First Arab Union to arbitrate economic disputes holds 1st GA

CAIRO – 26 June 2018: The first general assembly for the first Arab Union of Arbitration for Investment and Economic Disputes, headed by Sameh Ashour, was held Sunday in the presence of Egyptian Parliament Speaker Ali Abdel Aal.

Minister of Justice Hossam Abdel Rahim, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation Sahar Nasr, Secretary-General of the Arab League Ahmed Abul Gheit and Secretary-General of the Council of Arab Economic Unity Mohamed al-Rabea also attended the meeting.

Abdel Aal said that the union, that incorporates legal experts and figures, will represent a legal organization that will be able to solve disputes between Arab investors and protect their rights, according to a statement by the Investment Ministry.

The arbitration introduced by the union offers flexibility and speed in solving disputes between investors of different countries and protects the interest of the investors, subsequently preventing these disputes from leading some investors to limit their activity, Abdel Aal added, according to the statement.



The union that encompasses 14 Arab states will work on solving disputes between Arab or foreign businessmen and investors on legal bases that meet international standards, Nasr said.

During the general assembly, Ashour, head of the Egypt-based union and the Egyptian Lawyers’ Syndicate, said that an Arab court of arbitration will be established in each Arab country with new legal academies that would offer academic degrees. The union aims to provide the Arab world with a new generation of arbitrators, according to the statement.

Rabea praised the establishment of the union saying it is the first step to protect the Arab private sector and Arab investment and industry, the statement added.



The Arab Union of Arbitration for Investment and Economic Disputes was established to solve disputes between investment parties in case at least one of them is Arabic.

The union will encompass two chambers for the Arab court of arbitration for economic and investment disputes. A chamber concerned with the regional cases, and another chamber concerned with the international cases.