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 3 billion riyals, noting that the contracting and construction sector ranked first in the type of disputes considered under the umbrella of the center.
He added that the Centre has achieved great accomplishments during the past year, noting the Centre’s pivotal role in spreading the culture of arbitration in the Qatari legal and business community since its establishment in 2006.
He pointed out in press statements 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.
Shehabik added that arbitration rulings were issued in more than 35% of the total cases that were considered under the umbrella of the center during the past year, while approximately 40% of those cases are still being considered.
The Secretary-General of the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration indicated that Qatari arbitrators constitute more than 50% of the arbitrators appointed to consider the Center’s arbitration cases during 2023, and that 70% of the arbitration cases considered by the Center were in English, according to the parties’ agreement.
Shehabek 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 linked to a specific commercial environment with special rules and foundations, such as the contracting or technology sectors.
Regarding the objectives of the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration, he said 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.
He pointed out that the center, based on its societal role, continuously 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. The center 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.