13 Sep, 2026
Under the patronage of His Highness Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al-Saud, Saudi Minister of Foreign Affairs, His Excellency Eng. Waleed El-Khereiji, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs, today, inaugurated the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ 2nd Forum on World Law Day at the Prince Saud Al-Faisal Institute for Diplomatic Studies in Riyadh. The forum is organized by the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in partnership with the Saudi Center for Commercial Arbitration (SCCA).
The opening ceremony was attended by a number of Their Excellencies and High-ranking officials, including Dr. Walid Abanumay, SCCA’s Chair of the Board; Dr. Mansour bin Saleh Al-Yami, MOFA’s Deputy Minister for Support Services; Dr. Hamed Merah, SCCA’s CEO; and Mr. Mohammed Al-Nasser, MOFA’s Director General of the General Department of Legal Affairs, alongside a number of officials and legal experts.
In his opening remarks, His Excellency Eng. Waleed El-Khereiji underscored the importance of the rule of law and its pivotal role in international relations. He highlighted the MOFA’ commitment to addressing the legal dimensions of the latest developments on the international stage through the forum.
His Excellency noted that the forum addresses, among other topics, the legal implications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, including its legal and Shariah classification and the resulting implications. The forum also sheds light on artificial intelligence, coinciding with the Kingdom’s designation of 2026 as the “Year of Artificial Intelligence,” highlighting its significance across various fields and its active role in advancing the objectives of Saudi Vision 2030.
For his part, Dr. Waleed Abanumay emphasized that the rule of law cannot be fully realized through laws and legislation alone. Rather, it requires an effective ecosystem that enables individuals and businesses to protect their rights and resolve their disputes efficiently, fairly, and reliably.
He explained that the dispute resolution ecosystem, particularly arbitration and mediation, represents one of the key enablers of effective justice, a conducive business environment, and investment attraction. This, in turn, strengthens confidence in the Kingdom’s justice ecosystem and supports its competitiveness and position as an attractive destination for business and investment.
Through a series of panel discussions, the forum addressed a range of legal topics, most notably the legal implications of the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, artificial intelligence legislation, legal reading and research, and building practical experience during the academic stage.
The forum also explored the professional skills that contribute to excellence in legal practice, as well as the importance of leveraging volunteering opportunities, legal activities, and competitions to develop skills and experience and enhance readiness for the labor market.
