The total number of arbitration cases filed before CRCICA until 31 October 2012 reached 859 cases. In the third quarter of 2012, 25 new arbitration cases were filed, scoring as such 22% annual increase compared to the cases filed until the end of the third quarter of 2011 (55 cases). It is anticipated that before the end of 2012, the record thus far held of the number of cases registered under the auspices of the Centre in a single year (67 cases) shall be broken.
In the third quarter of 2012, CRCICA’s caseload involved disputes relating mainly to construction, real estate, investment agreements, media and entertainment, services, distributorship agreements, power supply, escrow agencies, gold mining concession, information technology, lease agreements, settlement agreements, joint venture agreements, international sale of goods and petroleum services. It is worth noting that the third quarter of 2012 witnessed the filing of an international dispute relating to a gold mining concession in Egypt. Real Estate disputes included two international cases relating to the development and property management of a land located in the western suburb of Cairo, Egypt, another international case arising out of the property management and marketing of an estate project in the Egyptian Northern Coast, and a domestic dispute arising out of the purchase of a property in Sahl Hasish, Red Sea-Egypt. Disputes arising out of investment agreements related to the acquisition of a pharmaceutical factory in Egypt as well as the management of an Egyptian investment fund. A dispute arising out of an international joint venture agreement between Egyptian, Swiss, Canadian and Italian parties, regarding the establishment of a factory in Egypt manufacturing medical devices and supplies, was also referred to the Centre. Distributorship agreements relate to the distribution of a well known European car in Egypt. Two media and entertainment cases were filed arising out of a contract concluded between a well known media production company and a famous Arab actor as well as a contract for the commercial exploitation of a well known Arab television series. A dispute arising out of the alleged breach of a settlement agreement relating to the sale and purchase of shares was also registered under the auspices of the Centre. Another case arising out of a contract for the provision of logistics and warehousing services was also filed.
The following pie shows a breakdown of the types of disputed contracts during the third quarter of 2012:
The rich variety of the types of disputed contracts referred to CRCICA in 2012 clearly illustrates the importance of arbitration as a means of dispute settlement and confirms the credibility of institutional arbitration under CRCICA’s auspices.
In the third quarter of 2012, arbitration proceedings also involved parties from different countries including U.K., U.S.A., Russia, Canada, Italy, Switzerland, Qatar, Kuwait, Lebanon and Bermuda.
The following pie shows a breakdown of the nationalities of non-Egyptian parties during the third quarter of 2012:
CRCICA is pleased to see that in the third quarter of 2012, its Arbitration Rules have been selected by British, Russian, American, Canadian, Italian and Swiss parties. CRCICA is also very satisfied with the variety of Arab representation in its 2012 caseload covering both the Gulf and Lebanon.
In the third quarter of 2012, arbitrators acting under the auspices of CRCICA came from Jordan, the U.K., Lebanon, Libya, Sweden, Germany and the United Arab Emirates. According to the statistics, Jordanian arbitrators rank on top of Arab arbitrators, followed by Lebanese and Libyan arbitrators, while British arbitrators are the most frequently appointed non-Arab arbitrators.
