Lusail University announced on Tuesday, October 6, the launch of the Master's Program in Arbitration Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution in collaboration with the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration. The program aims to prepare specialized professionals with the legal knowledge and professional skills required to handle national and international commercial and economic disputes, while keeping pace with developments in arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
The launch of the program comes in response to Qatar's growing economic, investment, and commercial development and the increasing need for specialists capable of handling complex disputes efficiently and professionally and providing flexible, swift, and effective legal solutions that strengthen the legal environment supporting investment and business.
The program also aligns with the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030, which seeks to build a diversified and sustainable knowledge-based economy, develop human capital, and enhance national and professional competencies capable of meeting labor market needs. It contributes to supporting an attractive environment for national and foreign investment by preparing specialists in the settlement of commercial and investment disputes in accordance with practices and standards applied at both national and international levels.
On this occasion, Dr. Ali Al-Kubaisi, Dean of the College of Law at Lusail University, expressed his pleasure at the launch of the program, saying: “The Master's Program in Arbitration Law and Alternative Dispute Resolution represents an extension of the programs offered by the College of Law at Lusail University at the bachelor's level. It is particularly important in light of the continued growth of commercial and investment relations, the increasing number of disputes of an international nature, and the need for specialized legal professionals with academic knowledge and practical skills in arbitration, mediation, negotiation, and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.”
In designing this program, the University has sought to achieve integration between academic foundations and practical application. It is not limited to providing theoretical knowledge, but aims to develop specialized capabilities to analyze disputes, manage arbitration proceedings, conduct negotiations and mediation, draft agreements and legal memoranda, and handle national and international disputes in accordance with best practices and professional standards, in partnership with the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration.
The program is offered in Arabic and consists of 36 credit hours distributed over four semesters. It covers a comprehensive range of specialized topics, including the fundamental principles of arbitration in the State of Qatar and comparative law, negotiation skills and amicable settlement of commercial and international disputes, investment law and protection of foreign investment, as well as enforcement of arbitral awards and other alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
It is worth noting that the program is open to holders of bachelor's degrees in law, business administration, commerce, and economics, reflecting the multidisciplinary nature of arbitration and dispute resolution. It enables students from diverse academic and professional backgrounds to develop their knowledge and skills in this field. Graduates are expected to be qualified to work across a wide range of legal, judicial, and commercial fields, including as lawyers, arbitrators, mediators, experts, and legal consultants, as well as in government entities, private-sector institutions, judicial bodies, arbitration centers, and organizations concerned with trade and investment.
In this regard, His Excellency Sheikh Dr. Thani bin Ali Al Thani, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration at Qatar Chamber, stated: “The launch of this program through a partnership between Lusail University and the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration represents a significant step toward preparing specialized legal professionals in arbitration and alternative dispute resolution. This is consistent with the rapid growth of commercial and investment disputes and the State's efforts to strengthen an attractive legal environment for investment. The Center will support the program with its practical expertise and connect students with professional practice in accordance with the best international standards, thereby serving the labor market and contributing to the objectives of Qatar National Vision 2030.”
The program will be taught by a distinguished group of faculty members specializing in private law and arbitration at Lusail University and the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration, alongside specialized professional expertise from national and international arbitration centers. This will strengthen the program's practical dimension and provide students with an educational experience combining academic knowledge and professional expertise.
The launch of the program reflects Lusail University's commitment to developing high-quality academic programs that respond to economic and legal transformations and labor market needs, while strengthening the University's contribution to preparing specialized professionals and supporting the justice and dispute resolution system in a manner that serves Qatar's sustainable development journey.
