ICC-UAE Commission on Arbitration Approves 2017 Programme of Action

-    Commission elects new chairman, vice chairs and steering committee

-    Members briefed on commission’s achievements and activities in 2016

Dubai, UAE - 03 April 2017: The International Chamber of Commerce UAE Chapter’s (ICC-UAE) Commission on Arbitration recently held a meeting at the Capital Club DIFC in Dubai, which was attended by its members and some of the UAE’s leading law firms.

During the meeting, members approved the programme of action for 2017, and elected Mr. Ali Al Aidarous, Managing Attorney, Al Aidarous International Legal Practice, as Chairman of the Commission.

Mr. Alec Emmerson, Consultant, Clyde & Co., and Mr. Gordon Blanke, Partner, DWF (Middle East) LLP, Mr. Hassan Arab, Partner & Co-Head of Litigation, Al Tamimi & Co., and Mr. Mahmood Hussain Ali Ahmad, Founding Partner, Mahmood Hussain Law Firm, were elected as 
Vice Chairs.

Ms. Zaynab Penot, Lawyer, International Consultant Law Office, was named Coordinator of the Commission, and members of the Commission’s steering committee were elected for a two-year term. 

Members were briefed on the achievements made by the Commission in 2016, while plans and objectives for 2017 were discussed. Suggestions made during the meeting included a joint paper published by various arbitration centres that would highlight key issues, and a proposal to use Arabic as a language within the ICC to expand the global organisation’s reach within the UAE and wider Middle East region.     

In his opening speech, Mr. Hassan Al Hashemi, Secretary General of ICC-UAE, expressed the ICC-UAE’s keenness to represent the local business community at the international level. He spoke about the ICC’s key role in facilitating international trade and investment, and noted that trade remains the main engine of growth for the global economy.

Mr. Al Hashemi added that the UAE Chapter of the ICC plays an active role in addressing the challenges of the private sector and developing strategies that stimulate business growth. He emphasised the ICC-UAE’s commitment to supporting the local business community and creating a favourable environment where companies can further develop and flourish.

For his part, Mr. Al Aidarous said he will work to achieve the ICC-UAE’s new objectives by organising events, training sessions and workshops, that would cover the latest developments related to arbitration in the region and internationally.

Established in 2004, the ICC-UAE Chapter represents the commercial, industrial and business enterprises in the country at a global level, and promotes the scope and reach of the UAE business community around the world.