On March 23, 2026, the US Federal Communications Commission updated its Covered List to include foreign-made consumer routers, preventing new models from receiving FCC equipment authorization and thereby banning them from being imported or sold in the US.
Saudi Arabia and Egypt have signed a reciprocal visa exemption agreement for holders of diplomatic, special, and service passports to facilitate official travel and strengthen bilateral coordination. The move reflects broader efforts by both countries to deepen political cooperation while expanding trade and investment ties, which have continued to grow through 2025.
Saudi Arabia’s US$34 billion investment in renewable energy in 2025 marks its entry into the global top ten and signals a rapid shift toward diversifying its energy mix under Vision 2030. This expansion is creating new opportunities across infrastructure, manufacturing, and energy-intensive industries, while reshaping the competitive landscape of the Middle East energy market.
The UAE has officially launched Phase 1 of its Research and Development (R&D) Tax Incentives Program, introducing a non-refundable corporate tax credit of up to 50 percent on qualifying R&D expenditure capped at AED 5 million per tax period.
Saudi Arabia’s shift from a licensing-based foreign investment regime to a registration model represents more than administrative simplification. It signals a structural reorientation of how market access, regulatory control, and investor responsibility are balanced.
UAE Emiratization rules tighten ahead of 2026, with stricter quotas, rising fines, and higher wage requirements. Mainland companies must act now to manage compliance, hiring, costs, and regulatory risk.
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