Doha, October 06 (QNA) – Lusail University on Tuesday launched its master’s program in arbitration law and alternative dispute resolution in collaboration with Qatar Chamber.

The move aims to equip specialized professionals with the legal knowledge and professional skills required to address national and international commercial and economic disputes, while keeping abreast of rapid developments in arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and other alternative dispute resolution processes.

Launched today at a press conference, the program directly responds to the rapid evolution the State of Qatar is witnessing across the economic, investment, and commercial sectors, accompanied by an increasing need for professionals capable of handling formidable disputes efficiently and delivering flexible, swift, and effective legal solutions, thereby strengthening a legal environment that supports investment and business.

Overall, the program aligns with Qatar National Vision 2030, which aims to build a diversified and sustainable knowledge-based economy, develop human capital, and strengthen national and professional skills to meet labor market needs.

This also contributes to an environment that attracts domestic and foreign investment by preparing professionals specialized in resolving commercial and investment disputes in conformity with established practices and standards at both the domestic and international levels.

Addressing the press conference, HE Member of the Board of the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) at the Qatar Chamber Dr. Sheikh Thani bin Ali Al-Thani underscored the importance of the aforementioned program as the culmination of work that lasted more than two years, emphasizing that it is among the first similar programs in the region.

HE Dr. Sheikh Thani highlighted QICCA’s role in the program, stating that it serves in an advisory capacity by providing recommendations and proposing materials. He added that QICCA will continue to support Lusail University and its College of Law in this regard, while providing all services to the program’s graduates until they are accredited as arbitrators at the center.

  QICCA operates in the areas of conciliation and arbitration, with rules introduced this year addressing all of these areas, His Excellency pointed out, noting that this gives graduates a thorough understanding of and familiarity with the provisions of Qatar’s arbitration and mediation laws.

HE Dr. Sheikh Thani further emphasized that Qatar is a nation that has supported all forms of mediation, including commercial mediation, and was among the first countries to join the Singapore Convention on Mediation and the enforcement of mediated settlement agreements. He emphasized that the program’s graduates will play a significant role in these fields.

He also noted that the program is not limited to law graduates but is also open to graduates of other disciplines after they complete bridging courses that qualify them for admission to the program.

HE Dr. Sheikh Thani told reporters that the program’s graduates will contribute to the arbitration and alternative dispute resolution sector in Qatar, particularly as foreign investors encouraged by the State are keen to understand the laws, court systems, dispute resolution, and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.

His Excellency affirmed that Qatar is among the nations that have joined the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards and the Singapore Convention on Mediation. He added that Qatar has a law governing mediation and a law governing arbitration, as well as courts and a high-end judicial system that leverages cutting-edge technologies.

Qatar also established the Investment and Commerce Court under Law No. 21 of 2021, making the program supportive of investment in the country, as well as the legal and dispute resolution processes, His Excellency recalled.

He noted that QICCA is always working to promote a culture of arbitration and prepare and qualify arbitrators in Qatar, collaborating with Qatar University and Lusail University in this regard. This makes the program supportive of Qatar’s labor market, with its graduates expected to make their mark in the future.

  Dean of College of Law at Lusail University Dr. Ali Al Kubaisi explained that the master’s program in arbitration law and alternative dispute resolution builds on the College’s bachelor’s-level offerings and is particularly important given the continued growth in commercial and investment relations, the increasing number of international disputes, and the need for specialized legal professionals with academic knowledge and practical skills in arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and other alternative dispute resolution processes.

He noted that the university is committed to designing the program to integrate academic foundations with practical application, so that its role extends beyond providing theoretical knowledge to building specialized capabilities to analyze disputes, manage arbitration proceedings, conduct negotiations and mediation, draft agreements and legal memoranda, and handle national and international disputes in conformity with best practices and professional standards, in partnership with QICCA.

By and large, the program is offered in Arabic and covers a comprehensive range of specialized topics, including the fundamental principles of arbitration in Qatar and comparative law; negotiation skills and the amicable resolution of commercial and international disputes; investment laws and the protection of foreign investment; as well as the enforcement of arbitral awards and other alternative dispute resolution processes.

The program is also open to bachelor’s degree holders in law, business administration, commerce, and economics, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of arbitration and dispute resolution. It also provides students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds with the opportunity to develop their knowledge and skills in this field. (QNA)