Labour-law updates and trending Gulf news that affects expats — visas, flights, fees, amnesties and deadlines. Checked against official sources monthly; breaking items added as they are confirmed. Last updated: 24 October 2026.
News summaries for information only, not legal advice. Always verify deadlines and requirements on the official source linked in each item before acting.
Coming deadlines
- 27 Oct 2026 — Accounting Saudization 50% (Saudi Arabia)
- 18 Nov 2026 — Gym Saudization 15% (Saudi Arabia)
- ~10–11 Dec 2026 — Yemeni amnesty window closes (Saudi Arabia)
- 31 Dec 2026 — Emiratization 10% deadline (UAE)
- 14 Feb 2027 — Project-management Saudization 70% (Saudi Arabia)
- 19 Jul 2027 — Oman expat savings scheme replaces gratuity (Oman)
Labour & Money Updates
- Oman Expat Savings Scheme 2027: Your Gratuity Is Changing — A mandatory 9% savings scheme replaces expat gratuity by 19 July 2027, while gratuity already earned remains payable.
- Qatar’s New Labour Law (Law No. 9 of 2026): What Every Expat Must Know — Job mobility is now codified, non-competes need Ministry approval, and part-time and freelance workers fall outside the Labour Law.
- Bahrain’s New Second-Job Rule: Work for Another Employer for 3 Months — With both employers’ agreement and LMRA approval, a foreign worker may temporarily work for a second employer for up to 3 months.
- Saudi Absent Workers Can Now Transfer Employers via Qiwa
- Saudi Saudization 2026: 69 Admin Roles at 100%, More Quotas Phased In
- Qatar Fixed Pay Date: Wages Due on the 1st, Paid via WPS Within 7 Days
Trending Gulf News
- Gulf Flights Disrupted in October 2026: EASA Warning, Cancellations, and What Expats Should Do — EASA advisories and airline cancellations across Gulf routes in October 2026, and what to check before travelling.
- Saudi Visa Ban for Pakistan, India and 14 Countries? What’s Actually True in 2026 — A fact-check separating the temporary Hajj short-term visa restrictions from the February 2026 temporary work visa suspension.
- Saudi Arabia’s 2-Month Amnesty for Yemenis: Who Qualifies and How to Apply — A two-month regularisation window for Yemenis, with routes by document status and a December deadline.
- Saudi Deportation Crackdown: 12,628 Deported in One Week
- Hajj 2026: No Hajj Without a Permit — Makkah Entry Ban, Fines to SR 100,000
- Umrah’s New Mandatory Cost: The SAR 20/Day Nusuk Food Voucher Explained
More items are added as they are confirmed. Labour-law updates arrive monthly; trending items arrive as events happen.