UAE: Ready for 2025? 5 new rules that will go into effect next year
The UAE will soon welcome the new year and has some notable rules and regulations rioting in the exports over 2025 that residents will need to look out for.
Based on the news, these are the changes that will influence the majority of the residents starting from giving residents, who turned 17, the ability to acquire driving licenses to food labeling being facilities in the capital of the country.
So, let’s have a look at the major adjustments that will be introduced next year.
Federal traffic law
A traffic law amendment was introduced last year aiming at reducing the minimum age requirement of a driver from 18 to 17. The law will, however, only come into effect on March 29th.
People tend to use their horns a lot in our cities and although for years those were always needed for most cases, areas with excessive noise – such as overly populated places – will not be tolerated anymore. Horns can be used only as a means of imminent danger warning.
190 countries have such traffic reconfiguration and many forbade pedestrians from stepping onto the road and its crossings with speed limits of more than 80km/h. The authorities underlined that such people will be responsible for civil or even criminal infringements.
In our country however, deterrent penalties will where necessary apply for serious breaches that can result in loss of life. These include: excessive drinking or taking drug while driving; abandoning an accident scene; crossing the road at areas not designated for this purpose; or driving around a lost area during floods
The trying laws have stated as well that carrying containers full of unusual items will have to be authorized by the relevant authorities.
Nutrition grading system
This is effective starting June 1. Abu Dhabi health and quality control officials have rules which involve nutrition grades for no less than five food items.
If supermarkets have one or two products having no Nutri-Mark, a mark which states how much nutrition a particular food product possesses and what its grade is, that product will be banned and the relevant parties shall be penalized. The reverse will also hold true where those who overstate their grade will also be penalized.
Nutri-Mark awards nutritional value of a food item an alphabet from A to E with A being the superior end in terms of qualities. The scheme has three major phases, and this one will involve baked goods, oils, dairy, children’s food and beverages.
This new system is targeted at further shrinking the size of people with obesity because it has been designed so that any member of the public can effortlessly grasp the meaning of nutri values, said Dr Ahmed Al Khazraji, Acting Director-General of Abu Dhabi Public Health Centre.
Subsequent phases will incorporate more food items under Nutri-Mark.
Mandatory women representation
According to the new directive issued by the UAE Ministry of Economy which comes into effect on January 1, 2022, women will now be included in the boards of directors of private joint- stock companies.
Women have to be given at least one seat within the board of directors at the expiry of the current board term.
The directive is designed to increase the participation and representation of women on the boards of directors of private joint-stock companies in the country.
Mandatory premarital genetic testing
As stated by the Abu Dhabi Department of Health, a new genetic testing policy will be made effective on 1 January 2024 for all Emirati citizens who intend to wed. This will be beneficial to Emirati citizens who plan to wed.
“In 2019, the UAE Genome Programme was launched, and in 2021, the UAE Genome Council was established under the leadership of Sheikh Khalid bin Mohammed bin Zayed genetic testing will be an essential part of the premarital examination programme for all citizens intending to marry across the country, starting in January 2025,” Dr Noura Al Ghaithi, Undersecretary of the Department of Health – Abu Dhabi said.
There was a requirement for couples, both citizens and expatriates, to undergo premarital medical screening before tying the knot. The same does not apply with genetic testing.
As previously mentioned by a senior officer, over 570 genetic mutations found through genetic testing cause hereditary diseases including but not limited to, cardiomyopathy, genetic epilepsy, spinal muscular atrophy, hearing loss, and cystic fibrosis which are “other severe and chronic diseases that are difficult to treat.
Emiratisation targets
From the year 2025 onwards, businesses with 20 to 49 employees will have to employ two Emiratis as a minimum. Previously, this law was only enforceable on businesses having a minimum of 50 employees, said the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (Mohre).
Establishments of the said size that might be non-performing will have to pay contributions of Dh96,000 per year for not attaining this year’s standard, the payments are to begin in January.
Other programs in the private sector that may sustain the Emiratisation goals in 2025 will be expected to pay administrative levies of Dh 108,000 commencing January 2026.
Administrative fines will also be imposed on those who indulge in illegal Emiratisation practices for an amount of Dh20,000 to Dh100,000 for each instance of offence depending on the amount of violations committed.
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