His Excellency Mr Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), stated that the opening of the First GCC Law and Arbitration Week embodied the commitment of the GCC Commercial Arbitration Centre (GCCCAC) to keeping pace with regional and international arbitration developments.
This was stated during HE the Secretary General’s patronage and attendance at the opening of the First GCC Law and Arbitration Week, held on Sunday (January 26, 2025), in the Bahraini capital of Manama, with the participation of a large number of international personalities in law and arbitration to support and localise the arbitration industry within the Council’s member states, in addition to a number of experts and law professors worldwide.
At the outset of his speech, His Excellency expressed his sincere gratitude and appreciation to His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, King of the Kingdom of Bahrain, and to Their Majesties and Highnesses, the Leaders of the GCC States, for their supervision and hospitality to the offices and centres affiliated to the GCC General Secretariat on their soil, and for providing all forms of support and facilitation that enable them to perform their responsibilities in the best possible manner and reinforce their role in the blessed journey of the GCC.
HE the Secretary General added that the GCCCAC, established by a decision of the Supreme Council in its 14th session held on December 22, 1993, is a cornerstone in the promotion of economic and investment cooperation among the Cooperation Council member states, and is one of the effective and prominent centres for the settlement and resolution of disputes in a faster and more flexible manner.
Moreover, His Excellency stated that the GCC Law and Arbitration Week is a golden opportunity to enrich information, share experiences and contribute to the deepening of legal knowledge in the field of arbitration, with the beneficial and significant discussions having a profound impact on achieving the objectives intended for it.
“The specific topics on the agenda for this week are important and worthy of discussion and study by participants due to their significance and impact on the conduct of arbitration in the Gulf Cooperation Council member states,” he commented.
At the conclusion of his speech, His Excellency extended his sincere thanks and praise to all the strategic partners, speakers and attendees participating in this event for their efforts and valuable contributions in preparing the topics for discussion in the scientific programme, in order to benefit from the experiences of their countries and their expertise in dealing with the challenges they face in the field of arbitration, which he underlined that it will reinforce the advancement and development of arbitration in the GCC states.
HE the Secretary General also expressed gratitude to the GCCCAC and its employees for their efforts in organising the GCC Law and Arbitration Week and their hard work in all aspects that contribute to the reinforcement and development of arbitration in the Gulf region, wishing that the outcome of this event be crowned with success and achievement, and accomplish the desired objectives and goals in the best possible manner, for the benefit and advantage of the member states.
