Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre launches flagship arbitration and mediation event for 2026
The Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre (OCAC) today announced details of the upcoming Muscat Arbitration & Mediation Days 2026 (MAMD) conference, scheduled to take place in December. The event is designed to strengthen Muscat’s presence and engagement with the international arbitration and dispute-resolution community.
In this context, MAMD and OCAC’s involvement support Oman Vision 2040 objectives, in partnership with the Oman Investment Authority, the Supreme Judicial Council and the Oman Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
MAMD will take place from December 7-9, 2026 at the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre in Muscat.
At today’s press conference, held at the Ministry of Justice and Legal Affairs Hall in Muscat, Dr Abdullah bin Nasser Al Mandhari, chief executive officer of the Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre (OCAC), announced MAMD’s programme and vision. The conference will bring together leading arbitrators, legal practitioners, in-house counsel, dispute-resolution institutions and senior decision-makers from Oman, the region and international markets.
OCAC oversees a number of arbitration cases each year, as domestic, regional and international businesses increasingly turn to Oman as a jurisdiction in which to resolve their commercial disputes. These businesses operate mainly in the construction and banking and finance sectors.
The press conference also saw the signing of five memoranda of understanding between OCAC and the Oman Society of Engineers, Decree, the national travel operator Visit Oman, the Oman Convention & Exhibition Centre and the International Training Partner Foundation. The agreements aim to expand the Centre’s partnerships and strengthen cooperation with relevant institutions and organisations.
The OCAC also announced details of Muscat Arbitration Competition 2026, an OCAC initiative organised in partnership with Decree to develop practical advocacy and arbitration skills among the next generation of legal professionals. The announcement included details of the competition’s first training workshop, which will provide practical guidance and support participants’ preparation.
The competition is one of OCAC’s initiatives and is open to law students at colleges across Oman. Taking part in moot court proceedings gives students the opportunity to gain practical experience in commercial arbitration and develop their legal research, written-submission and oral-advocacy skills.
Together, these initiatives reflect OCAC’s commitment to strengthening Oman’s dispute-resolution system, building international partnerships and creating opportunities for knowledge exchange between practitioners and institutions in Oman and the global arbitration community. They also contribute to strengthening Oman’s position internationally as it pursues the objectives of Oman Vision 2040.
Dr Khalid Al Saidi, chairman of the MAMD Committee, said, “Muscat Arbitration & Mediation Days is an initiative organised by the Oman Commercial Arbitration Centre that brings together the dispute-resolution community from Oman, the region and around the world. As commercial relationships become increasingly international and complex, effective dispute resolution is more important than ever. Our ambitions extend beyond organising an annual conference. We aim to establish Muscat as a geographic and commercial hub for the international dispute-resolution community, a meeting point where perspectives and legal traditions converge, new ideas are explored and lasting professional relationships are built.”
Dr Abdullah Al Mandhari, chief executive officer of the OCAC, said, “Muscat Arbitration & Mediation Days will provide an important platform for dialogue, cooperation and knowledge exchange through a comprehensive programme. We are pleased to host our colleagues and friends of the Centre, alongside local, regional and international companies, this December. The conference will also feature three key accompanying events and meetings: the Arab Lawyers Forum; a meeting of judges of the Arab Investment Court of the League of Arab States; and a training programme for judges of the Investment and Commerce Court. These events will strengthen the conference’s role as a regional platform for legal dialogue, knowledge exchange, professional development and international cooperation.”
For more information: visit www.mamd.om. The website also includes details of sponsorship packages, including opportunities to sponsor the conference and its specialist panel discussions.
