29 June 2026
The Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) successfully organized a webinar within its signature “Beyond Arbitration” Lecture Series. This knowledge initiative is specifically designed to explore interdisciplinary subjects that intersect with international dispute resolution and the broader practice of law, business, and commerce.
The webinar took place on Monday, 29 June 2026, and was delivered by Mr. Ahmed Barakat, Senior Partner at ASAR – Al Ruwayeh & Partners (Kuwait) and Head of the firm’s Litigation and Commercial Arbitration practice.
Entitled “Force Majeure – Practical Issues Arising from the Recent Regional Conflict,” the session addressed one of the most significant legal doctrines affecting contractual relationships in times of exceptional instability and geopolitical disruption. Mr. Barakat examined the legal and practical implications arising from the invocation of force majeure in light of the recent regional conflict in the Gulf region, detailing its impact on contractual performance, risk allocation, and commercial obligations.
The webinar further explored the legal conditions governing force majeure under Arab legal systems, with a particular focus on the requirements of unforeseeability, impossibility of performance, causation, notice obligations, and mitigation measures. Attendees also gained insights into the vital distinction between force majeure and hardship or changed circumstances, as well as the practical and commercial consequences resulting from delayed, suspended, or impossible performance of contractual obligations.
Particular attention was given to recent practical developments affecting commercial transactions and dispute resolution across the region, including construction, supply chains, banking, insurance, and cross-border commercial operations.
As a speaker, Mr. Ahmed Barakat brought more than thirty years of professional experience in commercial litigation and international arbitration. Widely recognized as one of the leading dispute resolution practitioners in Kuwait and the Gulf region, Mr. Barakat currently serves as Senior Partner at ASAR and is a member of CRCICA’s Board of Trustees.
CRCICA’s “Beyond Arbitration” Lecture Series constitutes a carefully curated sequence of high-level, practice-oriented lectures addressing contemporary legal and dispute-resolution issues that extend beyond arbitration while remaining closely connected to it in both concept and practice. The series brings together leading voices from the region and beyond to foster meaningful dialogue, share advanced expertise, and advance professional practice through focused, accessible, and intellectually rigorous sessions.
