RIDW25 Concludes with Participants from 82 Countries
The second edition of the Riyadh International Disputes Week has wrapped up in the Saudi capital, Riyadh, having attracted more than 5,300 participants from 82 countries who atttended 87 specialized legal events featuring 471 local and international speakers.
Although only recently introduced, RIDW managed to attract a wide range of industry practitioners to its second edition, including lawyers, legal practitioners and counsels, representatives from major international companies, and international dispute resolution organizations. They turned out for an international legal event encompassing dozens of specialized legal events to discuss trends in the commercial dispute resolution industry and forecast future directions.
Organized by the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA), RIDW is one of a number of similar events, which are held in several international capitals that serve as a center and incubator for the dispute resolution industry.
The flagship event of RIDW25 was the SCCA fourth International Conference and Exhibition (SCCA25) which brought together prominent legal figures from various sectors and was attended by 1,350 participants from Saudi Arabia and abroad. SCCA25 included nine panel discussions, keynote speeches, and presentations, featuring 28 speakers who discussed key issues related to furthering the arbitration environment and enhancing integration in international legal practices.
Another notable event that concluded was the sixth edition of the SCCA International Arabic Moot (SIAM6), which is held each year. This year, 924 students representing 154 teams and 121 universities from 24 countries. SIAM provides a comprehensive simulation of international arbitration cases, similar to major international competitions conducted in English. The students showcase their legal skills before a panel of international arbitrators in a setting that promotes the development of a new generation of international commercial arbitrators.
RIDW25 also featured the International Judicial Colloquium on the New York Convention, marking a significant milestone as the first event of its kind within the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries. This landmark gathering brought together an esteemed group of judges from Supreme Courts, Courts of Appeal and Enforcement across the region, alongside numerous local and international experts. The colloquium aimed to clarify the United Nations Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (New York Convention) and foster collaboration between the judiciary and the arbitration industry, ultimately facilitating the enforcement of arbitration awards.
The program was strategically partnered with the International Council for Commercial Arbitration (ICCA) and the General Secretariat of the Gulf Cooperation Council, with support from the Council for International Dispute Resolution of the Kingdom of Bahrain.
At the conclusion of the week, SCCA Board of Directors Chairman Dr. Walid bin Sulaiman Abanumay said he was pleased by the great success of RIDW25. He added that RIDW has become a global platform that attracts prominent figures in the field of law and arbitration, enhancing Saudi Arabia’s position as a trusted destination for resolving commercial and investment disputes.