On 28 September 2023, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) issued Federal Law No. 36 of 2023 (“New Competition Law”), which repealed and replaced Federal Law No. 4 of 2012. The New Competition Law signals a new era of enforcement by the UAE Ministry of Economy by providing a functional competition regime through, inter alia: extending a wider scope of application to almost all economic activities; expanding its mandate by prohibiting new conducts and introducing a new dominance test; and finally introducing administrative penalties and stricter financial penalties. The New Competition Law will officially enter into force on 28 December 2023, with the executive regulation to be published within six months thereafter.

On 1 November 2023, the Board of the General Authority for Competition announced that new financial thresholds would apply to determine whether a transaction is reportable to the Authority. By implementing such change, the aim of the Authority is to provide further clarity on the local nexus test required for a transaction to be notifiable to the Authority and to align the Saudi merger control regime further with international standards.

In our 60-minute webinar on 14 March 2023 at 3:00pm CET, we’ll help in-house counsel and competition leaders track what to keep top of mind for 2023 in emerging markets, including Morocco, Egypt, Turkey, South Africa and Saudi Arabia. We’ll also provide practical takeaways to help navigate the new landscape.

DOWNLOAD ALERT On 25/1/1441H (corresponding to 24 September 2019), the Board of Directors of the General Authority for Competition (the “Authority”) issued the anticipated implementing regulations (the “New Implementing Regulation”) to the new Competition Law issued by Royal Decree no. M/75 dated 29/6/1440H (corresponding to 6 March 2019 (the “New…