The Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) at Qatar Chamber recently participated in the first edition of the ‘Muscat Arbitration Days’ conference, organised by the Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre in Muscat.
Sheikh Dr Thani bin Ali al-Thani, QICCA vice-chairman, spoke at the second panel session titled ‘Stronger Together – Building a Unified Regional Arbitration Ecosystem’, where he reviewed the stages of arbitration development in Qatar.
He emphasised the strategic importance of unifying efforts and exchanging best practices among arbitration centres in the GCC, noting that such cooperation would accelerate the adjustment of policies and procedures and enhance the region’s appeal as a reliable and effective destination for resolving commercial disputes at the international level.
The session, which featured prominent speakers and representatives from the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration, the Bahrain Chamber for Dispute Resolution, and the Commercial Arbitration Centre for the GCC, discussed ways to strengthen co-operation among GCC arbitration centres to create a more coherent and robust arbitration environment that meets the aspirations of the business and investment communities across the region.
On the sidelines of the conference, QICCA and the Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to enhance co-operation in developing arbitration, conciliation, and dispute-resolution mechanisms.
The MoU aims to exchange expertise and knowledge, jointly promote services, and organise joint events and training programmes, thereby benefiting practitioners and users of arbitration services in both countries and the region.
It reflects the shared vision between the two centres and reinforces the pioneering role of GCC countries in creating an integrated arbitration ecosystem that supports the business environment, keeps pace with global economic developments, and strengthens the region’s position as a vital hub for trade and investment.