Asia Briefing’s Middle East Focused Regulatory and Operational Business Updates

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April 02, 2026

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Weekly business and foreign investment news roundup in Asia

by Asia Briefing and Dezan Shira & Associates.

MIDDLE EAST EDITION

TOP STORIES THIS WEEK:

Qatar Introduces Trusted Entity Regime Allowing Immediate Tax Treaty Benefits

Qatar has introduced a Trusted Entity tax regime under Cabinet Decision No. 4 of 2026, allowing approved taxpayers to apply reduced withholding tax rates or exemptions under double taxation treaties directly at source.

Saudi Arabia and Egypt Sign Visa Exemption Agreement for Official Passport Holders

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.

Oman’s Strait of Hormuz Advantage in a Time of Regional Disruption

Oman’s hydrocarbon export infrastructure outside the Strait of Hormuz gives it a relative advantage among Gulf economies facing potential shipping disruptions.

Saudi Arabia Iqama and Visa Rules: What Changed in Q1 2026

Saudi Arabia introduced major residency and labor reforms in Q1 2026, including a new 5-year physical Iqama (Resident ID), skill-based work permit classifications, emergency visa extensions, and expanded labor mobility rules.

UAE E-Invoicing Mandate: A Step-by-Step Compliance Checklist for Businesses Ahead of 2026–2027 Implementation

The UAE will introduce mandatory e-invoicing for businesses through a phased rollout between 2026 and 2027, requiring invoices to be issued in structured XML format and transmitted through accredited service providers on the Peppol network.

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COMPLIMENTARY BUSINESS RESOURCES:

An Introduction to Doing Business in India 2026

This latest edition of An Introduction to Doing Business in India provides a clear, practical roadmap to navigating GST 2.0 reforms, the full rollout of the four Labor Codes, the Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Rules 2025, and updates to incorporation processes, entity selection, audit requirements, and financial reporting.

An Introduction to Doing Business in Indonesia 2026

This publication, designed to introduce the fundamentals of investing in Indonesia, was compiled by the experts at Dezan Shira & Associates, a specialist foreign direct investment practice, that provides corporate establishment, business intelligence, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence, and ﬁnancial review services to multinationals investing in emerging Asia.

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