Middle East: Government, Public Sector

Record settler violence in the West Bank has drawn unprecedented international sanctions from the UK, France, and nine EU states, while Israel's far-right coalition pushes settlement expansion ahead of October elections. With the Palestinian Authority weakened and the US notably restrained in its response, the escalating crisis threatens regional partnerships and marks a stark departure from the Oslo Accords signed thirty-three years ago this September.

Dubai alcohol laws combine federal decriminalization in authorized places with emirate-level rules and strict commercial licensing. Dubai has a comparatively liberal system for personal consumption, but that does not permit public drinking, under-21 supply, or unlicensed sale, manufacture, transport, or distribution.

Egyptian customs authorities possess broad powers to auction and dispose of goods under customs control. This comprehensive framework addresses abandoned cargo, confiscated items, and perishable goods through structured procedures governing storage periods, public auctions, revenue distribution, and eventual transfer to government entities when sales fail.

A recent Israeli airstrike on a Syrian airbase near Aleppo has exposed deepening tensions between Israel and Türkiye over Syria's future, placing the United States in an uncomfortable position between two key allies. The incident reveals competing visions for Syria's role in the region and raises questions about whether diplomatic mechanisms can prevent further escalation in a country that has become central to multiple pipeline projects and $56 billion in foreign investment.

On July 14, 2026, the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) published a final rule “Enhanced Favorable Treatment for the United Arab Emirates under the Export Administration Regulations” (Final Rule) that amends the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) (15 C.F.R. Parts 730-774) to significantly improve the status of the United Arab Emirates (UAE)...

After 1,000 days since Hamas's October 7, 2023 attack, Israel has demonstrated unmatched military capability across Gaza, Lebanon, and Iran, achieving tactical victories including the elimination of enemy leadership and degradation of militant infrastructure. Yet despite this operational dominance, Israel has failed to convert battlefield success into durable political settlements, leaving Hamas undefeated as a governing force, Hizballah unresolved despite a buffer zone, and Iran's regime intact after leade

Qatar's Central Bank has launched a temporary loan deferral initiative allowing borrowers to postpone loan instalments and interest payments for up to three months in response to regional geopolitical developments.

This document presents the Translation of Law No. 194 of 2020, known as the Banking Law of Egypt.

Edible oils in Egypt play a vital role in the daily diet, being essential for cooking and the production of various food products, making them indispensable.

Most investors enter the Kingdom expecting a red carpet of tax breaks, only to realize that the real value isn’t a single blanket incentive, it’s a complex puzzle. While investment incentives in Saudi Arabia are world-class, they are not universal. The gap between a standard MISA license and a high-yield strategic entry lies in knowing which benefits are automatic and which require rigorous, program-specific applications.

Egypt offers foreign companies access to a large domestic market, a strategic position connecting Africa, Europe and the Middle East, and an investment framework that provides important protections to foreign investors.

Moving money out of Egypt is legally possible in many situations. The difficulty usually lies elsewhere: proving to the bank where the money came from, why it may leave Egypt, and whether the relevant tax and regulatory obligations have been dealt with.