Mr. Ibrahim Shahbik, Secretary-General of the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration at the Qatar Chamber, confirmed that the value of arbitration cases considered by the center during the past year amounted to about 3 billion riyals.
In his statements, Shehabik explained that disputes in the contracting and construction sector ranked first in the cases heard under the umbrella of the center, noting that arbitration rulings were issued in more than 35 percent of the total cases heard by the center last year, and the remaining cases are still being heard.
He added that Qatari arbitrators constitute more than 50 percent of the arbitration staff appointed to consider arbitration cases at the center during the past year, and that 70 percent of the arbitration cases considered by the center were in English, according to the parties’ agreement.
The Secretary-General of the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration pointed out that arbitration has contributed to reducing the burden of cases on national courts, as it is characterised by flexibility in procedures and specialisation in the nature of arbitrators who are often chosen by the parties, to resolve the type of disputes that are related to a specific commercial environment with special rules and foundations, such as the contracting or technology sectors.
He stressed that the center aims to promote alternative means of resolving civil and commercial disputes (arbitration, conciliation and mediation), spread their culture, improve their practical practice, and develop the center’s relationship with relevant regional and international centers, noting its pivotal role in spreading the culture of arbitration in the Qatari legal and business community since its establishment in 2006.
He said that the center, based on its societal role, holds training courses with the aim of qualifying and training arbitrators, through specialized courses in the field of arbitration in accordance with international standards and rules. It also holds specialized seminars and conferences in arbitration and mediation on a regular basis, and participates in international conferences specialized in the field of international commercial arbitration.
Mr. Ibrahim Shahbik, Secretary General of the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration at the Qatar Chamber, pointed out that commercial arbitration is considered one of the most effective alternative means of resolving disputes, and is characterised by specialisation, efficiency, effectiveness and speed in settling disputes between the parties to the arbitration.
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