Part XII International Arbitration: Myths and Perspectives, 34 Arbitration in the UAE: Demystifying the Myths

Subject(s):

Jurisdiction — Conflict of laws — Arbitral tribunals — Arbitrators

This chapter discusses arbitration in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). There is a general perception in the international arbitration community that arbitration in the Middle East is an untested science and a risky, unpredictable business. However, arbitration has played a determinative role in the formation of the dispute resolution landscape of prominent Middle Eastern jurisdictions since pre-Islamic times and has left an indelible mark in the civil procedure codes of most of these jurisdictions. The UAE in particular has led by example in establishing a modern arbitration jurisdiction that, by and large, meets international standards and best practice. The chapter seeks to demystify the practice and procedure of arbitration as they prevail in the UAE and show that-contrary to common belief-arbitration there is modern and at times even genuinely avant-garde. The UAE serves as a role model on how arbitration in the Middle East has been developing into the preferred dispute resolution mechanism of international commercial disputes in the region and set the pace for other Middle Eastern jurisdictions to follow suit.