Doha: Secretary-General of the Qatar International Centre for Conciliation and Arbitration (QICCA) of Qatar Chamber, Ibrahim Shahbik, stated that the Centre made significant achievements last year. He emphasized its vital role in promoting the arbitration within the Qatari legal and business community since its establishment in 2006. In statement, Ibrahim Shahbik said that the commercial arbitration is one of the most effective Alternative Dispute Resolution. He noted that it is based on speedy, specialized, and efficient means in settling disputes between the parties. Elaborating on QICCA's accomplishments in 2023, Shahbik noted that the value of cases received by the Centre last year amounted to approximately QR 3 billion, and that the most cases registered by the centre related to construction and contracting contracts. He said that an arbitral awards for nearly 35 percent of the total number of cases were rendered last year, while nearly 40 percent of those cases are not yet finalized. He pointed out that Qatari arbitrators presented more than 50 percent of those appointed to hear arbitration proceedings in 2023. Additionally, 70 percent of the arbitral proceedings conducted under QICCA rules for 2023 were in English, in accordance with the parties' agreement. He further said that arbitration has contributed to easing the burden on national courts, as it is characterized by flexibility in procedures and specialization in arbitrators chosen by the parties, to resolve the disputes that are related to a specific commercial environment that has special rules and foundations, as is the case in the trade of construction and technology. Regarding QICCA's objectives, Shahbik said that it aims to promote alternative means of resolving civil and commercial disputes, spread its culture, improve its practices, and develop the Centre's relationship with regional and international centres. HE pointed out that the Centre is constantly holding training courses with the aim of preparing arbitrators through specialized courses in the field of arbitration in accordance with international standards. The Centre also holds seminars and conferences specialized in arbitration and mediation and participates in international conferences in the field of international commercial arbitration. the Centre is constantly holding training courses with the aim of preparing arbitrators through specialized courses in the field of arbitration in accordance with international standards, adding that the Centre prepared 435 arbitrators, including 175 Qataris. Source: Qatar News Agency