How To Enforce A Foreign Arbitral Award In Turkey (2025 Legal Update)

Enforcing a foreign arbitral award in Turkey is not an automatic process. Even if the parties have settled their dispute abroad through arbitration, the award must still be reviewed and approved by Turkish courts before it can be executed within the country. This judicial oversight, grounded in the principle of national sovereignty, ensures compliance with public order, due process, and Turkish procedural law. Without this review, enforcement could result in violations of rights or inconsistencies with domestic legal standards.

For international investors, companies, and individuals, understanding this process is essential. The Turkish legal framework sets out detailed conditions and procedures for enforcement, primarily under the Law on Private International and Procedural Law (Law No. 5718) and the 1958 New York Convention to which Turkey is a party. These instruments outline the substantive and procedural framework determining when a foreign arbitral award can