Damascus, March 23 (SANA) – Arbitration is emerging as a key tool to strengthen Syria’s investment environment, offering faster and more flexible dispute resolution compared to traditional courts, and helping build trust between investors and local institutions.
Legal experts say arbitration plays a central role in attracting foreign investment, as it provides guarantees of efficiency, neutrality, and legal certainty in resolving commercial and civil disputes. It is widely used globally and is considered essential for countries seeking to modernize their economic and legal frameworks.
Head of the Wifaq Center for Commercial Arbitration in Damascus, lawyer Mohammad Wissam Karim al-Din, noted that arbitration in Syria was previously limited due to international isolation under the deposed regime, which affected investment and cross-border trade. He added that arbitration centers in Syria now combine judicial functions—resolving disputes between individuals and companies—with research roles aimed at improving legal practices.
Despite the presence of more than 60 arbitration centers in Syria, only around 10% are currently active, highlighting the need for restructuring and stronger regulatory oversight. The Ministry of Justice supervises licensing and administrative frameworks, while maintaining the independence of arbitration decisions.
Economic analyst Mohammad Qouja stressed that developing specialized arbitration institutions is essential to enhancing investor confidence, reducing legal risks, and accelerating economic recovery. He noted that both local and foreign investors prefer arbitration due to its speed and effectiveness, as well as its alignment with international standards.
Efforts are underway to advance the sector, including plans to establish an arbitration center under the Syrian Investment Authority to handle investment disputes. Officials say strengthening arbitration mechanisms is a critical step toward improving Syria’s business environment and attracting capital in the coming phase.
Kh.A
