Qatar issued the Civil and Commercial Arbitration Law by Law No. 2 of 2017, drawing on the UNCITRAL Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration. The law applies to any arbitration between public or private parties over a dispute of an economic nature, whether contractual or not, that takes place in Qatar, or that takes place abroad where the parties agree to submit it to the law (Article 2).

Form of the agreement
Must be in writing, satisfied by a document signed by the parties or by paper or electronic correspondence (Article 7).
Competent court
The Civil and Commercial Arbitral Disputes Circuit of the Court of Appeal, or the First Instance Circuit of the Qatar Financial Centre Civil and Commercial Court where the parties so agree.
Set-aside deadline
One month from the date the parties receive, or are notified of, the award (Article 33).
New York Convention
Qatar acceded on 30 December 2002, with entry into force for Qatar on 30 March 2003.

Commercial arbitration in Qatar: institutions and options

  • Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA): affiliated with Qatar Chamber, administering arbitration, conciliation and mediation under its rules, including its 2024 Arbitration Rules.
  • Qatar International Court and Dispute Resolution Centre (QICDRC): comprising the Qatar Financial Centre Civil and Commercial Court and the Regulatory Tribunal, and also offering arbitration and mediation services.
  • Ad hoc arbitration: the parties agree the procedure without an administering institution, which calls for careful drafting to avoid procedural gaps.

During the proceedings, the tribunal may order interim measures to prevent irreparable harm, maintain the status quo, or preserve assets or evidence, and may require the requesting party to provide appropriate security (Article 17).

The arbitration lawyer's role after the award: set-aside and enforcement

An arbitral award cannot be appealed by any route other than a set-aside application before the competent court, and the court's decision on that application is final and not open to appeal. The grounds for setting aside are limited and include:

  • A party to the arbitration agreement lacked capacity, or the agreement is invalid.
  • A party was not properly notified of the appointment of an arbitrator or of the proceedings, or was unable to present its defence for reasons beyond its control.
  • The award decides matters beyond the scope of the arbitration agreement.
  • The composition of the tribunal, the appointment of arbitrators or the procedure did not comply with the parties' agreement or the law.

The court will also set aside an award of its own motion if the subject matter is not capable of settlement by arbitration or the award conflicts with public policy. Applications for recognition and enforcement go to the competent judge, and may be refused only on specific grounds that essentially mirror the set-aside grounds. Qatar's accession to the New York Convention facilitates enforcement of awards made in other contracting states, and our work continues after the award through our commercial law and debt collection services.

What to prepare before your consultation

  • The contract and its annexes, with the arbitration or dispute resolution clause identified.
  • Correspondence and notices exchanged, particularly claim and delay notices.
  • Invoices, payment applications and evidence of the amount claimed.
  • The request for arbitration or answer and, if issued, the award and the date you received it.
  • The company's commercial registration and a power of attorney.