The Ministry of Justice, the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) – Qatar Branch, and the Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC) co-organised the third edition of Doha Arbitration Days 2026, held on 20 September at The Plaza Doha, LXR Hotels & Resorts.
Held under the patronage of H.E. Ibrahim bin Ali bin Issa Al Hassan Al Mohannadi, Minister of Justice and Minister of State for Cabinet Affairs, the conference brought together leading members of the arbitration and dispute resolution community from Qatar, the region and internationally, providing a platform for dialogue, knowledge exchange and collaboration on key developments shaping arbitration practice.
Building on the success of its previous editions, each of which welcomed more than 500 participants, Doha Arbitration Days has continued to develop as an important regional platform for arbitrators, judges, counsel, experts, academics and institutional representatives to exchange perspectives on emerging legal and commercial issues.
The 2026 programme featured a keynote address by The Right Honourable Lord Neuberger, alongside the participation of Dr Cesar Pereira C.Arb FCIArb, CIArb Global President, and a distinguished group of legal and arbitration professionals from Qatar and abroad.
The conference addressed three key areas shaping contemporary arbitration practice. The first panel, “When Arbitration Meets the Courts: The Realities of Judicial Practice,” examined the practical relationship between arbitral proceedings and national courts. The second, “The Strait of Hormuz Crisis: Contractual Disruption, Commercial Loss and Arbitral Decision-Making,” considered the legal and commercial implications of disruption and the role of arbitration in responding to complex contractual disputes. The third panel, “Arbitration Institutions and Organisations in Transition,” explored how arbitral institutions are evolving in response to changing market expectations and developments in international dispute resolution.
H.E. Dr Saad Bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi MCIArb, Chair of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (CIArb) – Qatar Branch, addressed the conference and highlighted the importance of Doha Arbitration Days as a platform for strengthening professional exchange and collaboration within the arbitration community.
Dr Al Muhannadi said: “Doha Arbitration Days has become an important platform for bringing together the arbitration community in Qatar and beyond to exchange practical knowledge and engage with the issues shaping the profession. This third edition reflects the value of collaboration between public institutions, the judiciary and the arbitration community in strengthening professional standards, developing expertise and supporting Qatar’s continued growth as a centre for arbitration and dispute resolution.”
Among the key takeaways from this year’s conference was the importance of strengthening interaction between courts and arbitral processes, ensuring that dispute resolution mechanisms remain responsive to periods of commercial and contractual disruption, and supporting arbitral institutions as they adapt to an evolving international legal environment.
The programme also included a CIArb Qatar Branch Education and Training Award Ceremony and the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs), reflecting the conference’s broader focus on professional capacity-building, institutional cooperation and the continued development of arbitration practice.
Through the continued collaboration between the Ministry of Justice, CIArb Qatar Branch, and QICDRC, Doha Arbitration Days continues to provide a platform for legal dialogue, professional development, institutional cooperation, and the exchange of expertise in support of arbitration and dispute resolution in Qatar. The entities remain committed to contributing to a modern, effective, and internationally connected dispute resolution environment that supports Qatar’s legal and commercial landscape.
