Muscat- The Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre (OAC), affiliated with the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry (OCCI), held a press briefing today, Monday, to unveil details of the “Muscat Arbitration & Mediation Days” conference, scheduled for 7–9 December, and introduce the “Muscat Arbitration Competition 2026” and its first training workshop. The competition’s final rounds will take place during Muscat Arbitration & Mediation Days. The briefing was attended by Dr Abdullah bin Nasser Al-Mandhari, CEO of the Centre, and a number of members of the Centre’s Board of Directors, and was held at the headquarters of the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs (MJLA) in Muscat.

Dr Abdullah Al-Mandhari said: “The organisation of Muscat Arbitration & Mediation Days forms part of efforts to strengthen the Sultanate of Oman’s position as a hub for dialogue and the exchange of expertise in arbitration, mediation and alternative dispute resolution (ADR).” He emphasised that the conference provides a platform bringing together leading experts and specialists from around the world, offering a forum for sharing experiences and discussing developments and modern practices in this field. He explained that the conference will see broader participation and greater diversity in its content and programme, enabling public and private institutions to contribute specialised panel discussions alongside the programme delivered by the Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre. He noted that this approach reflects the Centre’s commitment to building effective partnerships with relevant institutions and enriching discussions with diverse perspectives and experiences.

He added that the launch of the conference’s official website (mamd.om) marks an important step towards facilitating access for participants and interested parties to information on the programme, speakers, conference activities and sponsorship packages. He stressed that the Centre is working to provide an integrated framework enabling institutions, professionals, researchers and students to benefit from the event, whether through participation in sessions, accompanying programmes or specialised initiatives.

Al-Mandhari noted that the “Muscat Arbitration Competition 2026” represents an important aspect of the Centre’s vision for developing young legal talent. He said: “Investing in law students and building their capabilities in advocacy, arbitration and legal research is an investment in the future of the justice and dispute resolution system.” He pointed out that the competition gives students an opportunity to address hypothetical arbitration cases before arbitrators, judges and practitioners, linking academic learning with practical application.

He affirmed that holding the competition’s final round as part of Muscat Arbitration & Mediation Days adds an important dimension to the conference by bringing together international professional expertise and young legal talent. He explained that, in this regard, the Centre attaches particular importance to compliance with the rules on integrity and academic originality, as well as the regulations governing the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, to ensure fair competition and preserve the competition’s academic and professional value.

Muscat Arbitration Competition

Abdulrahman Al-Farsi of Decree, the organiser of the “Muscat Arbitration Competition 2026” in partnership with the Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre, gave an introductory presentation on the competition, which the Centre launched in 2026 as an annual commercial arbitration moot competition involving law schools.

Al-Farsi explained that the competition comprises two independent tracks, one in Arabic and the other in English, with up to eight teams participating in each track. Each team consists of three to five students, supervised by a faculty coach, and presents arguments on behalf of both parties to a hypothetical arbitration dispute before arbitral tribunals comprising arbitrators, judges and arbitration practitioners.

He noted that the competition runs throughout the year, beginning with the release of the case during July and August, followed by the submission and assessment of written memoranda in October, and oral hearings in November. These comprise three elimination stages: the general rounds, the semi-finals and the final round. The final round and awards ceremony will take place as part of the Muscat Arbitration & Mediation Days conference in December 2026.

Al-Farsi stressed the importance of participating teams adhering to the rules on integrity and academic originality, and the regulations governing the use of AI tools, as essential pillars for ensuring equal opportunities and promoting professional and academic practices in the competition.

Signing of five MoUs

The press briefing witnessed the signing of five memoranda of understanding (MoUs) between the Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre and a number of entities, reflecting the Centre’s drive to expand its network of strategic partnerships and strengthen institutional cooperation in support of the arbitration and mediation ecosystem in the Sultanate of Oman. The agreements included an MoU with the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre (OCEC), an MoU with the national travel operator Visit Oman, an MoU with the Oman Society of Engineers (OSE), an MoU with Decree, and an MoU with International Education Partner company “Resolve”.

These MoUs aim to strengthen areas of cooperation, facilitate the exchange of expertise and broaden the base of entities supporting the arbitration and mediation sector, reinforcing the role of these practices as effective means of resolving disputes and supporting the business and investment environment in the Sultanate of Oman.