CAIRO, 21 May 2025 – The Cairo Regional Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (CRCICA) is proud to announce a landmark achievement in its ongoing commitment to promoting international commercial arbitration: it has been officially granted the esteemed status of “Permanent Arbitration Institution” (PAI) by the Council for the Improvement of the Arbitration Process of the Ministry of Justice of the Russian Federation.
This significant recognition underscores CRCICA’s adherence to the highest global standards of arbitral practice and its unwavering dedication to providing unparalleled dispute resolution services. The PAI status, a designation reserved for institutions that meet rigorous criteria for impartiality, efficiency, expertise, and a threshold of diverse international cases, marks a pivotal moment for CRCICA and the broader arbitration landscape.
The primary legal consequence of a foreign centre obtaining Permanent Arbitration Institution (PAI) status in Russia is that, in disputes seated in Russia, arbitral awards rendered under its auspices will be recognized as institutional awards rather than those of an ad hoc tribunal. This distinction enhances their enforceability and legal certainty within the Russian jurisdiction. To qualify for such recognition, however, the foreign centre must demonstrate a widely accepted international reputation, underscoring its credibility, professional standing, and established role in the global arbitration community.
The implications of this recognition are far-reaching, particularly for the arbitration of Russia-related disputes. With this new status, CRCICA joined four other leading foreign arbitral institutions holding this distinguished PAI status: the Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC), the Vienna International Arbitral Centre (VIAC), the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), and the Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC). CRCICA is now the fifth non-Russian arbitral institution to join this exclusive list, a testament to its growing international prominence and trusted reputation.
“We are immensely honored and delighted to receive this recognition from the Russian Ministry of Justice,” stated Dr. Ismail Selim, Director of CRCICA. “This achievement is a direct reflection of CRCICA’s continuous efforts to uphold the highest standards of international institutional arbitration and to provide an efficient, reliable, and neutral forum for dispute resolution. It further solidifies our position as a leading regional arbitral institution on the global stage.”
CRCICA’s unmatched service level is characterized by its prominent Board of Trustees and Advisory Committee (comprising a Russian member each), experienced case management team, CRCICA’s state-of-the-art facilities (regularly used in hearings involving Russian parties), and a distinguished roster of arbitrators (comprising 12 Russian arbitrators).
CRCICA looks forward to leveraging this PAI status to further increase its visibility within the sphere of the Russian legal and business communities and to contribute to the efficient and equitable resolution of international commercial disputes.
