The third edition of Doha Arbitration Days 2026 was held on Sunday at The Plaza Doha, LXR Hotels & Resorts, bringing together arbitration and dispute resolution professionals from Qatar, the wider region, and internationally. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Justice, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) Qatar Branch, and the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC), the event aimed to foster dialogue, professional development, and institutional cooperation on key arbitration issues.
The conference, conducted under the patronage of Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs HE Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa Al Hassan Al Mohannadi, attracted around 600 participants, including arbitrators, judges, counsel, experts, academics, government officials, and institutional representatives. It built on the momentum of previous editions, each of which drew over 500 attendees, and underscored Qatar’s evolving role as a regional hub for arbitration.
A keynote address was delivered by The Right Honourable Lord Neuberger, and the programme featured prominent speakers such as Dr Cesar Pereira C.Arb FCIArb, president of CIArb for 2026, who highlighted the multidimensional nature of the institute’s membership, which extends beyond lawyers to include engineers, architects, and accountants. Dr Pereira praised Qatar’s notable progress over the past two decades in creating a credible dispute-resolution environment attractive to international investors.
Conference panels examined critical contemporary arbitration themes. Discussions addressed the interface between arbitration proceedings and national courts, focusing on the practical realities of judicial intervention in arbitration. Another panel explored the legal and commercial ramifications of disruptions in the Strait of Hormuz, emphasizing arbitration’s role in managing contractual disputes arising from regional tensions. The third panel delved into the evolution of arbitration institutions in response to shifting market demands and the broader international legal landscape.
Experts emphasized the growing importance of arbitration amid regional disruptions that complicate commercial agreements and contractual obligations. Mohamad Mohannadi, chairman of the Qatar Experts and Arbitrators Association, noted arbitration's vital role in swiftly resolving disputes and safeguarding commercial relationships during challenging times, such as those caused by geopolitical crises or the COVID-19 pandemic.
The conference also included a CIArb Qatar Branch Education and Training Award Ceremony, where certificates were awarded to about 20 new fellows, reflecting the sustained growth of Qatar’s arbitration community. The signing of two Memoranda of Understanding underscored the event’s commitment to enhancing professional capacity and strengthening institutional partnerships.
Participants agreed on the necessity of maintaining strong coordination between courts and arbitral bodies to ensure effective dispute resolution mechanisms. The dialogue underscored the need for arbitration professionals to adopt innovative approaches to emerging challenges while considering their broader economic impact.
Through ongoing collaboration among the Ministry of Justice, CIArb Qatar Branch, and QICDRC, Doha Arbitration Days continues to serve as a key platform for knowledge exchange, capacity-building, and the advancement of arbitration practice in Qatar, supporting the country’s legal framework and commercial environment in an increasingly complex global market.