Tanya Jain

The March/April 2026 edition of Lexis Middle East Law Alert provides a comprehensive snapshot of key legal, regulatory, and commercial developments across the GCC. It combines expert-led feature articles with practical updates on evolving laws, offering in-house counsel, legal practitioners, and business leaders insight into how recent legislative changes impact contracts, compliance, digital regulation, real estate, and taxation. The publication particularly highlights the UAE's new Civil Code, Qatar's evolving e-commerce framework, and emerging technology regulations shaping the region.

In this edition of Lexis Middle East HR Alert – March 2026, we highlight key legal developments, regulatory updates, and practical HR considerations shaping employment practices across the region. From evolving approaches to employment claims in the UAE to new health and safety frameworks in Saudi Arabia, this issue provides focused insights to help organisations remain compliant and prepared.

Qatar's Ministry of Municipality has introduced an online application system for agricultural business licences and approvals to import restricted fertilisers.

15 April 2026: The Bahrain Parliament has approved an urgent proposal to provide wage support for affected private sector workers for April 2026.

April 2026: GCC member states have announced a new draft resolution addressing threats to maritime navigation.

16 April 2026: The Kuwait Banking Association has confirmed that banks across the country are now operating at full capacity again. The announcement comes during a period of relative stability in Kuwait, following a ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran.

20 April 2026: Kuwait Petroleum Corporation (KPC) has declared force majeure on crude oil and refined product exports, citing the closure of the Strait of Hormuz as making it impossible to meet contractual obligations.

21 April 2026: Bahraini MPs are set to vote today on a draft law that would provide wage coverage for private sector workers in April 2026 from the

20 April 2026: During meetings in Washington last week, UAE Central Bank Governor Khaled Mohamed Balama raised the idea of establishing a currency

20 April 2026: The Ministry of Economy and Tourism has introduced a digital platform enabling consumers to compare daily prices of 33 essential