Dr. Nabil Elaraby
(15 March 1935 – 26 August 2024)
With deep reverence and profound sadness, the Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) mourns the passing of Dr. Nabil Elaraby, who left us on 26 August 2024. Dr. Elaraby was a towering figure in the fields of international law, diplomacy, and arbitration, and his loss is deeply felt by the CRCICA family and the international legal community.
Dr. Elaraby served as Chairman of the Board of Trustees at CRCICA, where his wisdom, dedication, and leadership profoundly shaped the Centre’s vision and achievements. He had previously served as Director of CRCICA from 2008 to 2011, playing a pivotal role in advancing the Centre’s global prominence as a leading arbitration institution.
A jurist of exceptional stature, Dr. Elaraby was appointed as a Member of the ICSID Panel of Arbitrators (2006–2024), Member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in The Hague (2005–2024), Member of the International Council of Arbitration for Sport (ICAS) (2003–2024), Member of the Governing Board of the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute (2000–2024), and Judge at the Judicial Tribunal of the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries (1990–2024).
Dr. Elaraby’s illustrious career included serving as a Judge at the International Court of Justice (2001–2006), where his expertise in international law earned him global recognition. As a seasoned Egyptian diplomat, he represented Egypt as the Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York (1991–1999) and Geneva (1987–1991). In 1996, he served as President of the UN Security Council, and he was a Member of the International Law Commission of the United Nations (1994–2001).
Within Egypt, Dr. Elaraby held prominent positions, including Legal Adviser and Director in the Legal and Treaties Department at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (1983–1987), and he led Egypt’s delegation in the historic Taba dispute negotiations (1986–1988). In 2011, he was appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs, and shortly thereafter, he was elected Secretary General of the League of Arab States—a role in which he played a vital part in addressing regional challenges.
Dr. Elaraby’s influence extended to the field of arbitration, where he either presided over or acted as arbitrator in numerous arbitrations under the auspices of leading arbitral institutions worldwide, including CRCICA and the ICC International Court of Arbitration in Paris. Notably, he played a critical role in resolving a historic dispute concerning the Suez Canal (1989–1992).
An exceptional scholar and mentor, Dr. Elaraby lectured at some of the world’s most distinguished institutions, including The Hague Academy of International Law, Columbia University, New York University, Yale University, Duke University, and the University of Pennsylvania. His keynote speech at the Institut Universitaire de Hautes Études Internationales in Geneva (1993) on “The United Nations and the New World Order” remains a landmark contribution to international thought.
Dr. Elaraby authored numerous scholarly works in both Arabic and English, leaving behind a rich legacy of knowledge that continues to inspire legal scholars and practitioners worldwide.
Academically, Dr. Elaraby earned his J.S.D. (Doctor of Juridical Science) from New York University Law School (1971), an L.L.M. in International Law from NYU (1969), and a License en Droit from the Faculty of Law, Cairo University (1955).
The passing of Dr. Nabil Elaraby is an immeasurable loss. CRCICA mourns him deeply and acknowledges with gratitude his enduring contributions, leadership, and vision. His profound influence on international law, arbitration, and diplomacy will remain a guiding light for generations to come.
