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)
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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.

 



Saudi Arabia Assumes WTO General Council Presidency for 2025–2026

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)
The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)
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Saudi Arabia Assumes WTO General Council Presidency for 2025–2026

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)
The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. (SPA)

The General Council of the World Trade Organization (WTO) has unanimously appointed Permanent Representative of Saudi Arabia to the WTO Saqer bin Abdullah Al-Moqbel as its president for the 2025–2026 term. In a historic milestone, Al-Moqbel becomes the first Arab and Middle Eastern delegate to assume this position, reported the Saudi Press Agency on Wednesday.

The WTO General Council, which convenes throughout the year, oversees the organization’s operations between ministerial conferences, held biennially. As the highest decision-making body at the level of heads of missions, the council plays a crucial role in shaping global trade policies.

During Saudi Arabia's presidency, the General Council is set to address several key issues, including preparations for the 14th Ministerial Conference, scheduled to be held in Cameroon in March 2026.

The agenda will also focus on essential WTO reforms, particularly the dispute settlement mechanism; advancing negotiations on the second phase of the Fisheries Subsidy Agreement; and addressing agriculture, food security, and development concerns.

Other priorities include integrating multilateral agreements, such as the Investment Facilitation for Development Agreement and the E-Commerce Agreement, into the WTO framework.

Commenting on the appointment, Al-Moqbel emphasized that Saudi Arabia’s leadership in the WTO General Council reflects its growing role in the international economic landscape, leveraging its global economic influence to strengthen multilateral trade cooperation.