19/9/2018
The Qatar International Center of Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) organised a seminar focusing on the ethics and qualities of arbitrators with an aim to improve these features and characteristics.
The one-day event, held at Qatar Chamber headquarters, was attended by prominent businessmen, lawyers and senior executives and top officials of Qatar Chamber, including QC Chairman Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassem Al Thani, and QICCA’s board member for international relations Dr Sheikh Thani bin Ali Al Thani as well as number of lawyers, arbitrators and students from Ahmed bin Mohamed Military College.
QICCA’s Assistant Secretary General Ibrahim Shahbik said that QICCA is keen to provide seminars that discuss arbitration-related issues, noting that the center’s main role is to prepare and qualify arbitrators.
He noted that arbitration process is based on a number of professional criteria and rules which should be taken into account. He affirmed that arbitration becomes a main means for settling disputes related to trading, engineering, marine contracts.
For his part, Abdulla Al Mehshadi explained in his presentation the conditions and requirements to be fulfilled in an arbitrator to optimally accomplish the arbitration process.
Al Mehshadi noted that the New Arbitration Law stipulates many legal conditions that should an arbitrator enjoy. These requirements include to enjoy full capacity and not to be convicted of a final judgment in a felony or misdemeanor against honour or trust, even if he has been rehabilitated.
He also pointed to the requirements of judicial nature which is mentioned in Paragraph 3 of Article 11 of the arbitration law, which stressed the need for the arbitrator to enjoy independence, neutrality and commitment, noting that the arbitrator may not step aside from the arbitration process after his approval without an acceptable reason.
Al Mehshadi also touched on the requirements agreed by both parties and don’t contradict with requirements that are based on legal or judicial nature.
Khalid Al Nasr focused during his discussions on the ethics that must be available in the arbitrator such as efficiency, effectiveness, commitment, integrity, justice, neutrality and integrity.
They include also disclosure and commitment to the authorities granted and agreed upon and confidential, noting that the arbitrator must take decisions in a fair, independent and balanced and thoughtful.
