JEDDAH: A three-day training program in international arbitration began at the Radisson SAS Hotel here on Saturday.
International experts and legal advisers are running the program entitled “How to Become an International Arbitrator.” Over 1,000 lawyers, legal counsels, judges, legal experts, engineers, accountants, members of chambers of commerce and university students will be introduced to the basic skills of international arbitration.
Dr. Fahd bin Mishabib Al-Shamrani, chairman of the Scientific Program Committee and member of the International Arbitration Center in the Gulf Cooperation Council, said the existence of qualified international arbitrators would ease the pressure on the Kingdom’s courts.
He added that the program’s main goal is to qualify participants into becoming arbitrators and to teach them skills of arbitration.
When asked what the benefit is in having arbitrators if all cases ultimately end up in courts, Al-Shamrani said that arbitrators would only deal with cases concerning civil and commercial issues and not criminal cases. He added that judges are often busy with huge numbers of court cases and that the presence of arbitrators will ease pressure.
