Dubai Chamber of Commerce & Industry (DCCI) yesterday conducted a press conference to discuss the preparations being made to hold the International Conference on Arbitration and ADR (Alternative Dispute Resolution) in the Construction Industry due to be organized by the Dubai International Arbitration Center (DIAC), in cooperation with the DCCI which hosts DIAC's premises.
The press conference was attended by Dr. Hussam Al Talhuni, Director of DIAC, and Mrs. Michelle Nelson, Senior Associate of Masons Galadari, and a number of media people and local newspapers representatives.
Dr. Al Talhuni stressed the importance of the international conference on arbitration and ADR in the construction industry due to the significant role played by the center in enhancing the legal awareness among businessmen and investors in the UAE and on a regional level. DIAC is organizing this conference in cooperation with DCCI, International Federation of Consulting Engineers (FIDIC), and European International Contractors (EIC).
"DIAC was basically established as one of the outstanding services which DCCI provides to its members, investors and the local business community. Through this conference, DIAC provides the best available resolutions to avoid bringing these disputes, which emerge from the contracts of construction, to complicated stages. The center offers its services in resolving these disputes through some qualified judges quickly and cost-effective which the disputers could not find at courts," said Dr. Al Talhuni.
He pointed out that the conference will be held in a time where the construction industry is emerging as one of the most distinguished economic sectors in the UAE. Statistic figures reveal that the UAE Government plans to spend about US Dollar 20 billion to build an integrated infrastructure that includes offices and residences in the next five years.
Dr. Al Talhuni pointed out that with the UAE's booming construction market is getting more recognized, the conference states its goals in examining the current developments in the law and practice of arbitration and mediation in settling construction disputes. The many challenges faced by lawyers, arbitrators and all practitioners in the building industry and most importantly the contribution that international arbitration centers are making to the establishment of competent dispute resolution mechanisms in this sector.
He said that the construction projects being carried out in Dubai put the emirate on the map, and that urged the countries of the region to do the same. The amazing construction boom in Dubai has helped in attracting many experts in this field which helped in ensuring better accomplishment of businesses, as construction and contracting sectors bring a hot issue for discussion among international institutions as carrying out these contracts may cause some kind of disputes which negatively affect on the costs of projects, and consequently, on the markets stability and the rapid growth of basic enterprises in the country.
The conference will bring together highly esteemed experts in construction industry from all over the world to examine the construction dispute resolution procedures with a high emphasis on the Middle East region.
"This international conference will be held at the big conference hall at DCCI on November 13-14, 2005. The conference coincides with another conference of the DIAC's Board of Trustees which will include a number of very distinguished international personalities in the field of international commercial arbitration and which will be held on November 12, 2005," said Dr. Al Talhuni.
He noted that the conference will be divided into a series of discussion panels covering issues ranging from recent developments in construction contracts to disputology and risk in the Gulf, along with detailed presentations on the most recurring claims in this region.
The agenda of the conference also includes a demonstration which will be conducted by a wide range of experts coming from different corners of the earth. The aim of this presentation is to give delegates a closer insight into how useful and simple it is to use arbitration and other ADR methods to resolve construction disputes. In addition to providing a forum to discuss topical construction subjects and developments in the Middle East, the conference will provide an opportunity to develop a network of experts in the region for arbitration and mediation.
"The alternative and effective methods of dispute resolution became a basic means to create a safe work environment for investors in the world trade markets. DIAC's selection to arrange this conference in Dubai reflects the economic importance of the region, as this conference would provide an opportunity for the participants to consider and discover the mechanisms of dispute resolution and its role in supporting the investment environment," said Dr. Al Talhuni.
He said that DIAC succeeded in resolving more than 18 disputes in 2003 when the center was first established. DIAC succeeded also in resolving over 32 commercial disputes in 2004, 90 % of which involving construction and contracting companies. The center has resolved also half of a total of 38 disputes which it received during this year.
"Major reasons behind the commercial disputes which could emerge between landlords or developers and contractors or between the main contractors and sub contractors include sudden increase of prices of building materials, delay in carrying out the projects, changes in the project's design, changes of the projects' foundation grounds, and an increase in the labors' wages," he added.
- Ends -
© Press Release 2005
