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Middle East Edition
16th July 2025
 
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THE HOT STORY

UAE's Work Bundle is a one stop platform for employment

The Work Bundle, a unified digital platform launched by the UAE government, streamlines employment procedures for private sector companies. Designed as part of the Zero Bureaucracy initiative, it reduces the onboarding process from 30 days to just five days, enhancing speed and user experience for both employers and employees. The platform centralises hiring, work permit renewals, and cancellations, allowing employers to submit requests online with minimal documentation. The initiative aims to eliminate 25m redundant procedures annually and reduce physical visits by 12.5m, ultimately improving the overall experience for all parties involved. Employers can access the platform via the MoHRE website using the UAE Pass digital identity system.
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ECONOMY

Saudi Arabia opens doors to expats

Saudi Arabia will allow foreigners to buy property in Riyadh and Jeddah from January, marking a key step in its Vision 2030 strategy to attract foreign investment and rival Dubai. While details remain limited, the move is seen as a shift towards easing restrictions to boost tourism, culture, and expat appeal. Property purchases in Mecca and Medina will also be allowed under strict conditions. Though most Western expats have housing provided, ownership could encourage longer stays. The change echoes similar liberalisations in the UAE and Qatar.
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LEGAL

Turkish bank staff detained in money laundering probe

Turkish authorities have issued arrest warrants for 85 individuals, including employees from two private banks and a fintech company, amid a money laundering investigation led by the Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office. The probe focuses on allegations of organised crime, usury, and violations of banking regulations, with a total transaction volume exceeding TL 47.5bn ($1.18bn) identified between 2022 and 2024. The Financial Crimes Investigation Board (MASAK) reported that suspicious transactions were processed through 312 POS terminals linked to 21 companies, primarily using foreign credit cards. Denizbank, Şekerbank, and Ozan Elektronik Para are implicated, with authorities claiming the POS infrastructure was misused to simulate legitimate business activities. Denizbank is also dealing with fallout from an alleged Ponzi scheme involving high-profile football players; former chief executive Hakan Ateş stepped down earlier this year.
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WORKFORCE

Greek port workers block arms shipment to Israel

Workers at Greece's Piraeus Port have halted a shipment of military-grade steel destined for Israel as they protest against the ongoing violence in Gaza. Markos Bekris, president of the ENEDEP union, said: "We will not let the port become an outpost of the US, NATO or the EU," as he highlighted a commitment to preventing the transport of what the union deems deadly cargo. Since October 2023, Israel's offensive has resulted in over 58,000 Palestinian deaths, predominantly women and children, alongside widespread destruction and humanitarian crises. The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Israeli officials for war crimes, and Israel faces a genocide case at the International Court of Justice.
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TAX

UAE fines financial companies for violating tax rules

The UAE has imposed financial penalties totaling Dh325,000 on several licensed financial institutions for failing to adhere to international tax transparency regulations, including the Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA) and the Common Reporting Standard (CRS). This regulatory action, part of the Securities and Commodities Authority's (SCA) efforts in 2025, aims to enhance transparency and support global tax cooperation. The SCA said: "All regulated financial firms must review and enhance their internal compliance mechanisms." The authority says it is committed to maintaining the integrity of the UAE's financial markets and aligning them with global best practices in cross-border tax compliance and financial reporting.
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CORPORATE

Iraq embraces fintech revolution

The MENA Fintech Association (MFTA) has launched its Iraq Chapter, appointing Bahaa Abdul Hadi as chapter chair. Abdul Hadi, a prominent Iraqi-Canadian entrepreneur, aims to drive digital financial transformation and enhance compliance in Iraq. The chapter will focus on accelerating fintech adoption and supporting the country's evolving financial infrastructure. Iraq's financial sector is undergoing significant changes, with digital transactions increasing from 2.6tn to 7.6tn Iraqi Dinars in just one year. "The future of Iraq is digital, and fintech is at the heart of this transformation," said Abdul Hadi. The MFTA Iraq Chapter will promote innovation, strengthen collaboration, and enhance financial literacy, positioning Iraq as a key player in the MENA fintech landscape. Nameer Khan, chair of MFTA, emphasised the importance of this initiative for Iraq's economic empowerment and integration into the regional fintech ecosystem.
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HEALTH & WELLBEING

US funding cuts threaten HIV fight

A new report from the United Nations AIDS agency (UNAIDS) warns that the withdrawal of US funding for global HIV efforts could result in over 4m AIDS-related deaths and 6m new HIV infections by 2029 if not replaced. The report highlights that the funding cuts have already caused a "systemic shock," destabilising supply chains and leading to the closure of health facilities. Kate Rees, a public health physician at the Anova Health Institute, said: "It really only takes a couple of weeks to dismantle something that has been built over more than twenty years." The cuts threaten vital programmes, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, where the majority of HIV cases are concentrated. UNAIDS emphasises the need for strong multilateral cooperation to prevent reversing decades of progress against AIDS.
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INTERNATIONAL

France's prime minister looks to scrap two public holidays

France's Prime Minister François Bayrou has proposed cutting two public holidays as part of a 2026 budget proposal to cut overall spending while also increasing defence expenditure. Bayrou suggested axing Easter Monday and 8 May, a day that commemorates the Allied victory at the end of World War Two in Europe. He said Easter Monday had "no religious significance" and the whole nation had to work and produce more, observing that the various bank holidays had turned the month of May into a gruyère - a Swiss cheese full of holes - although he added he was open to other suggestions. On Tuesday, Bayrou saud that France was "in mortal danger" of being crushed by debt. The far-right National Rally (RN) party blasted Bayrou's proposal as an attack on French history and on French workers, while Green party leader Marine Tondelier lamented that the day that commemorated victory against Nazism would no longer be a holiday.

UK government crackdown on zero-hour contracts suffers setback

Plans by the UK government to crack down on zero-hour contracts in the workplace have suffered a setback in the House of Lords. Peers backed by 264 votes to 158 a measure to change the legal requirement for an employer to offer guaranteed hours to an employee’s right to request the arrangement, and they supported by 267 votes to 153 a move to exempt employers from having to make a payment to a worker if a shift was cancelled with at least 48 hours’ notice. Explaining his alternative to the proposed zero-hours provision, Liberal Democrat Lord Goddard of Stockport, said: “The amendment changes legislation from an obligation to offer guaranteed hours to a right to request them . . . Furthermore, it maintains that when a such request is made, the employer must grant it.” Opposing the move, Labour peer Baroness Carberry of Muswell Hill, a former assistant general secretary of the Trades Union Congress, warned: “This formulation of the amendment leaves open the path to some of those worst employers to make sure that they don’t end up offering guaranteed hours to workers on zero-hours contracts.”

Fukushima moves to retain young talent

Fukushima Prefecture is launching a public-private partnership to address a declining birth rate and youth exodus - particularly among women. The health and welfare ministry reported that Japan's births fell to 686,061 in 2024, with Fukushima experiencing a ninth consecutive year of decline, recording only 8,216 births and a fertility rate of 1.15. The initiative aims to foster collaboration between businesses and local organisations to create sustainable communities. Toyooka city serves as a model, having implemented measures to close gender gaps and improve workplace environments, resulting in increased female participation in the local workforce. Kiyomi Harada, head of the city's diversity and gender gap division, emphasised the need for ongoing efforts, saying: “As a government, we aim to offer opportunities for dialogue while raising awareness.”

Thailand's productivity crisis deepens

Thailand is grappling with a slowdown in productivity growth, exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has hindered the country's aspirations for high-income status by 2037. The National Economic and Social Development Council (NESDC) and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently launched the report "Strengthening Productivity Analysis for Policymaking in Thailand." Deputy Finance Minister Paopoom Rojanasakul presided over the event, where OECD Chief Economist Álvaro S. Pereira stressed the need for immediate reforms. He said: "Thailand's productivity slowdown and demographic shifts necessitate immediate action." The report identifies key barriers to productivity, including high market concentration, regulatory hurdles, and inadequate investment. To address these issues, the OECD recommends establishing a National Productivity Council to enhance data management and policy recommendations, alongside developing a National Productivity Framework for ongoing monitoring and improvement.
 
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