Ch.1 Introduction

Chapter one provides an overview of the important role the UNCITRAL arbitration rules play in the international arbitral process. It explains that the UNCITRAL Rules were the product of the United Nations’ desire to establish a set of rules of arbitral procedure capable of wide application across many different legal, social and economic systems. It describes the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal, the first major arbitral body to adopt the UNCITRAL Rules, as a significant source of arbitral practice under the Rules. It also identifies international arbitration pursuant to international investment agreements as another important and growing source of practice under the UNCITRAL Rules.