Commercial dispute:
the forum is selected in the contract

01

Dispute Resolution Card

02

Investment and Commercial Court

Royal Decree 35/2025 introduced a special Law on the Investment and Commercial Court. Before filing, jurisdiction, defendant, service, claim, limitation, court fees, Arabic documents/translation, experts, interim measures and appeal route are qualified.

03

Arbitration exists only by agreement

The clause must cover the right disputes and bind the right parties. Arbitration Law governs arbitration taking place in Oman and interaction with the court; mandatory rules seat cannot be canceled by the choice of institution.

Institution

OAC or selected international center

Rules

Version or dynamic link to rules

Seat

Legal place of arbitration

Tribunal

One or three arbitrators and appointment mechanism

Language

The language of pleadings, evidence and award

Governing law

Substantive law of contract separate from seat

04

Working Arbitration Clause

OAC Rules 2026 publishes a model clause and suggests filling out the number of arbitrators, seat, language and governing law. Service/notice, consolidation/joinder in case of a multi-contractual project, confidentiality and the right to urgent protection, if necessary, are added to the clause.

Scope

Any dispute arising out of or in connection with contract

Parties

All key participants in the project chain

Parallel contracts

Compatible clauses in supply, guarantee and shareholders agreement

Authority

The signatory has the right to agree to arbitration

Carve-outs

Only informed exceptions for court relief or debt

05

OAC Arbitration Rules 2026

Decision 3/2026 updated the rules of the center. The current edition provides for a model clause, ordinary procedure, expedited route and emergency arbitrator; the applicable version is determined by the agreement and the moment the case begins.

1. 01
   Request

   Parties, agreement, contract, claim, proposals and fee.

2. 02
   Response

   Jurisdiction, defense, counterclaim and tribunal position.

3. 03
   Tribunal

   Appointment, conflicts, terms and timetable.

4. 04
   Proceedings

   Written submissions, evidence, experts and hearing.

5. 05
   Award

   Final decision, costs, correction and enforcement.

06

Emergency and interim relief

If an asset, guarantee, evidence or project status may change before the formation of the tribunal, emergency arbitrator, tribunal order and available court relief are considered. It is required to show urgency, serious harm, prima facie case and proportionality of the measure.

07

Evidence is created during the project

Legal hold saves email, messaging, project systems, metadata, originals and backups; transfer is planned prior to filing.

08

Early case assessment

Claims

Legal basis, remedy and amount

Defences

Contract, performance, set-off and limitation

Jurisdiction

Valid clause, scope and proper parties

Evidence

Available, missing, adverse and expert issues

Assets

Location, ownership, security and dissipation risk

Economics

Cost, duration, recovery and settlement range

09

Award and performance

Before the process begins, it is checked not only how to win, but also where the assets are located. Enforcement is influenced by finality, proper notice, tribunal jurisdiction, due process, public policy, applicable convention and local recognition/execution procedure.

10

Mediation and settlement

The OAC has separate Mediation Rules. The settlement term sheet should cover payment mechanics, releases, confidentiality, costs, security, default, tax and the enforceable instrument form. Negotiations should not disrupt evidence or procedural deadlines.

11

Preventing a dispute

1. 01

   Agree on compatible law, forum, seat and language.

2. 02

   Configure authority, notice and document retention.

3. 03

   Maintain approvals, variations, payment and delay records.

4. 04

   Escalate the dispute until the contractual deadline is missed.

5. 05

   Conduct early case and asset assessment before filing.