Arbitration pursuant to Article 32 of the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union (The State of Qatar v. The United Arab Emirates)

In a notice to initiate arbitration dated 20 September 2018, the State of Qatar invoked Article 32 of the Constitution of the Universal Postal Union, which provides that “[i]n the event of a dispute between two or more member countries concerning the interpretation of the Acts of the Union or the responsibility imposed on a member country by the application of those Acts, the question at issue shall be settled by arbitration”. The constitution of the Tribunal was completed on 29 May 2020. Pursuant to Article 153 of the General Regulations of the Universal Postal Union, the arbitration proceedings were confidential.


Case information

Name(s) of Claimant(s)
Name(s) of Respondent(s) -
Names of Parties -
Case number 2020-28
Administering institution Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)
Case status Concluded
Type of case Inter-state arbitration
Subject matter or economic sector -
Procedural rules - Other -
Treaty or contract under which proceedings were commenced

Multilateral treaty
OTHER

Language of Proceeding Arabic
English
Seat of Arbitration (by Country) - N/A -
Arbitrator(s), Conciliator(s), Other Neutral(s)

Professor Gian Luca Burci (President)

Professor Ove Bring

Ambassador James Droushiotis

Representatives of the Claimant(s)

Dr. Mohammed Abdulaziz Al-Khulaifi

Legal Adviser to H.E. the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the State of Qatar, Dean of the College of Law, Qatar University

 

As Agent

 

Mr. Abdulla Al-Nuaimi

Deputy Permanent Representative of the State of Qatar to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva

 

Mr. Nasser Al-Hamad

Legal Adviser

 

As Representatives

 

Dr. Constantinos Salonidis, Foley Hoag LLP

Mr. Lawrence Martin, Foley Hoag LLP

Professor Pierre d’Argent, Louvain University, Foley Hoag LLP

Ms. Christina Beharry, Foley Hoag LLP

Ms. Theresa Roosevelt, Foley Hoag LLP

Mr. Joseph Klingler, Foley Hoag LLP

Mr. Peter Tzeng, Foley Hoag LLP

Professor Ioannis Konstantinidis, Qatar University

 

As Counsel

Representatives of the Respondent(s)

H.E. Ambassador Abdalla Hamdan AlNaqbi

Director of International Law Department

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

 

As Agent

 

H.E. Ms. Lubna Qassim Al Bastaki

Deputy Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to the United Nations and other international organizations in Geneva

 

Mr. Abdulla Mustafa AlJasmi

Head of Multilateral Treaties and Agreements Section

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation

 

As Deputy Agents

 

Dr. Scott Philip Sheeran

Senior Legal Advisor to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

Dr. Paolo Busco

Legal Advisor to the Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

 

As Counsel and Representative

 

Sir Daniel Bethlehem QC, Twenty Essex Chambers

 

As Counsel

Representatives of the Parties
Number of Arbitrators in case 3
Date of commencement of proceeding 20 September 2018
Date of issue of final award -
Length of Proceedings More than 3 years
Additional notes -