QICCA board member Sheikh Thani bin Ali bin Saud AZ al-Thani said the state recently approved Arbitration Law No 2 of 2017 “to govern arbitrations where the seat of the arbitration is Qatar.”
“At Qatar Chamber, we are working a lot on the problems of trading or commercial companies so this is a very important accomplishment from legislators in Qatar to improve the country’s arbitration and investment climate,” Sheikh Thani told Gulf Times.
He explained that the new law is largely based on the Uncitral Arbitration Model Law, as revised in 2006. The Uncitral website states that Uncitral has been recognised as the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law.
“It is a welcome update since it modernises the statutory framework for conducting arbitrations in Qatar and brings the legislation in this jurisdiction far closer to other arbitration-friendly jurisdictions,” Sheikh Thani said.
QICCA deputy secretary general Ebrahim Mohamed Shalbeck pointed out that the new law seeks to consolidate and update the arbitration practice framework, codify legal rules and principles established by Qatari courts and case law, align Qatari law with internationally-recognised principles of arbitration law, make arbitration in Qatar “more attractive” to domestic and international users, and increase the scope of autonomy of the parties involved.
Shalbeck said the new law strengthens the power of the arbitral tribunal, including the authority to order interim or conservatory measures. It also limits the judicial intervention in the arbitration process, while preserving the courts’ powers to provide assistance where this is necessary to make arbitration “a fair and efficient dispute resolution procedure.”
The new law, Shalbeck added, “limits the recourse of the award debtor against arbitral awards to the action for nullity within one month, and shortens time limits for the arbitrators to render the award within one month of the closure of proceedings.”
QICCA counsellor Dr Minas Khatchadourian said: “This law is making Qatar an arbitration-friendly country. Instead of looking to other neighbouring countries in the region or in Europe, people will consider arbitration in Qatar.
“Qatar is becoming a hub for arbitration. And we are partners with the judges; we cannot work alone because in the end, with the high quality of arbitration that we give, it goes to the enforcement by the courts. The courts have also helped make Qatar arbitration-friendly.”
Sheikh Thani: Important accomplishment. PICTURE: Jayan Orma
The new arbitration law will help enhance the investment climate of Qatar, which is poised to transform itself into a regional hub for arbitration, an official of the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation & Arbitration (QICCA) has said.
