Recognition And Enforcement Of Foreign Arbitral Awards In Türkiye 2026

Introduction

An international arbitration does not necessarily end when the tribunal issues its award. Where the losing party does not pay voluntarily, the successful party must decide how to turn the award into recovery. That assessment should begin with the debtor's assets, the legal status of the award and the requirements of the jurisdiction in which enforcement will be sought.

For a foreign company holding an award against a Turkish counterparty, three questions should be addressed separately: whether the award can be recognised in Türkiye, whether it can be declared enforceable, and whether there are assets against which execution will produce a meaningful recovery.

The quality of the arbitral award matters. So does the quality of the enforcement preparation. A persuasive account of why the tribunal reached the right result will not necessarily answer an objection concerning service, the arbitration agreement or the award's binding effect. Enforcement counsel should therefore