Riyadh International Disputes Week 2025 (RIDW) served as a critical forum for legal experts, policymakers, and industry leaders to examine the evolving landscape of arbitration across the Middle East, Africa, and South Asia (MEASA). The event underscored Riyadh’s growing influence in global dispute resolution, focusing on the need for legal integration, institutional credibility, and region-specific arbitration mechanisms.
A key session, “Arbitration in the MEASA Region: Roadmap to 2030,” hosted by Fox & Mandal, brought together leading legal minds to explore the challenges and opportunities for arbitration in an economically expanding region. Discussions highlighted the necessity of harmonized legal systems, capacity-building among local professionals, and the establishment of stronger arbitration institutions.
Legal experts emphasized that fragmented arbitration frameworks, judicial inconsistencies, and reliance on foreign expertise continue to hinder the region’s arbitration growth. Calls for reforms centered on fostering local legal talent, creating credible arbitration bodies, and ensuring government-backed institutional cooperation.
A crucial discussion point was the enforcement of UAE-seated arbitral awards in India, with experts stressing that economic partnerships must be accompanied by legal trust. The conversation also covered the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration’s (SCCA) role in setting global standards while catering to regional needs.
The session concluded with a consensus that regional working groups are essential for fostering cooperation between MEASA and South Asia. By 2030, the region aims to establish itself as a leading arbitration hub, bridging legal divides and adapting to emerging economic realities.
