The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has lifted the ban on expatriates with Article 18 residency, allowing them to become partners or managing partners in companies once again.

However, the ban remains in effect for expatriates under Articles 20, 22, and 24.

Last month, the Ministry imposed a ban that restricted expatriates from owning companies unless they held Article 19 residency. According to Al-Rai Arabic daily report, the Ministry’s systems will resume processing requests this week. Once reactivated, existing commercial entities with shareholders holding Article 18 and 19 residencies will be able to establish and renew their status, as well as make amendments to all companies and institutions, following the procedures in place before the ban was implemented.