IBC, the Carthage International Academy of Arbitration and Mediation and Rosaria Business Services organised the Gulf-African Forum on Investment and Dispute Resolution in the Age of AI, under the patronage of Katara Cultural Village Foundation, on 17 and 18 August 2025, chaired by Eng Mohsen Al-Ajji.
The programme ran across five sessions over two days: challenges facing arbitrators in Arab countries, challenges in enforcing arbitral awards, examination of experts in construction disputes, arbitration and dispute resolution in oil contracts, and AI opportunities and risks in international arbitration, followed by closing and recognition of participants.
Eng Mohsen Al-Ajji chaired the conference; Dr Inès Ben Naceur, president of the Carthage International Academy of Arbitration and Mediation, served as vice chair; Dr Khamis Al-Ajmi served as honorary president; Dr Abdul Karim Al-Asfour, IBC vice chairman, and Kamal Ahmed Henchiri, president of Rosaria Business Services, served on the Higher Committee.
Speakers included Dr Ibrahim Hassan Al-Mulla, founder and president of the Emirates International Center for Law in Dubai; Ambassador Dr Nahed Shaker, UN civil-society advisor; Dr Abdul Salam Zaqoud, IBC’s legal advisor; Counsellor Emad Al-Kouni Al-Suwaidi of the International Court of London, with Dr Hasnaa Taghboula, Dr Ayman Mansour Mejbar and Wefak Ben Aissa from the same court; Asmaa Farhat and Fatima Zohra Bouguessi from Morocco; Abdel Azim Ali Mohamed of Libya’s Ministry of Economy and Trade bureau; Dr Mervat Ibrahim, CEO of Future Ready Consultancy; Sheikha Ghanim Mohamed Al-Kubaisi of the Arab European Center for Human Rights; and Dr Fawzia Ahmed Al-Salihin Al-Houni, founder and president of Nisaa Houn. Dr Ghalia bint Issa Al-Zubaidi of Oman served as the conference’s official spokesperson.
The conference included B2B sessions, the signing of partnership agreements and an accompanying tourism programme, and presented a certificate of appreciation to Dr Thamer Al Qadi, chair of the Katara Tech forum.
Topic and programme
- Arbitrator integrity and independence
- Enforcement of arbitral awards
- Experts in construction disputes
- Oil and energy contracts
- Bias in AI algorithms
- 17/08 · 09:30Registration
- 17/08 · 10:00Opening remarks
- 17/08 · 10:30Challenges facing arbitrators in Arab countries
- 17/08 · 11:30Challenges in enforcing arbitral awards
- 18/08 · 10:00Examination of experts in construction disputes
- 18/08 · 11:30Arbitration and dispute resolution in oil contracts
- 18/08 · 13:00AI opportunities and risks in international arbitration
- 18/08 · 14:00Closing and recognition of participants
Participants and their capacities
Speakers
- Dr. Eng. Mohsen bin Ali Al-AjjiSummit Secretary-General · International Business Council
- Dr Inès Ben NaceurVice chair; president, Carthage International Academy of Arbitration and Mediation · AIMAC, Carthage
- Khamis bin Obaid Al-AjmiHonorary President, Arab Federation of Private Schools · Arab Federation of Private Schools
- Dr. Ambassador Abdul-Karim Al-AsfoorChair of the Higher Authority; IBC vice chairman · International Business Council
- Kamal Ahmed HenchiriHigher Committee member; president, Rosaria Business Services · Rosaria Business Services
- Dr Ibrahim Hassan Al-MullaFounder and president, Emirates International Center for Law, Dubai · Emirates International Center for Law
- Ambassador Dr Nahed ShakerCivil-society advisor · United Nations
- Dr Abdul Salam ZaqoudProfessor of International Relations; IBC legal advisor · International Business Council
- Counsellor Emad Al-Kouni Al-SuwaidiInternational dispute-resolution judge · International Court of London
- Dr Hasnaa TaghboulaDispute-resolution judge · International Court of London
- Dr Ayman Mansour MejbarInternational judge · International Court of London
- Wefak Ben AissaInternational judge · International Court of London
- Asmaa FarhatLawyer and accredited international arbitrator
- Fatima Zohra BouguessiLawyer and civil-society activist
- Abdel Azim Ali MohamedDirector, IT Office, Ministry of Economy and Trade bureau
- Dr Mervat Ibrahim MohammedCEO, Future Ready Consultancy · Future Ready Consultancy
- Sheikha Ghanim Mohamed Al-KubaisiOfficial representative, Arab European Center for Human Rights · Arab European Center for Human Rights
- Dr Fawzia Ahmed Al-Salihin Al-HouniMedia figure and entrepreneur; founder and president of Nisaa Houn · Nisaa Houn
- Dr Ghalia bint Issa Al-ZubaidiPoet and media figure; official conference spokesperson
- Thamer Al QadiDirector of Information Systems, Katara; forum chair · Katara
Participating organisations
- AIMAC, International Academy of Arbitration and Mediation, CarthageCo-organiser
- Rosaria Business ServicesCo-organiser
- Katara Cultural Village FoundationSponsor
Quotations
«AI and commercial arbitration: investment horizons in the digital age.»
Conference motto
Materials and photographs
Key documented outcomes
- Recognition of participants at closing
- Cooperation agreements signed between arbitrators and law firms
Highlights
- A specialist legal programme over two days
- Five sessions connecting legal practice and technological change
- Networking and experience exchange among arbitration professionals