BCLP Contributes to Lexology Panoramic: Saudi Arabia Arbitration Chapter

Arbitration, as a forum to resolve civil and commercial disputes, is increasingly popular in Saudi Arabia, partly due to recent changes to the Saudi arbitration legal landscape.

In 2012, Saudi Arabia enacted its modern Arbitration Law, which is based on the internationally recognized UNCITRAL Model Law while preserving key Sharia law principles. In May 2023, the Saudi Centre for Commercial Arbitration, Saudi Arabia’s main arbitration centre, introduced new arbitration rules which are amongst the most modern and dynamic in the world. As Saudi Arabia’s economy continues to open up and more international companies operate in the Kingdom (see our article on key issues for international contractors working in Saudi Arabia), we expect the rise of arbitration to continue and eventually rival litigation in the local courts as a means to resolving high-value and complex disputes.

BCLP’s Middle East Disputes Team, in collaboration with Lexology Panoramic, take a detailed look at the latest arbitration rules and regulations in Saudi Arabia examining the validity of arbitration agreements, the constitution and jurisdiction of arbitration tribunals, rules of procedure, the availability and support from the local courts and challenges to awards.

The Lexology Panoramic series compares and contrasts arbitration laws and regulations in different jurisdictions.

Lexology Arbitration 2024: Saudi Arabia 

Reproduced with permission from Law Business Research Ltd. This article was first published in Lexology Panoramic: Arbitration 2024. For further information, please visit Lexology. 

Please contact any member of the team for further information.