Date: 23rd – 24th of November 2004 

Organisers:

• Dubai International Arbitration Centre
• Chartered Institute of Arbitrators
• The ICC International Court of Arbitration

Delegates: 
The conference attracted an average of over 250 delegates from all around the world. International delegates from a wide range of backgrounds and professions, many with existing or potential commercial interests in the region were present at this major international event. There were a high number of attendances from professional advisors, dispute resolution practitioners, academics and policy makers.

SPONSORS: 
Principal Sponsors

• Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer
• Vinson & Elkins

Sponsors

• Al Tamimi & Company
• American Bar Association Section of International Law and Practice
• Clerks Room
• Debevoise & Plimpton LLP Key & Dixon in association with Taylor Wessing
• Masons Galadari
• International Bar Association
• International Law Office

Topics & speakers: 
- Dispute resolution techniques involving international trade in the Middle East

• litigation
• arbitration
• mediation

Chair: 
Professor Ahmed S El-Kosheri, Vice-Chairman of the ICC International Court of Arbitration; Kosheri, Rashed & Riad, Cairo, Egypt

Speakers: 

• Dr Hamza Haddad, Law and Arbitration Centre, Amman, Jordan
• Dr Hassan Ali Radhi, Hassan Radhi & Associates, Bahrain
• John E Price, J E Price Associates, Cheshire, England
• Robert Knutson, Corbett & Co, London, England
• Dr Jacques Werner, Werner & Associés, Geneva, Switzerland

• Ethics and risk 
  Chair: 
  Jan Paulsson, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, Paris, France  
  
  Speakers:  
  A Timothy Martin, Vice-President, Nexen Inc., Calgary, Canada; 
  Professor Dr Ibrahim Ahmed Ibrahim, Head of Private International Law, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 
  Professor Hans Van Houtte, Chair of Conflict Laws, International Business Law and Arbitration, Leuven, Belgium

• New procedures in dispute management 
  Chair: 
  Arthur Marriott QC, Debevoise & Plimpton, London, England 
  
  Speaker: 
  Mark S W Hoyle, Tanfield Chambers, London, England

• Dispute resolution in the oil and gas industry – current issues 
  Chair: 
  Dr Fathi Kemicha, Member of the Bars of Paris and Tunis; Member of the International Law Commission (United Nations) 
  
  Speakers: 
  James L Loftis, Vinson & Elkins, Houston, USA 
  Ute A Joas Quinn, Shell International BV, Rijswijk, Netherlands 
  Simon Stebbings, Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer, London, England

• Dispute resolution in the construction industry –current issues 
  Chair: 
  Dr Nael G Bunni, Bunni & Associates, Dublin, Ireland 
  
  Speakers: 
  Chris Dering, Masons, London, England 
  Professor Phillip Capper, Lovells, London, England 
  Patrick Lane SC, Advocate, Sandton, South Africa and at Atkin Chambers, London, England

• Dispute resolution in the financial services industry (including Islamic banking codes) – current issues 
  Chair: 
  Dr Habib Al Mulla, Managing Partner, Habib Al Mulla Advocates, Dubai, UAE 
  
  Speaker: 
  Borham Atallah, Atallah Law Office, Cairo, Egypt

• Dispute resolution in the media industry – current issues 
  Chair: 
  Jonathan Caplan QC, 5 Paper Buildings, London, England 
  
  Speakers: 
  Essam Al Tamimi, Al Tamimi & Company, Dubai, UAE 
  Marcus Rutherford, Reed Smith, London, England

Social events: 
On the first night of the conference the delegates were treated to a gala dinner at the gardens of the Grand Hyatt. It was an opportunity for delegates and non-delegates to mingle and make contacts. The second social event, which took place on the following night was a desert dinner, which was well-attended by delegates and their wives. On their second night, delegates indulged in a barbeque dinner under the stars with the added treat of a live Arabic band and a camel ride!

General feedback: 
The general consensus was good with room for improvement!