GLA & Co Anti-Trust & Competition Newsletter
Welcome to our Middle East Antitrust and Competition Newsletter. Please click here Competition & Anti-Trust Newsletter to view our interactive newsletter or feel free to read it below.
At GLA & Co, we understand the complexities of navigating the ever-evolving landscape of competition law in this dynamic region. From the intricacies of local regulations to the challenges of securing approvals from various authorities, our firm stands as a steadfast partner for companies seeking to thrive in the Middle East market.
With our extensive experience and deep-rooted relationships with regulatory bodies across the GCC States, including the Saudi General Authority for Competition, Kuwait Competition Protection Agency, and UAE Ministry of Economy, among others, we are well-equipped to guide our clients through the intricacies of local compliance and clearance procedures.
In this newsletter, we aim to provide valuable insights, updates, and analysis on the latest developments in competition law and enforcement across the MENA region. Our goal is to empower our readers with the knowledge and resources they need to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the curve.
We invite you to explore this edition and reach out to us with any questions, concerns, or opportunities for collaboration.
All links to resources available in the newsletter are listed below.
Saudi and Egypt Regulatory Reports
GAC Reports
Q1 2025 –> https://qrcc.me/swin2udz9ds1?s=url
2024 Full Report –> https://qrcc.me/sq6ut1mri1mb?s=url
2023 Full Report –> https://qrcc.me/slchwxlfvxf2?s=url
The GAC has recently released its merger control statistics for Q1 2025, encompassing all filings submitted during this period. Previously, the GAC had also published its annual merger control reports for 2023 and 2024. A notable highlight from the Q1 2025 report is the remarkably swift average review time of just 8 working days. The reports provide comprehensive data, including the number of economic concentration notifications filed with the GAC, the number of clearances granted, the volume of no-notification-required decisions, and the current number of notifications under review, among other pertinent information. In 2024, the GAC received a total of 317 economic concentration notifications, compared to 313 in 2023. By the end of 2024, the GAC had issued 202 clearances and 105 no-notification-required decisions, with 10 notifications still under review. In 2023, the GAC granted 172 clearances, 128 no-notification-required decisions, 3 conditional clearances, and had 10 notifications remaining under review. The sectoral breakdown for 2023 notifications reveals that 83% pertained to acquisitions, 14% to joint ventures, and a modest 2% to mergers, among other categories. The 2024 data reflects a similar distribution, with 81% acquisitions, 15% joint ventures, and a consistent 2% mergers, among others. With respect to economic concentrations involving foreign parties, there was a significant increase in 2024 where 78.2% of notifications involved foreign entities, compared to 64% in 2023 (including both foreign-to foreign transactions and those involving at least one foreign party).
ECA Reports
Q3 – Q4 2024 –> https://qrcc.me/sv76iqwevgdg?s=url
The ECA has released its 2024 statistics report, compiling data from the launch of the ex-ante merger control regime in June 2024 through the end of December 2024. The report analyzes the number of filings submitted under both standard and simplified procedures until the conclusion of the year. The data provides a comprehensive overview of the number of filings under each procedure, the average clearance timeline, the distribution of times of ECA decisions, and sector-specific filing statistics. In 2024, the ECA achieved an overall clearance rate of 87%, while 11% of cases were deemed non-competent and 2% received conditional approvals. The sectors most frequently subject to merger control filings with the ECA were transport and storage, construction, and financial activities and insurance.
Antitrust & Competition Articles
New KSA Merger Control Guidelines; Threshold Update
Merger Control in Qatar: A Unique Approach in the MENA region
UAE Merger Control Reform: Navigating the New Legal Landscape for M&A Compliance
Lessons Learned: Saudi Dawn Raids
Practical Insights Into The Egypt Ex-Ante Merger Control Regime
COMESA Competition Commission Proposes Changes to Competition Regulations
Practice Guides
Legal 500
Chambers & Partners
GLA & Co Recent Clearances
GLA & Co Secures Merger Control Clearance for NMDC Group’s 70% Acquisition of EMDAD LLC
GLA & Co Secures Merger Control Clearance for Majority Stake Acquisition in Taly Holding
GLA & Co Obtains First Merger Control Clearance Related to Trademarks
GLA & Co Secures Regional Merger Control Clearance on £ 1.23 Billion Deal
GLA & Co Updates and Announcements
GLA & Co attended the 73rd Annual ABA Antitrust Law Spring Meeting in Washington, D.C
GLA & Company Hosts Successful Panel at the Inter-Pacific Bar Association Conference in Chicago
GLA & Co Joins Bahrain Business Law Forum 2024 by Lexis Nexis
GLA & Co has been nominated for the 2025 Antitrust Writing Awards
Recent Webinars on Demand
Merger Control Developments in the MENA Region: Filings and Exceptions
In this one-hour session, our experts guide you through the intricacies of merger control filings in key GCC jurisdictions and Egypt. We’ll explore filing procedures, exemptions, and practical insights while also discussing the much-awaited UAE Competition Law Executive Regulations, including new financial thresholds.
GLA & CO – Merger Control in the GCC – Practical Considerations Webinar
In this one-hour session, our expert joined by regulatory experts from the Saudi Arabia General Authority for Competition (GAC) and the Kuwait Competition Protection Agency (CPA) delve into the practical considerations, competition laws, and filing processes of merger control filings.
For any Inquiries or more information please reach out to our Head of Anti-Trust & Competition – Asad Ahmad at asad.ahmad@glaco.com