Jurisdiction(s):
United Kingdom

Key definition

Arbitration agreement definition

What does Arbitration agreement mean? An arbitration agreement is the parties’ agreement to refer present or future disputes to arbitration instead of litigating in court. It is usually an arbitration clause in the main contract or a separate submission agreement, and typically sets the seat of arbitration, the appointing mechanism for the tribunal, the number of arbitrators and any institutional rules. It does not itself appoint the arbitrator, and the arbitrator is not a party to the arbitration agreement. The concept is defined in legislation: section 6 of the Arbitration Act 1996 (England, Wales and Northern Ireland), section 4 of the Arbitration...

Arbitration with United Arab Emirates state entities: capacity approvals, Dubai seat restrictions, enforcement immunity and DIFC issues

Published by a LexisNexis Arbitration expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note considers the role of state immunity in relation to arbitration proceedings in the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

This note reviews how state immunity interacts with arbitration in the UAE. For a broad primer on state immunity and arbitration, see Practice Note: State immunity and arbitration—general considerations. For further Practice Notes addressing state immunity across multiple jurisdictions around the world (including England and Wales), see: State immunity and arbitration—overview.

On 3 May 2018, the UAE promulgated Federal Law No. 6 of 2018 on Arbitration (the ‘UAE Federal Arbitration Law’). Taking effect on 16 June 2018, it revoked Articles 203–218 of the UAE Civil Procedures Law (Federal Law No. 11 of 1992), which had previously regulated arbitrations seated in the UAE. The law applies to all ongoing UAE-seated arbitrations (excluding arbitrations seated in the DIFC and the Abu Dhabi Global Market (ADGM), which are exempt-free zones), to new arbitrations seated in the UAE unless the parties choose a different arbitration law, and to international commercial arbitrations where the parties have agreed that the UAE Federal Arbitration Law will govern, including those arising out of arbitration agreements concluded before the Entry into force of...

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Ranna Musa

Stephenson Harwood

Ranna is a bilingual litigation and arbitration specialist in the Middle East dispute resolution and international arbitration team. Ranna has extensive knowledge of GCC laws and regulations, particularly in the UAE. She regularly acts for HNW individuals, regional and international MNCs as well as governmental and quasi-governmental entities before the various UAE local courts. In addition to her extensive experience before local courts, Ranna handles complex cross-border disputes and DIAC arbitrations for clients across a broad range of sectors, including, but not limited to, commercial, shareholders' disputes, commercial agencies, regulatory, constructions, banking, civil, civil fraud and criminal disputes....

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

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