The Echo of Shariah in Modern Saudi Arbitration

This webinar explores the subtle yet decisive role that Shariah continues to play in the modern arbitration landscape of Saudi Arabia. Since 2012, Saudi arbitration has embraced codified modernity — emphasizing party autonomy, procedural flexibility, and alignment with global norms. Yet despite these reforms, Saudi arbitration remains uniquely shaped by a deeper, unwritten force: the enduring influence of Shariah as public order. This influence, or “echo,” does not operate through statutory text but instead emerges at critical moments—particularly during the enforcement and annulment of arbitral awards.

The webinar invites practitioners and academics alike to consider whether this Shariah “echo” constitutes a legal risk—introducing unpredictability in enforcement—or a normative framework that grounds arbitration in ethical and religious legitimacy, or perhaps both. For international counsel and arbitrators, this presents not only a challenge but also an opportunity: to draft more clearly, advise more strategically, and approach the Saudi arbitration landscape not with hesitation, but with awareness of the legal principles that shape its enforcement. The session concludes with a broader reflection on legal pluralism and the need for cross-cultural fluency in navigating today’s global arbitration landscape.

About the speaker

Haneen Al Hejailan is a Saudi-licensed lawyer and Partner at the Law Firm of Salah Al Hejailan LLC, with a practice spanning foreign investment, commercial transactions, intellectual property, and legal reform in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

She regularly advises on cross-border matters involving Saudi law and other legal systems, with a focus on regulatory compliance. Her work frequently engages at the intersection of Shariah-based principles and contemporary international legal practice.

Haneen is particularly interested in the evolving architecture of arbitration law in Saudi Arabia and how it interacts with prevailing moral and cultural norms, especially at the enforcement stage. Her approach blends practical experience with legal reflection, and she is committed to fostering dialogue between international practitioners and the distinctive jurisprudence emerging from the Arab world.