International maritime conference to be held in Dubai

This one-and-half day conference, which will be held in cooperation with the German Maritime Arbitration Association (GMAA), will
focus on the difficulties which may encounter the enforcement of maritime agreements regionally and internationally and will explore the increased use of mediation and arbitration to resolve maritime conflicts. With the constantly expanding maritime industry in the Middle East, the aims of this forthcoming conference are to examine current developments in the law and practice of maritime mediation and arbitration, the challenges faced by lawyers, arbitrators and all practitioners in the maritime industry and the contribution that international arbitration centres are making to the establishment of competent dispute resolution mechanisms in this sector. This international conference will bring highly esteemed industry experts from all over the world to examine maritime dispute resolution procedures, with an emphasis on the Middle Eastern region.

The conference will be divided into a series of discussion panels covering issues ranging from charter-party arbitration clauses in bills of lading and cargo claims to overcoming hurdles towards a functioning maritime arbitration and mediation in the Middle East. The sessions will end with a mock arbitration role play conducted by experts from the GMAA, which will give delegates a closer insight into the practice of maritime dispute resolution. Other speakers for this event include key industry figures and a distinguished selection of maritime lawyers from the region and abroad. The conference will provide an opportunity to develop a network of experts in the region for arbitration and mediation which will in turn facilitate the development of efficient arbitration and mediation services for the specialised maritime industry in Dubai and the region.

With Dubai's strategic location linking key shipping routes between the East and the West, this conference will attract a multitude of delegates from all four corners of the globe. A leading shipping hub in the Middle East, Dubai's prime location makes it an ideal venue for hosting this high-class event. The conference is heavily supported by a variety of established principal sponsors including Al Tamimi & Company, The Law Firm of Majed M.Garoub (Saudi Arabia) and Habib Al Mulla & Company. Further co-sponsors include Stephenson Harwood (London), Al Suwaidi & Company, Kanaan & Azhari, Maamoun Alkhouli & Associates, and Fichte & Co. Legal Consultancy.