Standard track
- Applies to
- All other disputes
- Timeline
- Set by the tribunal in its first procedural order
- Fee payments
- Four equal installments of 25%
- Hearings
- As the case requires
Ad hoc arbitration • Fully online
Independent arbitrators who resolve disputes with a binding award
HIKMAH Group brings together certified independent arbitrators and distinguished academics to conduct ad hoc arbitration. We handle all types of arbitration, fully online, with a sole arbitrator or a three-member tribunal, as the parties agree. All of our arbitrators meet the qualification requirements of the Saudi Arbitration Law.
بالحكمة نحكم.. وبالعدل نفصلWith wisdom we decide. With fairness we resolve.
All types of arbitrationConducted under the Saudi Arbitration Law
Fully onlineFrom filing to award, with no travel
One or three arbitratorsAs the parties agree
30 daysTo an award on the expedited track
Arbitrators, not lawyers
We decide disputes. We don't represent either side.
Put simply, this is how an arbitrator differs from a lawyer:
What is an arbitrator?
An independent decision-maker whom both parties agree to appoint to resolve their dispute with a binding award. An arbitrator does not act for either side.
Arbitration is not a second-best alternative to going to court. It is a legally recognized route for parties who want their dispute resolved quickly and privately.
We are
Independent arbitrators who decide the dispute between you and the other party and issue a binding award.
We are not
Lawyers acting for one side, or an institutional arbitration center.
About us
A select panel of arbitrators and academics
We bring together independent arbitrators certified by respected arbitration bodies and distinguished academics with deep expertise in their fields. We handle all types of arbitration, fully online.
- Each case is heard by a sole arbitrator or a three-member tribunal, as the parties agree.
- We are appointed only under the parties' arbitration agreement and with their consent.
- Every stage is handled online: written submissions, hearings, witness and expert evidence, deliberations and the award.
Impartiality
Every arbitrator is independent and discloses any potential conflict of interest in writing before accepting a case.
Confidentiality
Proceedings, documents, deliberations and awards remain confidential.
Speed
Clear timetables and procedures keep the case moving.
Excellence
Strong academic and professional credentials.
Services
From filing to final award, online
All types of arbitration, conducted fully online by a sole arbitrator or a three-member tribunal, from the request for arbitration to the final award.
Expedited track: a reasoned award within 30 days of the tribunal accepting its appointment, for disputes worth SAR 100,000 to SAR 4,999,999.
Online case management on Tahakom (tahakom.com): electronic filing of submissions, virtual hearings, written minutes and procedural orders.
Expert evidence where needed: technical experts appointed by the tribunal, each signing a declaration of independence and impartiality.
Tribunal secretary where needed: supports research, file management and scheduling, but takes no part in deliberations or the award.
Tracks
Two tracks: standard and expedited
The track depends on the amount in dispute. On either track, the tribunal can be a sole arbitrator or three arbitrators.
Expedited track
30 days- Applies to
- Disputes worth SAR 100,000 to SAR 4,999,999 (applies automatically)
- Timeline
- 30 days from the tribunal accepting its appointment
- Fee payments
- Two installments: 50% before the tribunal accepts its appointment and 50% before the award is delivered
- Hearings
- A case management conference, then a decision on the documents, with one hearing only if needed
Fees are agreed in writing before the case begins, and every payment received is documented with a receipt or proof of transfer.
How it works
How a case proceeds
- Appointment and fees
Both parties sign the appointment agreement and the fee agreement, and pay the first installment.
- Acceptance and disclosure
The sole arbitrator, or each member of the tribunal, accepts the appointment and discloses any circumstances that could affect their independence or impartiality.
- Statement of claim and defense
The claimant files its statement of claim, and the respondent files its statement of defense with supporting documents.
- Virtual hearings
Hearings are held on the Tahakom online platform, and minutes are kept of each one.
- The award
The sole arbitrator issues a reasoned award. A three-member tribunal decides by majority after deliberating, and the presiding arbitrator delivers the award.
Expedited track: the 30-day timetable
- Day0Tribunal accepts its appointment; statement of claim filed
- Day3Case management conference: procedure and deadlines set
- Day7Statement of defense filed with supporting documents
- Day13Reply submissions from both parties; notice that the second installment is due
- Day18Tribunal reviews the file and closes the proceedings
- Day25Award issued once the second installment is paid
Days run from the date the last arbitrator signs their acceptance. The timetable is extended if proceedings are suspended, or if the deadline is extended under the expedited track agreement.
Ad hoc or institutional?
Faster and more affordable, with no middleman
Why parties choose ad hoc arbitration over an arbitration center.
| Arbitration centers | Ad hoc with HIKMAH | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Administrative fees on top of the arbitrators' fees | Arbitrators' fees only, with no administrative fees |
| Timeline | Often several months, under the center's rules | 30 days on the expedited track |
| Procedure | Set by the center's rules | Flexible, agreed between the parties and the tribunal |
| Confidentiality | The institution also has access to the file | Shared only between the parties and the tribunal |
| Choice of arbitrators | From the center's panel, or appointed by the center | Appointed directly by the parties |
| Hearings | Usually in person | Fully online, with no travel |
Ad hoc arbitration is fully recognized by law, and it does not need an arbitration center to be valid. It is simply a faster, more affordable way to resolve your dispute out of court.
Why us
Why HIKMAH
Specialist panel
Certified arbitrators alongside distinguished academics.
One or three arbitrators
As the parties agree. A three-member tribunal deliberates and decides by majority.
Documented impartiality
Every arbitrator makes a written disclosure before accepting the appointment.
A fixed timetable
30 days on the expedited track, with a set date for every step.
Fully online
No travel and no paperwork, saving both time and cost.
Transparent fees
Fees agreed in writing up front, set installments, and every payment documented.
Before you start
Frequently asked questions
Are you lawyers?
No. We are independent arbitrators: we decide the dispute and issue a binding award, and we don't represent either side.
Is an arbitration award binding?
Yes. The award is binding on both parties and enforceable under the applicable laws.
Do I choose the arbitrators?
Arbitrators are appointed under the parties' arbitration agreement, and nothing begins without the parties' consent.
How are you different from an arbitration center?
We are ad hoc arbitrators: we decide the dispute directly under the parties' arbitration agreement, with no institution administering the case and no administrative fees. Arbitration centers, such as the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA), administer cases under their own rules and charge their own fees on top of the arbitrators' fees.
Are hearings held in person?
No. Hearings are held online on the Tahakom platform by default, and minutes are kept of each one.
How long does a case take?
On the expedited track, 30 days from the tribunal accepting its appointment. On the standard track, the tribunal sets the timetable in its first procedural order.
Do I need a lawyer?
No. You may appoint a lawyer or another representative, but you don't have to.
Is what I submit kept confidential?
Yes. Documents and deliberations are confidential, and the award is published only if both parties agree.
Contact
Get started
If you and the other party agree to appoint us, get in touch and we'll walk you through the next steps. We'll send you the appointment agreement and the fee agreement, and proceedings begin once the first installment is paid.
Two ways to appoint us
1
In your contracts: provide for ad hoc arbitration in your arbitration clause from the outset.
2
In an existing dispute: agree with the other party to appoint us.
We are appointed only under the parties' arbitration agreement and with their consent.
What to have ready:
- Your arbitration agreement, or the arbitration clause in your contract.
- Contact details for both parties and their representatives.
- What the dispute is about and the amount involved, so we can confirm the right track.
- The key documents in the case.