Qatar continues to develop its legal and legislative framework to strengthen investor confidence, provide a stable and reliable legal environment, and reinforce its position as a regional and international hub for arbitration and dispute resolution.
The Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs His Excellency Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa al-Muhannadi underlined this during the opening of the ‘6th International Arbitration Conference held in Doha Tuesday.
Organised by the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) at Qatar Chamber under the theme ‘Alternative Dispute Resolution in a Changing World: From Judicial Oversight to Artificial Intelligence’, the conference brought together prominent judges, arbitrators and legal experts from around the world.
The minister inaugurated the conference in the presence of Qatar Chamber chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim al-Thani, who is also QICCA chairman; Qatar Chamber first vice chairman Mohamed bin Towar al-Kuwari; and QICCA vice chairman Sheikh Dr Thani bin Ali al-Thani, along with judges, arbitrators, and legal experts.
Al-Muhannadi noted that Qatar has made significant progress in developing its legislative framework for dispute resolution through the enactment of Arbitration Law No 2 of 2017 and Law No 20 of 2021 on Mediation in Civil and Commercial Disputes.
These efforts have been further supported by Qatar’s accession to the New York Convention and the Singapore Convention, as well as the establishment of the Investment and Trade Court. Together, these measures have created an integrated framework encompassing arbitration, mediation and specialised judicial mechanisms.
He explained that the Ministry of Justice, as a Strategic Partner of the conference, is pursuing three main tracks: completing the executive frameworks of the Arbitration Law; developing the system of mediation, conciliation, and arbitration while strengthening integration among these mechanisms; and leveraging digital transformation and artificial intelligence to facilitate dispute resolution procedures, subject to the necessary legal safeguards.
The minister noted that choosing a country as the seat of arbitration reflects the level of confidence in its legislation, judiciary and institutions. He affirmed Qatar’s commitment to strengthening this confidence through legislative stability, legal clarity and the efficient resolution of disputes.
Sheikh Khalifa emphasised that commercial justice relies on sound procedures, legal certainty and effective dispute resolution. He highlighted arbitration as an independent system supported by the judiciary and noted the vital role of conciliation and mediation in preserving commercial relationships.
He highlighted that QICCA handled 132 cases over the past two years, with awards issued in more than 100 cases and an average case duration of approximately six months from the date of registration, under its arbitration rules effective from January 1, 2025. He noted that the GAR Regional Guide 2025 included QICCA among the top three arbitration centres in the Middle East and Africa.
Dr Mohamed Salah el-Din Abdel Wahab, chair of the ICC International Court of Arbitration, stressed that while AI can enhance arbitration, legal research, and analysis, it must remain a supporting tool rather than a substitute for human judgement and conscience.
On the sidelines of the conference opening, QICCA signed three memoranda of understanding with Lusail University, the International Valuation Standards Council (IVSC), and the Women Support in Arbitration Initiative.
