Doha to host World Conference on Int’l Arbitration next week

Tribune News Network Doha Under the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, the Qatar Int...

Tribune News NetworkDohaUnder the patronage of Prime Minister and Minister of Interior HE Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al Thani, the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) at Qatar Chamber will organise the fourth World Conference on International Arbitration on March 22 and 23.Held under the theme ‘Impact of Arbitration on Achieving a Satisfactory Environment for Investment’, the conference also marks the fifth anniversary of the issuance of the Qatar Arbitration Law.The two-day event brings together a galaxy of arbitration senior experts from Qatar and other countries and about 30 prominent speakers to share their insights and expertise about arbitration and its impact on the investment environment.In a press conference held on Tuesday at the Chamber’s headquarters, Chairman of QC and QICCA HE Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani expressed his sincere thanks to Sheikh Khalid bin Khalifa bin Abdulaziz Al-Thani, Prime Minister and Minister of Interior, for his patronage to the conference.He said the Qatar Arbitration Law contributed to disseminating arbitration culture in the business community and enhancing investors’ confidence in the Qatari economy.Sheikh Khalifa noted that the conference represents an international forum for arbitration experts, indicating that the conference sessions will review many important issues, including recent trends in the rules of international arbitration centres, recent international trends in the settlement of commercial disputes and the impact of the Covid-19 on arbitration proceedings.Discussions also will cover the third-party financing for arbitration in international commercial disputes and arbitrator and arbitration litigation, in addition to the enforcement of foreign arbitration awards in Qatar.The QC chairman also said that the conference will also focus on arbitration in Qatar, GCC and Arab countries as well as the role performed by QICCA in developing the arbitration process in the country.Sheikh Khalifa cited arbitration has become the easiest and shortest way to reach rapid settlements for commercial disputes in accordance with legal frameworks and regulatory controls and offers a mechanism that ensures the highest levels of justice.QICCA’s Board Member for International Relations Sheikh Dr Thani bin Ali Al Thani said the conference gathers elite of Qatari, Arab and foreign experts in arbitration, noting that it aims to shed light on the impact of international commercial arbitration on the growth of investments, as well as recent updates and developments in rules of international arbitration organizations.Sheikh Thani also noted that the conference coincides with the launch of QICCA’s new arbitration and conciliation rules, stressing that the Centre has been working over the past two years in cooperation with a group of legal experts, Qatari and foreign university professors, and arbitration practitioners in the state to update its rules in line with the latest standards of international commercial arbitration. He also affirmed that QICCA strives to offer practical solutions for the business community, assuring that this positively reflects on the development of investment opportunities in the state.He invited all those interested in arbitration inside or outside Qatar to participate in the conference, pointing out that it will include discussion sessions that are of high value in terms of attendees and scientific material.In reply to a question regarding cases settled by QICCA last year, Sheikh Thani indicated that the Centre received 40 cases that worth over QR2bn, while the total number of cases it received about 8 cases in 2022.As for international organizations participating in the conference, he said that organizations such as the United Nations Commission on International Trade Law “UNCITRAL”, the International Chamber of Commerce, the Arbitration Institute of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce, and the Cairo Regional Center for international commercial arbitration will be present at the conference.