Become an arbitrateAD Arbitrator
arbitrateAD maintains a publicly available List of Arbitrators to assist parties in identifying qualified professionals for the resolution of their disputes. The Centre also maintains an internal database of Next Generation Arbitrators which is not externally published.
Applicants are to note that, in keeping with article 13(14) of the arbitrateAD Rules, for the purposes of appointing arbitrators, the Court of Arbitration may but is not required to appoint such arbitrator(s) from the List of Arbitrators. Applicants are also to note that admittance to the Centre’s List or Database of arbitrators does not guarantee arbitral appointments.
Criteria
An arbitrator who wishes to be considered for inclusion on the arbitrateAD List of Arbitrators must:
1. Demonstrate considerable experience as an arbitrator, with at least five arbitral appointments (with at least 2 of these appointments having been as sole arbitrator and/or tribunal president) and a minimum of fifteen years of experience as counsel, expert, arbitrator or other relevant experience. Applicants will be requested to list their arbitral appointments in their application.
And
2. Submit with their application sanitized versions of two arbitral awards or substantive decisions which they have drafted. To the extent the applicant identifies as having the ability to conduct proceedings in Arabic, at least one of the sanitized arbitral awards (or orders) submitted to arbitrateAD shall be in Arabic.
And
3. Provide two written references from individuals with experience working as an arbitrator. Referees should describe in their letter of reference their experience with the applicant that enables them to speak to the quality of the applicant’s arbitrator work or experience.
Criteria
The Centre also maintains an internal database of Next Generation Arbitrators which is not externally published. Arbitrators applying to be considered for inclusion on the arbitrateAD internal Database of Next Generation Arbitrators will be assessed on their overall arbitration experience, and must:
1. Demonstrate substantial experience in arbitration of at least eight years (whether as arbitrator, counsel, technical expert, or otherwise).
2. Have had a minimum of two arbitral appointments, of which at least one was as sole arbitrator or tribunal president.
And
3. Submit, with their application, a sanitized version of one arbitral award or substantive decision which they have drafted, or, if unavailable, to be substituted by two other arbitration-related documents or decisions drafted by the applicant. To the extent the applicant identifies as having an ability to conduct proceedings in Arabic, at least one of the above-referenced documents submitted to arbitrateAD shall be in Arabic.
4. If the applicant does not have any prior appointments, the applicant must demonstrate completion of specialized arbitration training or certification from a recognized institution of a level equivalent to Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators.
5. Provide two written references from individuals with experience working as an arbitrator. Referees should describe in their letter of reference their experience with the applicant that enables them to speak to the quality of the applicant’s arbitration work or experience.
arbitrateAD reserves the right, in its absolute discretion, to:
1. Accept or reject applications for inclusion in the Centre’s List of Arbitrators or internal database of Next Generation Arbitrators at any time. Applicants who do not meet the requisite criteria will be rejected but are welcome to reapply as/when they meet the requisite criteria and/or after having obtained additional experience. Court decisions in relation to applications to the Centre’s List of Arbitrators, and the Centre’s internal database of Next Generation Arbitrators, are not reasoned and are not subject to appeal.
2. Remove any person from the Centre’s List of Arbitrators or internal database of Next Generation Arbitrators at any time, for any reason.
3. Reassign an applicant to a different panel or list, and will inform the applicant when doing so.
4. Automatically renew or refuse to renew an arbitrator’s term in either of the Centre’s List of Arbitrators or internal database of Next Generation Arbitrators at any time.
Applicants who wish to apply to the Centre’s List or Database of Arbitrators are required to complete the requisite application form available on docketAD here:
Access the application form here
The Centre accepts applications during two annual windows, each followed by a review period and a defined timeline for issuing decisions:
1. Applications submitted by 1 March will receive a decision by June of the same year.
2. Applications submitted by 1 September will receive a decision by December of the same year.
Applicants whose applications is deemed incomplete may be asked to resubmit their application at the next upcoming cycle of applications.
Inclusion in the Centre’s List of Arbitrators or internal database of Next Generation Arbitrators shall be for a fixed term of three years which may be pro-rated subject to the date of admission.
Applicants must submit proof of payment of the AED 950 (USD 258) application fee.
The application fee is non-refundable irrespective of outcome.
In making the payment, please ensure to add “LOA” and your name in the payment reference. The Centre’s bank account details are as below.
| Beneficiary Name: | ABU DHABI INT’L ARBITRATION CENTRE |
| Bank Name: | FIRST ABU DHABI BANK |
| Branch: | MAIN BRANCH |
| ACCT Number: | 4031203190683004 |
| IBAN: | AE440354031203190683004 |
| SWIFT CODE: | NBADAEAA |
For any queries, you may reach out to the Registrar at Maria.Mazzawi@arbitrateAD.ae
The profiles of the arbitrators listed and published on the Centre’s List of Arbitrators will include the following information:
- Years of Experience
- Area of Expertise
- Linguistic Abilities
- Jurisdiction(s) of Admission
- Country of Residence
- Nationality
The data listed under each category below will be taken directly from and as provided in the docketAD application form submitted by the applicant.
Please ensure the correctness of all information submitted as part of your application.