Saudi Arabia Introduces New Measures to Advance International Arbitration

The Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) has announced a wide-ranging initiative of the Council of Ministers aimed at enhancing the integrity, accessibility, and global competitiveness of international arbitration within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. 

This initiative introduces a coordinated set of legislative, judicial, and executive directives intended to elevate the Kingdom’s standing as a sophisticated and safe arbitration seat in the region. 

Key components of the initiative include:

• Legislative Modernisation: A sweeping review of Saudi Arabia’s Arbitration Law and Implementing Regulations will be carried out by the SCCA in collaboration with various stakeholders, including the Saudi National Competitiveness Center, the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Investment and the Ministry of Justice. The objective is to identify and propose legislative reforms that reinforce the legal framework governing arbitration proceedings in the Kingdom.
• Access to Judicial Precedents and Transparency: To foster greater transparency and predictability, selected court decisions relating to arbitration will be translated and made publicly available. While the selection process for these decisions has yet to be fully clarified, this initiative is expected to support consistent application of the law and build stakeholder trust in the judiciary’s handling of arbitral matters. Given that appellate courts in the Kingdom have upheld approximately 90% of the 4,000 arbitral awards reviewed between 2021 and 2024, the publication of Saudi arbitration case law should continue to enhance confidence in the reliability of domestic judicial and enforcement mechanisms.
• Global Benchmarking and Quality Assurance: An international assessment will be conducted to evaluate perceptions of arbitration practice in Saudi Arabia among key stakeholders. This study will offer insights into the quality of arbitral proceedings and final awards, contributing to continuous improvement and alignment with global best practices.
• Institutional Capacity Building: Arbitral institutions operating in the Kingdom are encouraged to play a more prominent role in the promotion and development of arbitration. This includes hosting capacity-building events, participating in international fora, and publishing thought leadership to elevate the visibility and credibility of Saudi Arabia’s arbitration framework.

These measures reaffirm Saudi Arabia’s commitment to becoming a leading regional hub for arbitration, and reflect an ambitious vision for a more transparent, efficient, and investor-friendly dispute resolution environment.

As these developments take shape, stakeholders across the legal and business communities will be watching closely to assess their practical impact. While the measures signal a decisive shift toward international best practices, their success will ultimately be defined by the effectiveness of implementation. The coming months will be critical in observing how these reforms translate into tangible improvements across Saudi Arabia’s arbitration landscape.