22 Sep, 2025
As part of its participation, SCCA organized two seminars—one in Beijing and another in Hong Kong—that brought together a distinguished audience of high-level government officials, practitioners, and legal experts to highlight the latest developments in dispute resolution in Saudi Arabia and China, and to showcase its pivotal role in facilitating business and fostering a sustainable investment environment.
Held under the title “Saudi Arabia - China: Powering Partnerships, Sustainable Investments and Preventing Disputes,” the Beijing seminar was organized in collaboration with the international law firm Zhong Lun and supported by the Saudi Chinese Business Council, the Federation of Saudi Chambers, the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), and the China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC).
This high-level event featured several distinguished speakers, including H.E. Mr. Abdulrahman Al-Harbi, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of Saudi to China; H.E. Mr. Abdulaziz Al-Duhaim, Assistant Minister at Saudi Ministry of Commerce; Dr. Waleed Abanumay, Chairman of SCCA’s Board of Directors; and Mr. Jianlong Yu, Vice Chairman of CCPIT.
Also speaking at the seminar were Dr. Suleiman Al-Olayan, Deputy Assistant for Courts Affairs at Saudi Ministry of Justice; Dr. Fares Al-Qarni, Deputy Minister for Regulations Development at Saudi Ministry of Investment; and Mr. Mohammed Al-Nasser, Director General of the Legal Affairs Department at Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs — alongside representatives from CIETAC, China’s Silk Road Fund (SRF), and other public and private institutions.
During the seminar, Dr. Walid Abanumay emphasized:
“China is a strategic economic partner for the Kingdom. Trade volume between our countries reached $102 billion in 2024. This figure reflects a deep economic relationship, underscoring the need for a robust legal framework to protect investors and enhance mutual trust.”
For his part, SCCA CEO Dr. Hamed Merah highlighted that Saudi Arabia’s institutional arbitration industry continues to receive strong and consistent support from the Saudi decision-makers. He pointed out that one of the most recent examples of this support is a resolution by the Saudi Council of Ministers introducing a number of legislative, judicial, and executive measures, including a review of the Saudi Arbitration Law and its Implementing Regulations, enhancing technical integration with relevant government entities to meet the industry’s e-government needs, translating and publishing selected arbitration-related judicial judgments, and more.
In addition to the Beijing seminar, SCCA organized another seminar in Hong Kong, which explored Saudi Arabia’s growing arbitration landscape, investment-enabling legal frameworks, and effective dispute management. This seminar, held in collaboration with the international law firm Clifford Chance, gathered leading legal professionals and industry experts to discuss how Saudi Arabia’s dispute resolution ecosystem fosters trust and attracts cross-border investment.
On the sidelines of CAW25, a delegation from SCCA, led by Dr. Walid Abanumay, Chairman of the Board, visited the Department of Justice of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR). The delegation was received by HKSAR Secretary for Justice, H.E. Mr. Paul Lam, in the presence of several senior officials.
Both sides explored potential areas of cooperation, and SCCA presented an overview of the latest developments in Saudi Arabia’s Dispute Resolution landscape and the services it offers in this field.
SCCA’s participation in CAW25 reflects its commitment to strengthening its local and international presence and reinforcing its active role in developing the arbitration ecosystem in Saudi Arabia and the region. This engagement marks an important step in solidifying the Kingdom’s position as a safe and reliable global hub for resolving commercial disputes — supporting investment attraction and enabling efficient and transparent dispute resolution.
