Saudi Arabia Increases Efficiency of Legal Environment for Business Sector by Applying Int’l Practices

Photo of the workshop recently held by the Saudi Bar Association and the Riyadh Region Bar Committee (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the workshop recently held by the Saudi Bar Association and the Riyadh Region Bar Committee (Asharq Al-Awsat)
TT

Saudi Arabia Increases Efficiency of Legal Environment for Business Sector by Applying Int’l Practices

Photo of the workshop recently held by the Saudi Bar Association and the Riyadh Region Bar Committee (Asharq Al-Awsat)
Photo of the workshop recently held by the Saudi Bar Association and the Riyadh Region Bar Committee (Asharq Al-Awsat)

Saudi Arabia is developing a diverse business environment by expanding the application of legal concepts in a way that aligns with the goals of Vision 2030.
The new laws adopted by the Kingdom kept pace with the requirements of global and local investors, by enhancing the speed, efficiency and transparency of the legal and economic system, based on the latest global practices in the business sector.
Exceptional standards
Legal Expert Mohammed Al-Aqeel, managing partner of the Mohamed Al-Aqeel & Partners Law Firm, stressed the importance for experts in the legal and economic fields to observe the rapid evolution taking place in Saudi Arabia to achieve Vision 2030, through exceptional standards and the successful integration of international companies in the local market.
“From this standpoint, it is important to shed light on the legislation that specifically affects the Saudi market and legal practices, which are common legal trends that cannot be neglected today even though their definition was different in the recent past,” he stated.
Global practices
The Saudi expert added that global practices were a common legal language that is founded on legal norms.
The managing partner of Mohammed Al-Aqeel & Partners Law Firm pointed out that the system of the Red Flag & Yellow Flag, is the model that is used in the Saudi market, even among local companies, because it achieves the standard of transparency and disclaimer of responsibility in deals and contracts.
Al-Aqeel was speaking during a lecture held by the Saudi Bar Association and the Riyadh Region Bar Committee entitled, “Due-Learning Examination in Mergers and Acquisitions Contracts,” which presented the concept of this type of application to a number of legal practitioners.
Al-Aqeel touched on the entry of international companies through their brands into the Saudi market, through a commercial franchise agreement for restaurants, or a licensing agreement for global electronic applications for delivery companies, based on the rights to use a registered intellectual property or registered trademark.
“The image has recently been seen changing in the local market with the possibility of using these agreements between Saudi companies to participate in expansion and the acceptance of the idea of joint contribution by multiple parties for one brand,” he said.

 



Oil Steadies after Fall as Middle East Uncertainty Persists

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
TT

Oil Steadies after Fall as Middle East Uncertainty Persists

A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo
A pumpjack brings oil to the surface in the Monterey Shale, California, US April 29, 2013. REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson/File Photo

Oil steadied on Wednesday, supported by OPEC+ cuts and uncertainty over what may happen next in the Middle East conflict, although an outlook for ample supply next year added downward pressure.

Crude fell more than 4% to a near two-week low on Tuesday in response to a weaker demand outlook and after a media report said Israel would not strike Iranian nuclear and oil sites, easing fears of supply disruptions.

Brent crude oil futures were down 33 cents, or 0.4%, at $73.92 a barrel by 1110 GMT. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures lost 38 cents, or 0.5%, to $70.20, according to Reuters.

Still, concern about an escalation in the conflict between Israel and Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah persists. OPEC+ supply curbs remain in place until December when some members are scheduled to start unwinding one layer of cuts.

"We would be somewhat surprised if the geopolitical risk premium has disappeared for the time being," said Norbert Ruecker of Julius Baer.

"We see the market heading towards a supply surplus by 2025," he added.

On the demand side, the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and the International Energy Agency this week cut their 2024 global oil demand growth forecasts, with China accounting for the bulk of the downgrades.

Economic stimulus in China has failed to give oil prices much support. China may raise an additional 6 trillion yuan ($850 billion) from special treasury bonds over three years to stimulate a sagging economy, local media reported.

"Monetary and fiscal efforts to revive the Chinese economy are proving a damp squib," said Tamas Varga at oil broker PVM.

Coming up is the latest US oil inventory data. The American Petroleum Institute's report is due later on Wednesday, followed by the government's figures on Thursday. Both reports are published a day later than normal following a federal holiday.

Analysts polled by Reuters expected crude stockpiles rose by about 1.8 million barrels in the week to Oct. 11.