Oman expands arbitration network with five pacts

MUSCAT, SEPT 28
The Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre (OCAC) has signed five strategic agreements and launched a competition for law students as part of efforts to strengthen the Sultanate of Oman’s alternative dispute resolution ecosystem.
The centre, which is affiliated with the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, also announced details of the Muscat Arbitration and Mediation Days conference, scheduled for December 7 to 9.
The memoranda of understanding were signed with the Oman Convention and Exhibition Centre, Visit Oman, the Oman Society of Engineers, Decree and international education partner Resolve.
The agreements are intended to expand the centre’s partnership network and strengthen institutional cooperation in arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.
Dr Abdullah bin Nasser al Munthiri, chief executive officer of OCAC, said the conference formed part of efforts to position Oman as a centre for dialogue and the exchange of expertise in arbitration and mediation.
He said the event would bring together international experts and specialists to share their experiences and discuss the latest developments and practices in the sector.
The upcoming edition will feature wider participation and a more diverse programme, he added. Public- and private-sector institutions will also be able to host specialised panel discussions that complement the centre’s main programme.
Al Munthiri said the conference’s official website, mamd.om, would give participants access to information about the programme, speakers, activities and sponsorship packages.
The centre is seeking to create an integrated platform through which institutions, professionals, researchers and law students can benefit from the conference and its related programmes, he said.
OCAC also launched the inaugural Muscat Arbitration Competition 2026, which seeks to develop young legal talent and bridge the gap between academic study and the practical application of commercial arbitration.
“Investing in law students and developing their capabilities in advocacy, arbitration and legal research is an investment in the future of the justice and dispute-resolution system,” Al Munthiri said.
The competition will allow students to argue hypothetical arbitration cases before panels of arbitrators, judges and industry practitioners.
Abdulrahman al Farsi, representing Decree, which is organising the competition in partnership with OCAC, said it would have separate Arabic and English tracks. Each track can accommodate up to eight teams, with each team comprising three to five students supervised by a faculty coach.
Teams will argue both sides of a hypothetical arbitration dispute before panels of legal and arbitration professionals.
The annual competition begins with the release of case details in July and August, followed by the submission and evaluation of written memoranda in October. Oral hearings will be held in November through general rounds, semi-finals and a final.
The final round and awards ceremony will take place during the Muscat Arbitration and Mediation Days conference in December, bringing together international professionals and emerging legal talent.
Organisers said participating teams must comply with requirements governing integrity, academic originality and the use of artificial intelligence tools to maintain the competition’s academic and professional standards.
Eng Fuad bin Abdullah al Kindi, chairman of the Oman Society of Engineers, said its agreement with OCAC followed earlier discussions and reflected a shared vision for improving the resolution of engineering disputes.
“As the body representing the Sultanate of Oman’s engineering sector, we recognise that arbitration is a critical component in resolving disputes that often involve significant sums and consequently affect the costs of development projects,” he said.
Al Kindi said the agreement went beyond training and aimed to improve arbitrators’ proficiency by integrating engineering expertise into arbitration proceedings. It would also draw on the society’s experience to help refine systems and procedures for handling engineering-related disputes.
The five partnerships are intended to promote arbitration and mediation as effective alternatives to litigation, support the business and investment environment and improve the resolution of commercial, engineering and other economic disputes.