UAE Introduces New Regulations in 2024: Golden Visa, Employment Notice Period, and More

The Sixty Four Annual Report showed that the year 2024 saw the adoption of numerous new regulations in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Here’s a comprehensive overview of the key regulatory changes:

Notice Period Rules:

The recently released new changes by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) relate to take notice of periods for the contract cancellation. It can be noted that both the employers and the employee provide their consent to the contract and thus have their rights to dissolve it provided they do it within the agreed provisions of the contract document. It is now possible to find 30-90 day notice periods in the UAE under which the employee has to complete his/her working commitments.

Golden Visa Requirements:

Despite these facts, in early 2022, Dubai changed the conditions of the 10-year Golden Visa in an effort to boost the real estate sector. It means that the property investor can now be eligible for the Golden Visa if he will invest on a property with value of AED 2 million and above in any method without the necessity to make any down payment or the property has to be a new one.

Ban on E-Scooters on Public Transport:

As from 1st of March, RTA has prohibited its customers from transporting and riding them in the Metro and Tram services with an aim of boosting the general transport security across the Emirate of Dubai.

Ban on Single-Use Plastic Bags:

Dubai made this decision starting from June 1, 2019, meaning that using single-use plastic bags is now prohibited, except for the following purposes; packaging of certain types of food. Organizers of this event also would like to focus on the necessity to minimize the use of plastic and care for the environment.

Paid Parking at Dubai Mall:

This was followed by a statement by Salik, in partnership with the Emaar Malls, that paid parking at Dubai Mall was going to be effected, with the expectation that it would be set up by the third quarter of 2024. The system will include the payment process through the license plate, which will be implemented to conduct payments automatically.

New Telemarketing Rules:

The UAE had set new rules regarding the marketing that involved phone calls to consumers to act as measures against violation of their privacy. Penalties may be a financial penalty of Dh 150,000 together with limitations with regard to the number of calls per day or use of local UAE telephone numbers.

Emiratisation:

To enhance the percentage of the Emiratisation policy the UAE started with increasing the targets for companies, which hire 20-49 employees—to hire one Emirati in 2024 and the second in 2025.

Labour Regulation Amendments:

Alterations to Federal Law No. 20 of 2023 on labour relations and corrections have been made in order to improve the UAE labour market competitiveness. Arbitration or other means to resolve contractual labour relations in private sector are assumed by the Ministry.

Ban on Heavy Vehicles:

The UAE has been trying to bring safer roads and transportation standards implementing ban on the usage of vehicles in the country roads having maximum total weight over 65 tones.

Such shifts and developments demonstrate the UAE’s efforts to ensure the right legal framework is created for businesses along with sustainable development of the numerous sectors within the economy.