldn’t be able to pay salaries and purchase the much needed energy products that the government heavily subsidises to Egyptians. That this is so is all thanks to the immediate support provided by Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and the UAE following the ouster of Morsy as they pledged an immediate injection into the Egyptian economy of a $12 billion aid packages. The aid includes deposits at the Egyptian central bank, grants, and the provision of oil products. Beyond this, there are many uncertainties. I believe it is crucial for Egypt to attract foreign direct investment in large numbers in order to create jobs for millions of unemployed Egyptians and generally to give a boost to the economy. But, in order to do so, Egypt has to have stability and investors must see consistency on the part of the government regarding its plans to attract foreign investment. More importantly, investors must be convinced that it would be more profitable for them to invest in Egypt than in other countries in the region.

The industrial projects, three in all, will take place on the northwest side of the Suez Canal, Ein Sokhna Port, and East of Port Said city. The agriculture project is making available for investment 300,000 acres of land. There will also be four areas ready for tourism investment: three on the Red Sea and one on the Mediterranean. Finally, when it comes to petroleum and electricity projects, the Minister indicated that there would be projects relating to renovating and building petroleum refining plants, and building new plants to produce electricity. Furthermore, Mr Saleh has also made some reassuring statements since returning to the Ministry. He indicated that the Ministry of Investment has formed a committee consisting of representatives of public companies (companies fully or mostly owned by the government) to monitor the needs of the Egyptian market of goods and services that those companies provide in order to make sure they are provided of the highest possible quality and at the best possible prices to consumers.

In addition, Mr Saleh noted that although Egypt was going through a delicate political period, this should not affect the quality and standard of services provided by public companies. The public sector companies that Mr Saleh referred to provide restoration, public transportation, and insurance services, and provide chemical, pharmaceutical and food products that are offered at subsidised prices by the government. In another statement, Mr Saleh set out to reassure people that monies deposited at banks are safe, and that no reports have reached the government of an increase in the withdrawal rate from banks. At the time of writing in late August, the security and political situation in Egypt has stabilised significantly. That is a good turn of events and it absolutely has to continue, as any improvement in those areas would have a direct effect on the economy. I believe if stability continues and the government continues to deliver a consistent message to foreign investors, Egypt can become in a few years a competitor to other countries in the region in attracting investment. After all, Egypt benefits from certain advantages when compared to many other countries in the region. It has a geographical advantage, its possession of the Suez Canal and location on two seas, its massive tourism potential and a population of more than 90 million.

AbouElfadl, ElKassed & Partners is a member of the ABCC. Karim Salem Partner AbouElfadl, ElKassed & Partners (Attorneys at Law) Tel: (+202) 374 93 924 Email: k.salem@ak-p-law.com www.ak-p-law.com

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BUSINESS EVENTS

BUSINESS EVENTS, TRADE FAIRS AND CONFERENCES Introduction to the International Art Market

Saudi Water & Power Forum (SWPF 2013)

– Christie’s Education short courses

The premier power and water sector conference in the Kingdom

26 – 28 October 2013 Dubai, UAE Contact Christie’s London Tel: +44 (0)20 7665 4350 Email: shortcourses@christies.com http://www.christies.edu/dubai_sc.html GCC Power 2013 The 9th GCC CIGRE International Conference

18-20 November 2013 ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, UAE Contact http://www.gcc-cigre-power.com/ Iraq Agrofood

6th International Exhibition for Agriculture, Food Processing and Packaging

18-21 November 2013 Erbil International Trade Fair, Erbil, Iraq Contact IFP Iraq Tel: +964 66 2567634 Fax: +44 20 71066688 Email: agrofood@ifpiraq.com MENA-EU Business Salon 19-20 November 2013 Sharjah Chamber of Commerce, UAE Contact Tel: + 971 659 3 8725 Fax: +971 653 0 2226 Email: fatema@shajah.gov.ae www.sharjah.gov.ae Jordan Build 2013

7th Edition, Jordan International Exhibition for Construction and Engineering Industries

Leading specialised exhibition for the building and construction industry in the Arab region 28 November – 1 December 2013 Amman International Motor Show, Amman, Jordan Contact Arab Innovation Co. for Management Consultation and Bana for Exhibition (Organisers) Email: info@jordan-buildexpo.comऀ Tel: 00 962 6 565 5532 Mobile: 0795641535/ 0797733332 http://jordan-buildexpo.com

1-3 December 2013 Jeddah Hilton, Saudi Arabia Contact Chris Hugall Tel: +44 20 7978 0084 Email: chugall@thecwcgroup.com http://ksawpf.com 4th Basra Oil & Gas

International Conference and Exhibition

5 - 8 December 2013 Basra International Fair Ground, Basra, Iraq Contact Basra Oil & Gas Sales Team Expotim International Fair Organizations INC. Fulya Mah. Vefa Deresi Sok. No: 9 34394 Sisli, Istanbul, Turkey Email: sales@basraoilgas.com Tel: +90 212 356 0056; Fax: +90 212 356 0096 3rd Annual African Capital Markets Conference 10 December 2013 Jumeirah Carlton Tower, London Contact Exporta Head Office Tel: +44 (0) 20 8673 9666 Fax: +44 (0) 20 8673 8662 Email: info@exportagroup.com Green Building Expo The Region’s Biggest Exhibition for Sustainable Solutions in the Built Environment

Doha Exhibition Centre, Qatar 28-30 January 2014 Contact Joe Atallah Project Manager IFP Qatar Tel: +974 4 432 9900 Mob: +974 3 307 0033 Email: joe.atallah@ifpqatar.com www.ifpqatar.com

Middle East and North Africa Energy 2014 New Uncertainties and New Opportunities

27-28 January 2014 Chatham House, St James’s Square, London Contact Conference Unit Chatham House Email: conferences@chathamhouse.org Tel: +44 (0)20 7957 5729 Fax: +44 (0)20 7957 5710 Gulf Industry Fair 4-6 February 2014 Bahrain International Exhibition Centre, Bahrain Contact http://www.gulfindustryfair.com/contact-us/

The ACR Show The dedicated event for the air-conditioning and refrigeration industry

Hall 9, NEC, Birmingham 11-13 February 2014 Contact Jan Thorpe Event Director Tel: +44(0)1622 699113 Email: jthorpe@datateam.co.uk www.acrshow.co.uk Professional Clothing Show

Exhibition for Corporatewear, Workwear and Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

1-2 April 2014 National Exhibition Centre (NEC), Birmingham Contact Yvette Ashby Managing Director Tel: +44 (0) 870 870 4578 Email: yvette@workwearshow.com www.workwearshow.com

3rd Kuwait Oil & Gas Summit & Exhibition Hosted by the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC)

14-15 April 2014 Kuwait City Contact Chris Hugall Tel: +44 20 7978 0084 Email: chugall@thecwcgroup.com www.cwckuwait.com 2nd Med Ports 2014

Container Ports and Terminal Operations Exhibition and Conference

23-24 April 2014 Kenzi Farah Hotel, Marrakech, Morocco Contact Transport Events Management Limited Malaysia Tel: +60 87 426 022 Fax: +60 87 426 223 Email: enquiries@transportevents.com www.transportevents.com Project Qatar The 10th international trade exhibition for construction technology, building materials, equipment & environmental technology for Qatar

Doha Exhibition Centre, Qatar 29 April-1 May 2014 Contact IFP Qatar Tel: +974 44329900 Fax: +974 44432891 Email: info@ifpqatar.com Energy Qatar

International Electrical Engineering, Power Generation & Distribution Exhibition

6-9 May 2014 Doha Exhibition Centre, Qatar Contact IFP Qatar Tel: +974 44329900 Fax: +974 44432891 Email: info@ifpqatar.com

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