On 25 September, as part of RIAC 2026, VERBA LEGAL, together with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC), held a professional discussion on Dubai’s role as one of the key centres for the resolution of international commercial disputes involving Russian parties.
The discussion was moderated by Tatyana Neveeva, Managing Partner at VERBA LEGAL and Head of the International Arbitration and Cross-Border Disputes Practice, and Anton Alifanov, Counsel at VERBA LEGAL.
/ Robert Stephen (Registrar, DIAC) opened the discussion with welcoming remarks and provided an overview of the Dubai International Arbitration Centre, including its internal structure, its role in the regional and international dispute resolution landscape, and the reasons why an increasing number of companies, including Russian businesses, are choosing DIAC to administer their cases. He noted that the importance of the Gulf region to international business continues to grow year on year. As the flow of investment and transactions increases, so does the demand for effective and neutral dispute resolution mechanisms, and DIAC seeks to respond to this growing need through its work.
/ Anna Boer (Senior Counsel, DIAC) spoke about how the Middle East has become one of the world’s leading arbitration hubs. She presented DIAC’s 2025 results and outlined the key changes introduced to the 2022 DIAC Rules. She also addressed the 2026 draft DIFC Arbitration and Mediation Law, the impact of sanctions on the administration of disputes, as well as the appointment and challenge of arbitrators.
/ Firas Alchoufi (Managing Partner, Bin Sevan Advocates & Legal Consultants) examined Dubai as a neutral seat of arbitration for cross-border disputes involving a Russian element. He shared practical experience of representing parties and sitting on tribunals, and discussed the enforcement of awards and interim measures by the Dubai courts, with a particular focus on the differences between the onshore Dubai courts and the offshore courts of the special jurisdictions, DIFC and ADGM.
/ Shivani Khandekar (Partner, S&R Associates) spoke about the advantages of arbitration seated in Dubai and how the arbitration landscape has changed following the abolition of the DIFC-LCIA and EMAC. She addressed the interaction between the DIFC and the onshore Dubai courts, the approaches taken by the DIFC, ADGM and Dubai courts to sanctions-related disputes, as well as the recognition and enforcement in India of court
/ Abhinav Bhushan (Director (Foreign Law), Dispute Resolution, Drew & Napier) provided a detailed analysis of the 2026 draft DIFC Arbitration and Mediation Law. His presentation covered the powers of tribunals and summary determination, challenges to awards, confidentiality, third-party funding, enforcement of awards, and settlement agreements reached following mediation.
Dubai continues to strengthen its position as a reliable and neutral forum for the resolution of international disputes. This is particularly important for companies operating in an environment of sanctions restrictions.
We would like to thank our partners at DIAC, all the speakers and guests for an insightful discussion and a lively exchange of experience!
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