rki.news | Source: Katara
DOHA: Katara Tech31 Forum opened on Thursday at Katara Cultural Village, bringing together legal, arbitration, management and technology experts from Qatar and abroad to discuss the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on international arbitration, modern management and digital justice.
Held in cooperation with the International Academy of Arbitration and Mediation – Carthage and the Business Council, the 31st edition featured the Third Qatar International Arbitration Conference, under the theme “Under Artificial Intelligence: From Traditional to Smart Management and from Dispute Resolution to Digital Justice.” The conference took place in Hall 15 at Katara.
Dr. Thamer Al Qadi, Head of Katara Tech Forum and Director of Information Systems at Katara Cultural Village Foundation, said AI had evolved beyond an assistive tool to become an active partner in decision-making and the development of justice systems and modern administration.
He stressed that successful digital transformation requires more than adopting new technologies. It also depends on sound governance, secure infrastructure, data confidentiality, transparency and public trust. He called for legal and regulatory frameworks to keep pace with generative AI while ensuring responsible use and compliance with international data-protection standards.
Sheikh Dr. Thani bin Ali Al Thani, Vice Chairman of the Board of the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration, highlighted the importance of arbitration and alternative dispute resolution in strengthening the legal and investment environment. He also emphasised the need to develop specialised expertise in governance and modern management, referring to the launch of Qatar’s first specialised master’s programme in governance in cooperation with Lusail University.
Dr. Inas Ben Nasr, President of the International Academy of Arbitration and Mediation – Carthage, said the main challenge of digital transformation was not technology alone, but its effective use alongside good governance, transparency and accountability. She noted that arbitration and mediation had become strategic tools for resolving disputes and improving institutional performance, adding that smart management must combine technological progress with legal and ethical safeguards.
Three Sessions Examine AI, Governance and Digital Justice
The conference featured three sessions addressing digital transformation, AI governance, legal and ethical responsibility, and institutional efficiency.
The first session, “Modern Management and Digital Transformation,” was chaired by International Dispute Resolution Judge and Libyan Fields and Oil Ports Supply Company Chairman Dr. Fathi Al Akhdari Al Bandak. Speakers included Dr. Hasnaa Taghboula of Morocco, an international dispute resolution judge; Dr. Bader bin Dalham Al Hajri of Qatar, President of the Arab Federation for Artificial Intelligence and Programming; and Mohammed Radwan of Qatar, a digital transformation and AI consultant. Discussions covered AI in dispute resolution, smart administration in the Arab world, digital assistants and AI-supported administrative decisions.
The second session, “Governance and the Legal and Ethical Responsibility of Artificial Intelligence,” was chaired by Dr. Laura Souheil Abu Hala of Lebanon, a lawyer specialising in intellectual property law in Qatar and a university lecturer in international law at Sorbonne University. Participants included Dr. Bushra Al Houki of Morocco, a private law specialist and arbitrator; legal adviser Ayman Abdel Rahman Khair of Sudan, a Qatar Stock Exchange legal adviser and corporate governance expert; Dr. Jamal Ahmed Yaqoub of Bahrain, First Vice President of the Arab Federation for Artificial Intelligence and Programming; and Dr. Hossam Makki of Sudan, Senior Legal Adviser and intellectual property expert. Discussions focused on AI in commercial arbitration and intellectual property disputes.
The third session, “Enhancing Institutional Efficiency and Decision Quality in the Digital Transformation Era,” was chaired by Maryam Hamad Al Hajri of Qatar, an accredited arbitrator at the Qatar International Center for Conciliation and Arbitration and a member of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators. Speakers included Alaa Al Din Shabsh of Libya, head of the judicial unit at the International Court London; Dr. Amr Bishr Al Halali of Britain, a member of the College of Strategic Management; and Fahad Mahyar of Jordan, General Manager of Mada Financial Consultancy. The session explored international practices in management and dispute resolution, individual arbitration strategies and evidence-based approaches.
The conference provided a platform for exchanging expertise on AI opportunities and the legal, ethical and security challenges associated with its use. It also reaffirmed Katara Cultural Village Foundation’s commitment to promoting knowledge, technological innovation and institutional development while advancing dialogue on the future of efficient and fair digital justice.
Katara Tech31 Forum Explores AI’s Role in Arbitration and Digital Justice
