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Find out moreThe regional real estate, construction and hospitality sectors have been turned upside down over the last two years, with Covid-19 bringing these sectors to a halt. The impact of the pandemic remains, however, the resurrection of these vital sectors across the region is a welcome relief because they support the development of modern cities, which in turn have attracted commerce and tourism to the Middle East and North Africa.
This latest edition of Law Update, provides vital insights, updates and commentary on the latest trends taking shape across the real estate, construction, hotels and leisure sectors. The articles within this edition cover a broad range of topics, from what’s next for real estate in Dubai, to commentary on Saudi real estate, a market that is set to become the main bedrock of the region for years ahead. You will find articles on reforming real estate laws in Qatar, foreign investment and ownership in Oman, and mitigating risks on hotel construction projects and the lessons learnt from Covid.
Read the full reportBy now it is clear that there are virtually no jurisdictions that are unaffected by COVID-19 or the international measures that have been put in place to try and contain and control it.
One of the areas of concern for our clients relates to their ongoing arbitrations. For arbitrations that were commenced before the current situation took hold, parties and tribunals find themselves in relatively new waters. How does one best run an arbitration that was started and planned before these new and extraordinary conditions took hold? Is it, and can it be, business as usual?
For most arbitrations, the short answer to this last question is “no”. The way in which virtually everyone does business has changed and this will necessarily impact on arbitrations.
The good news, however, is that arbitration was, in a way, designed for this sort of a situation. It is, or should be, flexible and responsive to party needs. Unlike, for example, court litigation, parties have easy access to their tribunals and are generally empowered to agree whatever procedures they consider appropriate to resolve their dispute.
But what does this mean in practice? Some of the key points you may want to consider in respect of your arbitrations that are already in progress, include:
How the current situation impacts on your arbitrations will very much depend on the specifics of your case. What is clear though is that it is likely that any arbitration that is currently in progress will be impacted in some way. It is for the parties and their tribunals to work together to sensibly try and identify and resolve those issues in an efficient and fair way that reflects the extraordinary situation we all find ourselves in.
Al Tamimi & Company offers one of the region’s foremost international arbitration practices. We have 17 offices across 9 countries in the region. This unrivalled footprint gives you access to expert arbitration lawyers throughout the Middle East & North Africa.
Thomas Snider
Partner, Head of Arbitration
t.snider@tamimi.com
Jane Rahman
Senior Counsel, Arbitration
j.rahman@tamimi.com
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