Subscribe to AIJA updates
The latest events, news, articles, and resources, sent straight to your inbox
Event Overview
Connect to your MyAIJA account to discover who from your network is attending this event.
Please note that registrations for this event are now closed.
Contact office@aija.org if you have any question.
The Next Investment Destination: legal and regulatory developments in the MENA Region
The MENA Region is emerging as an attractive investment destination. States in the region are accelerating the modernisation of their legal frameworks and regulatory infrastructure to meet the needs of investors. This is an exciting time for young legal professionals in the region.
Join us for the AIJA second Middle-East and North-Africa (MENA) Regional meeting taking place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on 28 November.
This day event will feature three captivating panel sessions, where we will discuss the most appealing topics for the MENA region, such as dispute resolution in the area, M&A and investment and legal technlogy. It promises a day brimming with cutting-edge insights and expert perspectives.
Session 1: Dispute Resolution in the MENA
Arbitration in the MENA is expanding rapidly, with more countries fostering an arbitration-friendly environment. The rise of regional arbitration centers is notable, and fewer awards are being overturned by domestic courts.
Complex litigation is increasing in the region's courts, especially in common law financial center courts. Civil law courts are also evolving, with new dedicated commercial courts and improved service delivery.
Mediation is gaining traction with formal mechanisms and guidelines, supported by the region's culture.
Session 2: M&A and Investment
Foreign direct investment in the MENA is consistently growing. The GCC States are opening their economies to foreign investment, with 100% foreign ownership and incentives for non-oil sectors. Accelerators and incubators support both local and foreign tech startups through golden visa programs.
Intellectual property regimes are becoming more sophisticated, focusing on trademark protection and increasingly on patent rights.
Restructuring and insolvency regulations are developing, attracting major restructuring firms, though issues like the duties of insolvency professionals as directors remain debated.
Session 3: Legal Technology
Legal technology adoption in the MENA has been slow but is now accelerating. Courts are adopting remote access technology, and bilingual case management software is on the rise. Legal translation and AI-powered tools are being developed within the region, despite historical obstacles like language and traditional mindsets.
Corporate Sponsors
AIJA MENA Regional Meeting 2024
09:00
- Address: Olaya St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 11433, Saudí Arabia
10:00 - 10:30
Opening message from AIJA's president Kato Aerts
10:30 - 11:45
Arbitration in the MENA is expanding rapidly, with more countries fostering an arbitration-friendly environment. The rise of regional arbitration centers is notable, and fewer awards are being overturned by domestic courts.
Complex litigation is increasing in the region's courts, especially in common law financial center courts. Civil law courts are also evolving, with new dedicated commercial courts and improved service delivery.
Mediation is gaining traction with formal mechanisms and guidelines, supported by the region's culture.
Moderator:
Complex litigation is increasing in the region's courts, especially in common law financial center courts. Civil law courts are also evolving, with new dedicated commercial courts and improved service delivery.
Mediation is gaining traction with formal mechanisms and guidelines, supported by the region's culture.
Moderator:
- Fatima Balfaqeeh, Balfaqeeh Advocates and Legal Consultants, UAE
- Simon Isgar, BLK Partners, UAE
- Ahmad Alkhamees, Harasani & Alkhamees Law Firm, Saudi Arabia
- Philipp Rueppell, SZA, Germany
11:45 - 12:15
Coffee Break
12:15 - 13:30
Foreign direct investment in the MENA is consistently growing. The GCC States are opening their economies to foreign investment, with 100% foreign ownership and incentives for non-oil sectors. Accelerators and incubators support both local and foreign tech startups through golden visa programs.
Intellectual property regimes are becoming more sophisticated, focusing on trademark protection and increasingly on patent rights.
Restructuring and insolvency regulations are developing, attracting major restructuring firms, though issues like the duties of insolvency professionals as directors remain debated.
Moderator:
Intellectual property regimes are becoming more sophisticated, focusing on trademark protection and increasingly on patent rights.
Restructuring and insolvency regulations are developing, attracting major restructuring firms, though issues like the duties of insolvency professionals as directors remain debated.
Moderator:
- Ahmed Elnaggar, Elnaggar & Partners, UAE
- Christoph Allmendinger, SZA, Germany
- Abdulrahman Alammar, BATIC Law Firm, Saudi Arabia
- Azmul Haque, Collyer Law, Singapore
13:30 - 14:30
Lunch Break
14:30 - 15:45
Legal technology adoption in the MENA has been slow but is now accelerating. Courts are adopting remote access technology, and bilingual case management software is on the rise. Legal translation and AI-powered tools are being developed within the region, despite historical obstacles like language and traditional mindsets.
Moderator:
Moderator:
- Hari Krishna, Nimble Legal, UAE
- Laith Bqaeen, LexisNexis, UAE
- Clare Lavin, HKA, UAE
- Ahmed Elnaggar, Elnaggar & Partners, UAE
- Omar Alheloo, Hadef & Partners, UAE
15:45 - 16:30
Networking
Fees & General Info
There are currently no registration fees available.General terms and conditions
By registering you have to accept the general terms and conditions and accept that your registration is considered binding immediately, but participation to the event is possible only after full payment of the registration fee.
Please note that any arrangements related to the participation of the participant in an AIJA event, including but not limited to booking or cancellation of accommodation or flights, as well as respecting the cancellation deadlines indicated in the general terms and conditions, are the sole responsibility of the participant. AIJA shall not be held liable for any expenses the participant may suffer as the result of participant’s failure to comply with his/her obligations.
It is recommended for each participant to purchase a cancellation and travel insurance.
Please note that in-house counsel registrations are subject to review and confirmation by AIJA. AIJA considers in-house counsel professionals who hold a university degree in law allowing access to a bar association and practicing law as an in-house counsel in private, public, or non-profit companies, institutions or organisations. Please note that in-house counsel who are at the same time active as fee-earning lawyers or consultants are not eligible to the discounted in-house counsel fee.
Please read the general terms and conditions applicable for AIJA events.
Scholarships
If you are a lawyer under 35 years old and meet the requirements, apply to our Scholarship Programme for this event. You can check more details here.
Prepare your stay
You can book your room at the seminar venue: Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya:
- Address: Olaya St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 11433, Saudí Arabia
Contact reservations.hrriyadholaya@hyatt.com to book your room.
Practical Information
Our event will take place in Hyatt Regency Riyadh Olaya:
- Address: Olaya St, Al Olaya, Riyadh 11433, Saudí Arabia
Organising Committee
Omar AL HELOO
Hadef & Partners LLC (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)
Hana AL KHATIB
Global Advocacy & Legal Counsel (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)
Salem ALHAMED
Batic Law Firm (SAUDI ARABIA)
Fatima BALFAQEEH
Fatima Abdulla Balfaqeeh Advocates and Legal Consultants (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)
Hari KRISHNA
Nimble Legal (UNITED ARAB EMIRATES)
Sponsors
Corporate Sponsors
Become a sponsor
Partnership with AIJA as a sponsor provides the best networking opportunities in a relaxed business
environment.
If you have any questions, contact us on ‘Become a sponsor’ and check for more opportunities.
Personal Protection
The personal data that you communicate to us shall be processed by the International Association Of Young Lawyers (AIJA), with its registered office at Avenue de Tervueren 231, 1150 Brussels, Belgium (Tel: +32 2 347 33 34 - office@aija.com), in accordance with Act No. 78-17 of January 6, 1978 relating to data, files and freedoms and Regulation No. 2016/679 on data protection, as of its entry into force on May 25, 2018.
Your data will be managed by AIJA's General Services, Events and Accounts Section:
- For the purpose of administering your registration for the event and your on-site access to the event;
- In order to pay for the selected services - your bank details will be deleted after receipt of your payment;
- In order to communicate information messages from AIJA.
To the extent necessary for the execution of their respective tasks, our subcontractors in charge of our seminar organisation, our IT infrastructure, our management, the production and maintenance of our website and extranet, are likely to gain access to your data from time to time. Their servers are located in the European Union.
Data relating to your participation in the event shall be stored for a period of 10 years. We are obliged to archive billing data until the end of the period required for our tax and accounting obligations, i.e. for 7 full tax years.
We shall store your contact information to keep you informed until you ask us to stop. You have the right to access your data and have it corrected if necessary.