The International Islamic Centre for Reconciliation and Arbitration (IICRA) in Dubai launched the twentieth edition of the training program leading to the Certified Islamic Arbitrator and Expert (CIAE) designation on Wednesday, 16 September 2026. The program is being delivered in cooperation with AWJ for Financial Services, Consulting and Arbitration, IICRA’s official representative in Palestine.
The program was inaugurated by IICRA Secretary-General Dr. Rami Suleiman, who welcomed the 35 participants from around the world. The participants comprise a distinguished group of lawyers, arbitrators, experts, academics, and professionals working in Islamic financial and banking institutions.
This edition features the participation of a distinguished Palestinian delegation whose nomination and participation were coordinated through AWJ. The delegation comprises academics, professionals, and specialists in Islamic banking and finance. This marks the second Palestinian delegation organized by AWJ to participate in the program, reflecting the company’s commitment to developing specialized national competencies and strengthening the presence of Palestinian expertise in arbitration, expert determination, and Islamic finance.
The program is delivered through IICRA’s online platform over five consecutive days and is offered in Arabic, English, and French. It covers a range of academic, professional, and practical topics related to arbitration, reconciliation, expert determination, and dispute resolution, in accordance with the principles of Islamic Sharia and relevant professional best practices.
Arbitration as a Pillar for Protecting Rights and Ensuring Transactional Stability
Arbitration is increasingly recognized as one of the most effective professional mechanisms for resolving disputes, offering flexibility, efficiency, confidentiality, and specialized expertise. It also plays a vital role in safeguarding rights, strengthening confidence in contractual relationships, and reducing the time and costs that may arise from prolonged disputes.
The importance of arbitration is not limited to financial institutions or large corporations. It extends to individuals, entrepreneurs and business owners, companies, banks, insurance institutions, public and private bodies, endowment and charitable institutions, investors, professionals, and all segments of society. Disputes may arise in a wide range of civil, commercial, financial, and investment relationships, underscoring the need for qualified arbitrators and experts who can understand the nature of these relationships and resolve related disputes competently and fairly.
Arbitration in accordance with Islamic Sharia is particularly important when the contracts or transactions in dispute are based on Sharia principles, or when the parties wish to have their dispute resolved in accordance with Islamic law. This requires arbitrators and experts who combine legal and professional knowledge with a thorough understanding of Islamic financial jurisprudence, its objectives, and its contemporary applications. Such expertise helps ensure fair and professional outcomes while safeguarding the rights of the parties and preserving the distinctive nature of Sharia-compliant contracts.
A Professional Partnership to Develop Palestinian Expertise
The International Islamic Centre for Reconciliation and Arbitration, accredited by the UAE Ministries of Justice and Economy, is a leading international institution specializing in arbitration, reconciliation, and expert determination within the Islamic finance industry. It holds a prominent global position in qualifying arbitrators and experts in accordance with Islamic Sharia principles and the highest professional standards.
On this occasion, AWJ extends its sincere appreciation to IICRA Secretary-General Dr. Rami Suleiman, as well as to the Centre’s management, academic team, and administrative staff, for their distinguished efforts in advancing Islamic arbitration, developing specialized professional competencies, and strengthening cooperation with AWJ. This collaboration enables Palestinian professionals and academics to benefit from this high-calibre international program.
Dr. Fadi Mahmoud Abu Diak, General Manager of AWJ, emphasized that developing arbitration and expert determination skills is no longer merely a specialized legal matter. Rather, it has become a societal and institutional necessity closely connected to protecting rights, ensuring transactional stability, strengthening confidence in economic and investment environments, and providing fair and professional solutions to disputes.
He further explained that arbitration in accordance with Islamic Sharia is of particular importance in Palestine and the wider region, given the continued growth of Sharia-compliant banking, financial, and commercial transactions. This growth requires qualified professionals capable of combining sound Sharia foundations with legal understanding, professional expertise, and practical application.
Dr. Abu Diak added that AWJ, in its capacity as IICRA’s official representative in Palestine and the only entity offering this program in Palestine in that official capacity, will continue its efforts to attract and qualify Palestinian professionals from various sectors and create new opportunities for them to engage in arbitration, expert determination, and dispute resolution at both the local and international levels.
This participation forms part of AWJ’s vision to build a specialized national ecosystem for Sharia-compliant economics and business, transfer international professional expertise to Palestine, and strengthen cooperation with leading institutions in ways that serve individuals and organizations and contribute to a more just and stable business environment.