Riyadh International Disputes Week 2026

Absolutely thrilled to have had a houseful panel discussion on the evolution of FIDIC contracts in Saudi Arabia. The level of engagement from the audience was outstanding – proof that as the Kingdom’s infrastructure ambitions scale, the legal “engineering” behind these projects is more vital than ever.

We went deep on the issues that matter:
– The “Saudi Twist” – How FIDIC frameworks are being harmonised with Sharia principles and the new Civil Transactions Law, creating a unique contractual landscape.
– Risk Reality Check – A robust debate on whether “balanced risk” truly exists in mega-projects, or if contractors should be shouldering disproportionate risk as we sprint toward Vision 2030.
– The Rise of DABs – Dispute Adjudication Boards are gaining serious traction in KSA. We explored how they compare to UK adjudication models and why DABs are becoming the ultimate “relationship-saver” before parties hit the arbitration button.
– The 2030 Outlook – Expect greater standardisation, fewer bespoke contractual headaches, and a significant shift toward proactive dispute management across the Kingdom’s project portfolio.
– The bottom line? Saudi Arabia’s legal landscape isn’t just changing – it’s maturing at unprecedented speed.

Many thanks to our fellow panellists Ben Cowling, Karim Ghaly KC, George Vlavianos FCIArb, Panos Bertes, Kamel Diab and to the incredibly engaged audience for making this such a high-impact session!