The Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA) has concluded its work representing the ADR industry in Saudi Arabia at the 76th session of UNCITRAL Working Group II: Dispute Settlement. The working group convened over the course of five days, 10–14 October, at the United Nations offices in Vienna. The SCCA participated in the session within the framework of its role in representing Saudi Arabia ADR industry both locally and internationally. In addition to its strategic role in enhancing the ADR environments nationally and regionally by the active participation in the UNCITRAL Working Group II: Dispute Settlement meetings and topics, study and give opinions on the issues discussed by these working groups, and work in cooperation with the related governmental bodies to develop and prepare the Saudi commercial legal environment in accordance with international best practices. At the 76th session of Working Group II, the CEO of the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration led the delegation, which also included representatives of the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Monsha'at. The Saudi delegation, together with the representatives of the 64 member states of UNCITRAL and representatives of a number of relevant international organizations, discussed a guidance text on early refusal and preliminary determination in arbitral proceedings. The working group also considered technology-related dispute resolution and adjudication, which aim to provide a legal framework to resolve disputes in a Short time frame involving a third party with the relevant technical expertise, not necessarily resulting in final awards but the outcome still being enforceable across borders. Preparatory work on the main topics in the UNCITRAL program of work is usually assigned to the working groups, which hold two sessions per year and report on their work to UNCITRAL. The working groups currently include all the UNCITRAL member states. Saudi Arabia is at the forefront of countries supporting the growth of the legislative system of international trade laws and facilitating the exercise of this system. It was the fourth country in the world to ratify the Singapore Mediation Convention. This supportive stance resulted in Saudi Arabia attaining full UNCITRAL membership from 2022 to 2028. SCCA's participation at UNCITRAL emphasizes its leading role in advancing the growth of the ADR industry and strengthening its international legislative structure, especially as the SCCA is among a small number of international arbitration centers with rules based on the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules.
