With giga-projects at the forefront of its construction industry, the eyes of international contractors and foreign investors alike are on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”). But as with all construction projects of significant scale and complexity, disputes are unavoidable. With the introduction of the new arbitration rules of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration…
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) is undergoing a transformative shift in its economy. In 2016, the KSA launched the Saudi Vision 2030, an initiative to, among others, attract foreign and domestic investment by improving the regulatory environment and enhancing business opportunities. A key piece of this transformation came on 11 August 2024, when the…
For over a decade, diversity in the field of arbitration in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) has been on a positive trajectory. In 2012, the Saudi Arbitration Law (Royal Decree No. M/34) came into force and, unlike its predecessor of 1983, did not contain any requirements regarding the arbitrator’s gender. Subsequently, in 2016, the…
The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) has recently embarked on substantial public investment, both domestically and abroad. Major investments made by the Public Investment Fund, and giga-projects such as Neom, Red Sea Global and Diriyah Gate, clearly demonstrate the KSA’s intention to revolutionise its economy. However, often, with big investment comes the potential for big…
In recent years, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) has experienced a significant surge in construction projects and notable developments in its energy sector. The unveiling of new Smart Sustainable Cities and Special Economic Zones, aimed at enhancing business prospects, underscores the KSA’s commitment to fostering strategic sector development and attracting high-quality investments. These initiatives…
The Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (“SCCA”) has recently revamped its rules, aiming to solidify its position as a global leader in arbitration. The latest amendments, which have been elaborated in a previous post here, showcase a commitment to efficiency, flexibility, and party engagement, appearing to set a new standard for commercial dispute resolution and…
This post will discuss the scope of arbitration agreements and arbitrability issues under the arbitration law of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”), as interpreted by the Saudi Judiciary. Some of the principles that have been established by the Saudi judiciary in this regard include the following. Arbitration agreements bind the successors Arbitration agreements…
Expert witness evidence plays a pivotal role in the outcome of arbitrations, particularly in construction disputes. Rarely do construction disputes turn on significant differences between the parties’ versions of the facts, which are flushed out under dramatic, Boston Legal-style cross-examination. More often, it is the skilful application of settled facts by the parties’ legal counsel…
Abu Dhabi’s latest foray, the Abu Dhabi International Arbitration Centre, came into effect on 1 February 2024. Branded and referred to as arbitrateAD, its new set of arbitration rules (“arbitrateAD Rules”) was published on 1 February 2024 and consists of a newly established Board of Directors and Court of Arbitration. In this post, we provide a…
Data-Related Disputes Nearly five billion people use social media. Last year saw the expansion of AI-based businesses, from search engines to data analytics to product development. Some of the most valuable data for AI-training sets includes photographs, names, birth dates, consumer preferences, and family histories that users have published online or otherwise made available. Companies…
Six years ago, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) introduced the Bankruptcy Law, revolutionizing the legal landscape for liquidation and restructuring. This marked a significant shift by establishing a clear framework for handling insolvent entities. Recently, the Saudi Civil Transactions Law (“CTL”), effective from December 2023, enables creditors to transfer their rights for consideration, potentially…
The first Riyadh International Disputes Week (“RIDW”) presents an excellent occasion for international, regional, and local experts and practitioners to meet and exchange their views regarding salient developments in the various areas of dispute resolution. The upcoming Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration Third International Conference and Arbitration (“SCCA24”) on 6 March 2024, which is scheduled…
Arbitration has emerged as a preferred and valuable tool for resolving disputes. However, the associated costs and time can sometimes deter parties from pursuing this avenue. Fortunately, there are various strategies for parties to avoid lengthy proceedings, reduce costs, and regain control over the arbitral process. In this post, we have compiled a non-exhaustive list…
The imminent arrival of Riyadh International Disputes Week (“RIDW“) is a natural opportunity to reflect on the Gulf/Middle East disputes market and the factors that will impact on the success of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (“SCCA“) which will undoubtedly be at the heart of RIDW. As with all things in the Gulf/Middle East…
The inaugural Riyadh International Disputes Week (“RIDW”), commencing on 3 March 2024, is a milestone event for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (“KSA”) and the disputes field, uniting key players in the field to explore the alternative dispute resolution landscape in the KSA and beyond. RIDW, the first event of its kind in the KSA,…
Amidst reeling from the pandemic of 2020, 2021 witnessed a number of arbitration-related transformations, developments and notable decisions issued by the national courts in the Middle East. In this post, we focus in on the Middle East region to reflect on the significant developments that took place in arbitral centres, summarize key judgments issued by…
