Qatar as a Regional Hub for Arbitration

Legal Framework, Institutional Strength, and Strategic Vision

Qatar has established itself as a leading seat of arbitration in the MENA region, supported by a robust legal framework, institutional expertise, and procedural innovations. Over the past two decades, Qatar has actively sought to enhance its arbitration environment, reflecting its commitment to creating a pro-investment and arbitration-friendly jurisdiction. This commitment is evident in the adoption of the Qatar Arbitration Law (Law No. 2 of 2017), the establishment and development of the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA), and Qatar’s accession to the New York Convention in 2002. Through modern legislation, strong institutional support, and a clear pro-investment national strategy, Qatar has positioned arbitration at the core of its dispute-resolution ecosystem. These efforts align with Qatar National Vision 2030 and the Third National Development Strategy 2024–2030, reinforcing Qatar’s ambition to provide a stable, efficient, and internationally trusted environment for resolving commercial and investment disputes.

The Qatar Arbitration Law: Modernising the Legal Framework

The Qatar Arbitration Law of 2017 represents a significant evolution from the previous arbitration legislation. While grounded in internationally recognised standards, largely drawing from the UNCITRAL Model Law, the Law incorporates provisions tailored to the Qatari legal and commercial context. Key reforms include:

§  Requirements for a valid arbitration agreement: The Law provides clarity on formalities, scope, and enforceability, ensuring that parties’ agreements to arbitrate are respected by Qatari courts.

§  Recognition, enforcement, and challenge of arbitral awards: The Law establishes a comprehensive regime for enforcing domestic and foreign awards, including grounds for annulment, which enhances legal certainty for investors and parties.

§  Arbitrators’ authority to grant interim measures and preliminary orders: Arbitrators can issue urgent relief, safeguarding parties’ rights and promoting the efficiency of arbitration proceedings.

§  Party autonomy in governing proceedings: Parties may determine key procedural aspects, such as venue, language, and appointment of experts. Failing party agreement, the Qatari courts may intervene to ensure proceedings are properly managed.

§  Appointment of arbitrators: The Law provides for the appointment of arbitrators, including a list of accredited arbitrators maintained by the Qatar Ministry of Justice, further enhancing impartiality and professionalism.

Scope and Applicability

The Qatar Arbitration Law applies immediately to all arbitrations in progress at the time of its enactment and governs any arbitration between persons under public or private law, regardless of the legal relationship from which the dispute arises. Importantly, the Law applies to both domestic and international arbitrations seated in Qatar, thereby reinforcing the country’s role as a regional seat of arbitration.

Practical Implications

The 2017 Law provides a comprehensive and modernized arbitration framework compared with the Old Law. By clarifying procedural rules, expanding party autonomy, and strengthening enforcement mechanisms, the Law significantly enhances predictability, efficiency, and fairness in arbitration proceedings. This is consistent with Qatar’s broader efforts to promote arbitration as a preferred method of dispute resolution, complementing the work of institutions such as QICCA and the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC) in the Qatar Financial Centre.

The Law also encourages parties, both foreign and domestic, to resolve disputes out of court, thereby reducing the burden on regular courts and promoting Qatar as a trusted jurisdiction for commercial arbitration in the region. Over time, this framework is expected to influence other jurisdictions in the region to adopt standalone arbitration laws, providing further guidance for parties, arbitrators, and courts.

QICCA and Institutional Innovations

Effective 1 January 2025, the QICCA Arbitration Rules 2024 (“2024 Rules”) introduce a comprehensive set of enhancements designed to modernize Qatar’s arbitration framework. The Rules integrate global best practices with Qatari and civil law principles, creating a framework that balances international standards with regional business realities.

Procedural Flexibility

The 2024 Rules significantly expand parties’ autonomy and procedural options. They allow for consolidation and joinder of multiple arbitrations (Article 21), bifurcation of proceedings, and preliminary rulings on jurisdictional challenges (Article 29.5). For claims below QAR 1 million, the Rules provide expedited procedures with a sole arbitrator and a three-month timeline for the award (Article 47). Additionally, the Rules accommodate ad hoc arbitration, enabling parties to tailor procedural rules when QICCA acts as the appointing authority (Article 3).

Compared with the 2012 Rules, which imposed longer timelines for tribunal constitution, limited expedited processes, and offered less flexibility for ad hoc proceedings, the 2024 Rules provide a more efficient and adaptable framework, reducing procedural delays and streamlining dispute resolution.

Emergency Arbitration

A notable innovation is the introduction of emergency arbitration (Articles 50–57), allowing parties to request urgent interim measures before the tribunal is formally constituted. Relief is granted under conditions that balance urgency and fairness, considering potential harm, probability of success, and proportionality. This mechanism enables parties to secure rapid protective measures, improving risk management for high-value or time-sensitive disputes.

Arbitrator Appointment and Neutrality

The 2024 Rules strengthen transparency and impartiality in arbitrator selection. QICCA provides parties with identical candidate lists (Article 12.3), which parties rank according to preference. The sole arbitrator is then appointed based on these rankings. Appointment criteria include the dispute’s nature, applicable law, location, and the arbitrator’s independence (Articles 12.2–12.4). Parties also retain the right to appoint co-arbitrators or presiding arbitrators outside QICCA’s lists, provided neutrality is ensured.

Compared to the 2012 Rules, these measures enhance party confidence and procedural fairness, reducing reliance on tribunal discretion and promoting a more balanced selection process.

Evidence and Procedural Management

Chapter III empowers arbitral tribunals to manage proceedings efficiently, including determining the admissibility, relevance, and weight of evidence (Articles 32–33), conducting hearings solely on documentary evidence (Article 20.4), and establishing procedural timetables immediately after tribunal constitution. These provisions ensure consistent case management, even for parties with less experienced counsel, promoting fairness and predictability throughout the arbitration process.

Third-Party Funding and Representation

The Rules now require disclosure of third-party funding (Article 9), enhancing transparency, and explicitly allow parties to be represented by non-Qatari lawyers (Article 7), broadening accessibility for international participants.

Costs and Fees

The 2024 Rules introduce more predictable and transparent cost structures, including reduced administrative and tribunal fees for claims under QAR 5 million. Fees for tribunal secretaries are incorporated within the tribunal’s overall fees, further clarifying financial obligations and ensuring cost efficiency.

Qatar as a Regional Seat of Arbitration

By combining the Qatar Arbitration Law, institutional support, and the procedural innovations of the 2024 Rules, Qatar offers a reliable, efficient, and neutral arbitration environment for both regional and international parties. The integration of digital case management, ADR services, and transparent fee structures further reinforces Qatar’s position as a seat of arbitration in the MENA region, not merely a venue for hearings.

Conclusion

Qatar’s arbitration framework reflects a clear and sustained national policy: to promote arbitration as a cornerstone of justice, investment protection, and economic development. With modern legislation, strong institutions, judicial support, and strategic alignment with national development goals, Qatar is well positioned to serve as a regional hub for arbitration in the MENA region.

For investors, businesses, and practitioners, Qatar offers an increasingly attractive forum that balances international standards with regional expertise, an essential combination in today’s complex commercial landscape.