The emergence of arbitrateAD

UAE
09/01/2024
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Introduction

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is reinforcing its status as a global hub for international arbitration with the implementation of the Abu Dhabi International Arbitration Centre, which will replace the old Abu Dhabi Commercial Conciliation and Arbitration Centre (“ADCCAC”).

Branded as “arbitrateAD”, the new Centre will have a board chaired by His Excellency Abdulla Mohamed Al Mazrui and vice-chaired by the leading international arbitrator Gary Born. ArbitrateAD’s operations will be overseen by Kristen Campbell-Wilson, formerly of the Stockholm Chamber of Commerce Arbitration Institute, whom has been appointed as its Executive Director.

We have set out the key points arising from this development below.

The arbitrateAD Rules

From 1 February 2024, ADCCAC’s Procedural Regulations of Arbitration (the “ADCCAC Regulations”) shall be replaced by the rules of arbitrateAD (“arbitrateAD Rules”).

As yet the arbitrateAD Rules have not been released, but they are expected to be structured in line with international standards and will likely be comparable to the rules adopted by the Dubai International Arbitration Centre in 2022 (as reported here).

Existing cases

Current ADCCAC cases will not be affected by the introduction of arbitrateAD – they will continue to be administered by the ADCCAC team under the ADCCAC Regulations.

From 1 February 2024, all new cases (including those subject to ADCCAC arbitration agreements) will be administered by arbitrateAD and made subject to the arbitrateAD Rules.

Comment

The introduction of arbitrateAD is both a welcome and eye-catching development and should serve to promote the rise of Abu Dhabi as a ‘go-to’ venue for international arbitration – while also enhancing the competition between Abu Dhabi and other regional seats. Certainly, many Abu Dhabi arbitration practitioners and users will agree competitive reforms are overdue.

Of course meeting these aims will depend largely on style and contents of the much anticipated arbitrateAD Rules; which are listed as “coming soon” on the arbitrateAD website.  A further update shall be issued when the arbitrateAD Rules are released.

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