Another Positive Step Forward In The Enforcement Of Foreign Arbitral Awards

In the past, Qatar's application of the New York Convention has been somewhat unpredictable. A recent decision of the Qatari Court of Cassation suggests that Qatar is moving towards overcoming the perception that it is an arbitration-unfriendly jurisdiction.

Qatar's status as a signatory to the New York Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards (the "New York Convention") is often cited as an advantage when selecting arbitration as the dispute resolution mechanism for contracts involving a Qatari party. However, enforcement of arbitral awards in Qatar can be inconsistent and some award creditors have found their awards being annulled by the local courts.