Emir issues three laws
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued the following laws:
1. Law No 5 of 2017 on the regulation of dealing in subsidised commodities.
2. Law No 6 of 2017, amending some provisions of Law No 7 of 1987 on the rules of practising commercial activity by GCC citizens in Qatar.
3. Law No 7 of 2017 on allowing Gulf companies in GCC states to open branches in the country.
The laws are effective and are to be published in the official gazette.

Instruments of ratification
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued the following instruments of ratification:
1. An instrument of ratification endorsing a draft memorandum of understanding (MoU) on co-operation in the field of protecting endangered wildlife and the conservation of its natural habitat between the governments of the State of Qatar and the Republic of Azerbaijan, which was signed in Doha on February 27, 2017.
2. An instrument of ratification endorsing an MoU on co-operation in the field of financial policy and budget affairs between Qatar’s Ministry of Finance and Azerbaijan’s Ministry of Finance, which was signed in Baku on March 8, 2016.
3. An instrument of ratification endorsing the ratification of an agreement on waiving visa requirements for holders of diplomatic, special and official passports between the governments of Qatar and Colombia, which was signed in Bogota on July 27, 2016.
4. An instrument of ratification endorsing a draft agreement on air services between the governments of the State of Qatar and the Republic of Montenegro, which was signed in Doha on Jan. 29, 2017.
5. An instrument of ratification endorsing the ratification of an MoU on co-operation in the field of standardisation between Qatar General Organisation for Standardisation (QS) and Turkish Standards Institution (TSE),  which was signed in Trabzon on Dec 18, 2016.
6. An instrument of ratification endorsing the ratification of an MoU on co-operation in the field of information and communication technology between Qatar’s Ministry of Transport and Communications and Turkey’s Ministry of Transport, Maritime and Communication, which was signed in Trabzon on Dec 18, 2016.
7. An instrument of ratification endorsing a draft memorandum of understanding for co-operation in the field of residency and expatriate affairs (foreigners) between Qatar’s Ministry of Interior and the United Arab Emirates’ Ministry of Interior, which was signed in Doha on February 26, 2017.

Emir issues decree
HH the Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani yesterday issued Emiri Decree No 20 of 2017 ratifying an agreement between the governments of Qatar and the Kyrgyz Republic on avoidance of double taxation and the prevention of financial evasion of income taxes, which was signed in Doha on June 1, 2014, and whose text is attached to the decree.

Real estate transaction
The trading volume of registered real estates between April 9 to 13 at the Ministry of Justice’s real estate registration department stood at QR 659,535,613mn, the ministry said.
The department’s weekly report said that the trading included empty lands, residential units, residential buildings, compounds, towers, multipurpose buildings and multipurpose empty lands.  
Most of the trading took place in Doha, Umm Slal, Al Rayyan, Al Wakrah, Al Khor, Al Thakhira, Al Daayen.


Dodge, Jeep models are recalled
The Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC), in collaboration with United Cars Almana, has announced the recall of Dodge Durango and Jeep Grand Cherokee models of 2016 because the fuel rail crossover tube may have been damaged during the engine manufacturing process.
The MEC said the recall campaign comes within the framework of its ongoing efforts to protect consumers and ensure that car dealers follow up on vehicle defects and repairs.
The MEC will co-ordinate with the dealer to follow up on the maintenance and repair works and communicate with customers to ensure that the necessary repairs are carried out.
The MEC has urged all customers to report any violations to its Consumer Protection and Anti-Commercial Fraud Department through the following channels: Hotline: 16001, e-mail: [email protected], Twitter: @MEC_Qatar, Instagram: MEC_Qatar, MEC mobile app for Android and IOS: MEC_Qatar