The Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICRDC) has underscored the importance of leveraging technology in enabling a faster and more convenient dispute resolution process, further distinguishing it from local courts and similar models in the region.

“Our achievements in the past few years show us that QICDRC has mastered the utilisation of technology and innovation in courtrooms and case management systems, and the introduction of eCourt is a clear testament to that,” QICDRC CEO Faisal Rashid al-Sahouti told reporters on Monday.

The eCourt is the first comprehensive online case management system in the region that allows litigants to initiate, manage, attend hearings, and receive case decisions without the need to physically appear before the court.

As an online case management service, eCourt offers users a convenient, user-centric, and secure digital platform to resolve legal disputes free of charge and without time and location limitations.

By utilising the virtual hearing technology employed at QICDRC’s courtroom facilities, al-Sahouti said the court was able to hear cases that involve litigants from the blockading countries, overcoming the travel restriction challenges since the start of the illegal blockade imposed against Qatar.

Al-Sahouti said the introduction of eCourt, as well as the court’s participation in several international legal gatherings, embodies QICDRC’s efforts to become a global model for justice and position Qatar as a key contributor to promoting the rule of law and providing access to an independent judiciary.

Al-Sahouti noted that with the number of companies registered under the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) reaching an all-time high of around 700, with a total assets value exceeding QR70bn, “the need for a specialised and authoritative legal and regulatory environment has become more evident than ever.”

“QICDRC’s role internationally has further enshrined Qatar’s reputation as an active player in the international legal community and contributed to the enrichment of Qatar’s global image as an advocate for an independent judiciary that adopts international standards,” al-Sahouti said.

Speaking on the blockade’s impact on the court’s functions, al-Sahouti stressed that “QICDRC and the judges have been able to look beyond the geopolitical conflict to ensure fairness and impartiality in proceedings before the court and in its judgments.”

Al-Sahouti also said the QICDRC’s planned move to its new building at Msheireb exemplifies QICDRC’s evolution as a judicial entity and reflects an active economic environment and a prosperous market, as well as embodies the economic outlooks of Qatar National Vision 2030.

“The planned move to our new home in Msheireb in early 2020 signifies the matureness of the court’s juridical model and paves the way for the vital role that QICDRC will play in supporting Qatar’s economic development from the heart of Qatar’s new economic city.”

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