On April 15-16, CLDP, in coordination with the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC)-MENA and the UAE Ministry of Justice’s Institute of Training & Judicial Studies, conducted a regional arbitration seminar on the role of judges in enforcing arbitration agreements and awards. The seminar was attended by senior Iraqi trial and appellate judges and UAE commercial judges representing five emirates. CLDP worked closely with the Dubai International Arbitration Centre and ICC to provide key local, regional and international arbitration practitioners to train the Iraqi and UAE judges in the role of courts in ADR, as well as providing a comprehensive review of the UNCITRAL rules, NY Convention on Arbitral Awards, and arbitration clauses in construction and commercial contracts. The main objective of the program was to emphasize the importance of arbitration in attracting investment and commerce and the critical role that judges play in creating a conducive legal environment for arbitration to exist. The seminar provided a unique opportunity for the judges to exchange experiences with lawyers and arbitrators to discuss the latest developments in arbitration throughout the MENA region.