Law & Arbitration · Arbitration
International Commercial Arbitration
Neutral forums for international contracts, with recognition planned under the New York Convention.
Handle structures and conducts international commercial arbitration for businesses, investors and family enterprises trading in and through the UAE — choosing between institutional and ad hoc routes, conducting the proceedings and converting awards into recognised, enforceable outcomes.
When this is needed
International commercial arbitration in the UAE: where the mandate begins.
- An international supply, distribution or services contract has failed between parties from different countries.
- A cross-border joint venture or financing arrangement must decide between court litigation and arbitration.
- A contract provides for ad hoc arbitration under UNCITRAL Rules, and the appointing mechanism must be activated.
- An international award has been issued, and recognition is needed in the UAE or abroad.
Matters Handle leads
International commercial arbitration mandates.
Four mandate types. One line from contract to recognised award.
Institutional Proceedings
DIAC, ICC, LCIA and other rules conducted in full.
Ad Hoc & UNCITRAL Arbitration
Appointment and procedure built without an institution.
Multi-Party Contract Chains
Supply chains and consortia resolved coherently.
Recognition & Asset Recovery
Awards recognised and executed under the Convention.
The scope
International Commercial Arbitration — scope, made explicit.
A focused, premium mandate — with neutrality and recognition of the award at the center.
Arbitration or Litigation
Forum chosen on neutrality and enforceability.
Institution & Rules Choice
Rules matched to complexity, cost and relief needs.
Language & Procedure
Language, law and procedural framework settled early.
Quantum & Experts
Damages evidence built for scrutiny and settlement.
Board Reporting
Decision gates aligned with governance cycles.
The mandate
A neutral forum. A portable award.
International commercial arbitration exists so that parties from different legal systems can resolve disputes before a neutral tribunal, in an agreed language, with an award that travels. The UAE’s accession to the New York Convention in 2006 and the Federal Arbitration Law of 2018 give UAE-seated and foreign awards a recognised path.
Handle conducts international arbitrations as structured projects with defined phases, budgets and decision gates — so the client always knows the cost of the next step and the recovery it is expected to protect.
What the mandate delivers
- Forum selection between courts and arbitration
- Institutional and ad hoc proceedings
- Pleadings, witnesses and experts
- Quantum analysis
- Interim and emergency relief
- Recognition and execution of awards
How the work runs
Four disciplines. One international arbitration.
Every mandate is run with forum judgement, procedural control, quantum discipline and recognition planning.
01
Forum Judgement
Courts, institutions or ad hoc chosen on evidence.
02
Procedural Control
Phases, budgets and decision gates defined.
03
Quantum Discipline
Damages modelled to survive tribunal scrutiny.
04
Recognition Planned
Enforcement venues chosen before the award.
The Handle model
Practice-led. Never fragmented.
The matter may begin here — it stays connected to strategy, capital and law.
Strategy & Operations
The work stays connected to market position, operating model, performance and execution governance.
M&A & Capital
The work stays aware of capital readiness, investor review, transaction logic and deployment discipline where relevant.
Legal & Regulatory
The work stays protected through structure, rights, governance, enforceability and regulatory or dispute readiness.
Why Handle
Neutral forums, run with institutional discipline.
International commercial arbitration delivers value when its neutrality and portability are preserved from start to finish — Handle runs each case with the recognition stage already in view.
- Institutional and ad hoc experience
- UAE seat knowledge across onshore, DIFC and ADGM
- New York Convention recognition planning
- Quantum and expert coordination
- Phased budgets and decision gates
- Reporting aligned with board and family councils
Good litigation is disciplined project management. Clear filings, clean evidence, and a hearing plan that your board understands. That is how outcomes travel from courtroom to cash.
Hamda Al FalasiPartner, Law & Arbitration
Engagement paths
Where this work typically begins.
Growth & Expansion
When the asset must scale capacity, geography, capital, partnerships or market share.
Turnaround
When the asset must reset structure, capital, law, governance and operations under pressure.
Coverage
Arbitration seated in the UAE — and enforced where assets sit.
Handle conducts international commercial arbitrations from Dubai under DIAC, ICC, LCIA, SIAC and UNCITRAL rules for corporates, family enterprises and private capital, with recognition pursued in the UAE directly and abroad through local counsel.
Forums · Courts & arbitration
Arbitration · Related mandates
Commercial ArbitrationContract Dispute Arbitration LawyerArbitration & Reconciliation Lawyers In DubaiArbitration Agreement Drafting ServicesCommercial Arbitration AttorneyICC Arbitration Specialist LawyerEmployment Arbitration LawyerCross-Border Arbitration LawyerArbitration ConciliationArbitration AgreementsInvestment ArbitrationEnforcement Of International Arbitration AwardsCorporate Arbitration
Questions, answered
International Commercial Arbitration — questions, answered.
How Handle approaches international commercial arbitration.
What is international commercial arbitration?
A private, binding process in which a neutral tribunal decides a commercial dispute between parties from different countries, producing an award that can be enforced internationally.
Why choose arbitration over courts for an international contract?
Neutrality, confidentiality, choice of arbitrators and the recognition of awards in New York Convention states are the usual reasons.
Is the UAE party to the New York Convention?
Yes. The UAE acceded in 2006, providing a framework for recognising foreign awards in the UAE and UAE awards abroad.
Which law governs arbitration seated onshore in the UAE?
The Federal Arbitration Law of 2018 governs onshore seats, while the DIFC and ADGM have their own arbitration laws and courts.
What is the difference between institutional and ad hoc arbitration?
Institutional arbitration is administered by a body such as DIAC or the ICC; ad hoc arbitration is run by the parties and tribunal, often under UNCITRAL Rules.
In what language is the arbitration conducted?
In the language the parties agree, or that the tribunal decides if they have not agreed.
Are international arbitrations confidential?
Many rules and laws provide for confidentiality, but its extent varies and is often reinforced by agreement or procedural order.
Can consumers or employees be bound by international commercial arbitration?
Mandatory protections can limit arbitration in those relationships; Handle’s practice focuses on business-to-business disputes.
How long does an international commercial arbitration take?
Duration depends on complexity, rules and party conduct; Handle sets a phased plan at the outset and reports against it.
Insights
Perspectives from live mandates.
Partner-led analysis on law, capital and strategy, shaped by boardroom realities across the UAE and the GCC.
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Work with Handle
Begin with International Commercial Arbitration — kept connected to the whole Handle model.
When an international contract dispute needs a neutral forum.
Request an initial review
When an international contract is in dispute.
Set out the matter. A partner reviews it and responds with a defined route, strategy and accountable lead.
- Partner-level review of every request
- Strict confidentiality and privilege from first contact
- One accountable partner from review to execution
