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Defects in the Regulatory Drafting of the Seat of Arbitration
A Peer-Reviewed Legal Study Published in a Saudi Academic Journal
Executive Summary
This page presents a comprehensive overview of a peer-reviewed academic research paper published in the Journal of Taif University for Sharia and Legal Sciences (Issue 12, June 2025).
The study addresses a structural legal problem in arbitration law: the defective regulatory drafting of the “seat of arbitration” and the consequences arising from ambiguity in legislative wording.
The research adopts a doctrinal and analytical methodology, supported by comparative references to Islamic jurisprudence and international arbitration rules, particularly UNCITRAL and ICC frameworks.
Publication Details:
- Research Title: Defects in the Regulatory Drafting of the Seat of Arbitration under Saudi Arbitration Law
- Research Type: Peer-reviewed academic legal research
- Author:Turki bin Abdullah Al-Tayyar’s arbitration research and judicial expertise
- Journal: Journal of Taif University for Sharia and Legal Sciences
- Issue: No. 12 – June 2025
Research Background and Legal Context
The Saudi Arbitration Law regulates arbitration as an alternative dispute resolution mechanism, granting parties significant autonomy in determining procedural elements. One of the most critical of these elements is the seat of arbitration, which functions as the legal anchor of the arbitral process.
The research identifies that Saudi arbitration legislation employs the term “place” without consistently clarifying whether it refers to:
- the legal seat of arbitration, or
- the physical location where arbitration hearings are conducted.
This linguistic overlap constitutes a regulatory drafting defect, as each concept produces distinct legal consequences.
Research Objective
The primary objective of this study is to analyze the regulatory and drafting defects associated with the concept of the seat of arbitration in Saudi arbitration legislation, and to evaluate how these defects affect legal certainty and practical application.
The research also aims to:
- Clarify the conceptual distinction between the legal seat of arbitration and the physical location of hearings
- Identify the sources of interpretive inconsistency
- Propose structured legal and drafting solutions
Conceptual Framework: Seat vs. Location of Arbitration
The study establishes a foundational distinction between two concepts:
1. Seat of Arbitration (Legal Place)
- Determines the procedural law governing arbitration
- Identifies the competent supervisory courts
- Influences recognition and enforcement of arbitral awards
2. Location of Arbitration Hearings (Physical Place)
- Relates only to logistical and practical considerations
- Does not affect jurisdiction or applicable law
The research demonstrates that confusing these concepts in legislative drafting or arbitration clauses leads to interpretive conflict, particularly in judicial review stages.
Regulatory Drafting Defects Identified in the Study
The author identifies multiple categories of drafting defects affecting the regulation of the seat of arbitration:
Semantic Ambiguity
The same Arabic term is used to denote different legal meanings without contextual clarification, resulting in uncertainty as to the legislator’s intent.
Incomplete Legal Assumptions
The legislative text fails to account for evolving arbitration practices, especially those involving multi-jurisdictional or virtual proceedings.
Overlapping Legal Effects
The law attributes procedural consequences to a term whose meaning is not fixed, allowing divergent judicial interpretations.
Practical and Judicial Consequences
The research outlines several real-world implications arising from defective drafting:
- Disputes over the competent court for annulment actions
- Conflicting interpretations of procedural law applicability
- Challenges to the validity of arbitral awards
- Delays in enforcement proceedings
The study emphasizes that these consequences do not stem from arbitration itself, but from regulatory imprecision in defining the seat of arbitration.
dispute resolution and arbitration legal services in Saudi Arabia
Comparative Analysis with International Arbitration Rules
The study conducts a comparative examination of:
- UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules
- ICC Arbitration Rules
These frameworks clearly distinguish between:
- the legal seat (Place of Arbitration), and
- the location of hearings (Location),
thereby eliminating ambiguity. The research demonstrates that international practice consistently treats the seat as a legal construct, irrespective of where hearings physically occur.
Research Methodology
The study employs:
- Analytical legal reasoning
- Comparative legal analysis
- Doctrinal examination of statutory texts
- Jurisprudential evaluation from Islamic legal theory
This integrated methodology supports a comprehensive understanding of the issue.
Download the Full Peer-Reviewed Research (PDF)
The complete academic study, as published in the Journal of Taif University for Sharia and Legal Sciences, is available for download below.
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