The future of arbitration across India and MENA

In this Arbitalis.AI podcast discussion, Alim Khamis explores the future of arbitration across India and MENA, construction disputes, dispute avoidance and the growing role of AI.

Arbitration continues to evolve across the Middle East and internationally, shaped by increasingly complex cross-border projects, changing approaches to dispute management and the growing use of technology. Against this backdrop, Alim Khamis recently joined a podcast conversation with arbitalis.AI during India ADR Week exploring where arbitration is heading and what may need to change along the way.

One of the key areas discussed is the developing India–MENA arbitration corridor and how this relationship could evolve over the coming years as businesses and projects continue to operate across jurisdictions. The conversation also looks at construction and infrastructure disputes, an area where the causes of disagreement can be complex and the commercial consequences significant. Gateley Middle East’s own disputes work focuses on early risk identification, claims management and commercially aligned strategies, particularly across major infrastructure, real estate and energy projects. A central question is whether businesses are becoming better at identifying and managing potential disputes before they develop into formal proceedings. This reflects a broader move towards more structured dispute resolution mechanisms, with parties increasingly considering steps such as negotiation, expert determination, dispute boards, mediation and adjudication before arbitration is pursued. 

Technology is another important part of the discussion. Alim considers how AI could support counsel and arbitrators, while exploring where human judgement must remain central. The conversation looks ahead to what a technology-enabled arbitration practice could ultimately look like.