Qatar attaches great priority to modern dispute settlement methods, HE the Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs at the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Dr Ahmed bin Mohammed al-Sayed, Monday.

He was delivering the keynote address at the two-day conference on the ‘Role of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Intellectual Property (IP) Protection, and Innovation in Advancing Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) for Sustainable Development.’

The conference is organised by the Law College of Hamad Bin Khalifa University ( HBKU) in partnership with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the International Law Association-the Gulf Cooperation Council branch.

The minister said that Qatar gives foremost priority to novel techniques of dispute settlement, such as arbitration and mediation, as key pillars of economic development and investment attraction, by virtue of the effective and quick mechanisms they offer for dispute settlement and boosting investors' confidence.

Dr al-Sayed said that the forum deliberates on effective tools required to achieve sustainable development, including advancing the avenues for dispute settlement, supporting innovation, protecting intangible assets, and attracting foreign investment.

President of the International Law Association - GCC Branch, Ahmed Issa al-Sulaiti, said coordinating the conference aligns with the UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030, through deepening the public-private sector partnership, alongside the academic and research sector, to support IP and modernise its systems in commensurate alignment with international standards.

Al-Sulaiti highlighted that Qatar has achieved a remarkable leap in the Global Innovation Index—rising 21 places in just four years, from 70th in 2020 to 49th globally in 2024 and it seeks, through its National Vision 2030 and Third National Development Strategy (2024–2030), to consolidate its position as a leading regional hub for intellectual property dispute resolution.

He underlined that this achievement did not come by chance but is the result of strategic investment in legal and legislative infrastructure, the development of specialised human capital, and partnerships with leading international organisations.

He explained: “15.1% of inventors in Qatar are women, and 10.5% of patent applications come from universities—demonstrating a commitment to diversity, inclusivity, and investment in academic research and Qatar now aspires to achieve an ambitious goal: to rank among the top 30 countries in the Global Innovation Index by 2030. To achieve this goal, Qatar aims to increase the contribution of the knowledge economy to GDP and raise the share of R&D investment, which requires developing an advanced legal framework to protect, commercialise, and resolve disputes related to scientific research and technological innovation.”

Director of the WIPO Arbitration and Mediation Center, Ignacio de Castro, highlighted the importance of the conference and that it manifests the efforts for boosting international cooperation and exchanging expertise in advancing IP-associated dispute settlement mechanisms.

Dean of the College of Law at HBKU, Dr Susan L Karamanian, said this convention underscores Qatar's commitment to strengthening a supportive legal and legislative environment for investment and sustainable development.

Karamanian further highlighted that arbitration has become a key vehicle for IP-associated dispute settlement, given its complexity and the need for specialised expertise. The conference concludes Tuesday.
dispute settlement methods