Commercial arbitration showed resilient during pandemic, say legal experts

Technology played a key role in assuring that legal entities continued to operate amid the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic, an official of the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration’s (QICCA) said during ‘Legal Week’ on Tuesday.

Speaking at the webinar, QICCA board member for International Relations Sheikh Dr Thani bin Ali al-Thani said some international arbitration centres and law firms have issued several regulations and guidelines for remote arbitration using different communication platforms.

He said QICCA relied on modern technologies, especially during the pandemic. Since March 2020, QICCA has received a number of electronic arbitration requests and issued 20 arbitration awards.

Titled ‘Features of Arbitration in the Arab World’, the webinar discussed challenges facing remote arbitration during the pandemic, the arbitration agreement, and the proceedings of arbitration institutions, as well as international judiciary during the health crisis and Arab arbitration and foreign investment.

QICCA assistant secretary-general Ibrahim Shahbeek moderated the webinar, which is part of a series of online discussions during ‘Legal Week’. The event will run until April 1 and has tackled a wide range of topics by experts from different countries.

Dr Abdel Basset Abdel Wasea, professor of Commercial Law at Saba University, reviewed Covid-19 and the arbitration agreement. He noted that despite challenges like social distancing, travel restrictions, and other issues, the pandemic still had a “positive impact” on the arbitration system.

“The crisis proved that arbitration could adapt to circumstances and challenges; the pandemic resulted in the increase in the number of cases referred to arbitration centres,” he noted.

Dr Yousef al-Sulaili, professor of Commercial Law and arbitration at Saba University, discussed Arabic arbitration and foreign investment. He said Arab countries always strive to improve their legislative environments and look for ways to attract foreign investments.

He also added that Arab countries have been keen to introduce arbitration as a mechanism for settling commercial disputes, and have issued laws related to arbitration. Also, lawyer Ahmed al-Werfalli delivered a presentation about arbitration dispute during the webinar.