Benedi<\/strong><\/a>k<\/a><\/strong>t Kaneko<\/strong><\/a>, Associate at Gleiss Lutz<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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The Asian International Arbitration Centre<\/a> (\u201cAIAC<\/strong>\u201d), with effect from 1 January 2026, updated its rules by introducing the AIAC Suite of Rules 2026. AIAC\u2019s goal is to introduce a modern and integrated framework for arbitration, mediation, adjudication, Islamic arbitration, sports arbitration and domain name dispute resolution. This short article provides an overview of the AIAC Suite of Rules 2026 and the most notable updates and reforms that entered into force on 1 January 2026. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The AIAC Suite of Rules 2026<\/a> establishes an AIAC Court of Arbitration (\u201cCourt<\/strong>\u201d), which is designed to strengthen institutional governance and align the AIAC with leading arbitral institutions in this respect. While the name references arbitration, the Court\u2019s function is not limited to arbitral proceedings under the AIAC Arbitration Rules 2026<\/a> (\u201c2026 Rules<\/strong>\u201d) but also impacts other proceedings administered by AIAC, such as mediation and adjudication proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Administrative functions under the 2026 Rules are now split between the Court, its President, and the Registrar. This development is welcome as the AIAC Arbitration Rules 2023 centralized all administrative and appointment decision making with the Director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Court is headed by its President, Dato’ Mary Lim Thiam Suan<\/a>, a former Federal Court Judge of Malaysia and the immediate past Director of AIAC. On 28 February 2026, AIAC announced the Court’s inaugural members<\/a>, comprising twenty-five Malaysian and international specialists with expertise in alternative dispute resolution. AIAC thereby follows the governance model adopted by other arbitral institutions, such as the International Chamber of Commerce<\/a> (\u201cICC<\/strong>\u201d), Singapore International Arbitration Centre<\/a> (\u201cSIAC<\/strong>\u201d), or, more recently, the Korean Commercial Arbitration Board<\/a> (\u201cKCAB<\/strong>\u201d). These institutions appoint renowned senior practitioners to their arbitration courts, typically experienced arbitrators, senior counsel, former judges, and arbitration specialists.*<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Court can also be involved in providing further guidance for the understanding and development of the 2026 Rules, as it \u201cmay from time to time issue guidance notes and circulars to implement administrative aspect of the <\/em>[2026] Rules<\/em>\u201d (Rule 1.3 of the 2026 Rules). All draft awards (except emergency awards) are subject to scrutiny by the Court, which is referred to as technical review (Rule 42 of the 2026 Rules), and is designed to uphold the quality of arbitral awards rendered under AIAC-administered arbitral proceedings.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Court is also referenced in the AIAC Mediation Rules 2026<\/a>, which assign it a role in AIAC-administered mediation proceedings. The Court and its President under the AIAC Mediation Rules 2026 are primarily tasked with the appointment of mediators in certain procedural circumstances. The rules also amend the approach to mediator fees: mediators and parties may now negotiate the mediator\u2019s fees or adopt the fee schedule set out in the rules. The schedule is no longer the default basis for mediator remuneration but equal to the parties\u2019 agreed and negotiated mediator\u2019s fees.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Where arbitral proceedings are already pending, the AIAC Mediation Rules 2026 introduce the possibility of concurrent mediation to address one or more issues suitable for resolution by mediation without suspending the arbitral proceedings. Additional amendments aim to streamline procedures and enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of AIAC mediation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Further amendments introduced with the AIAC Suite of Rules 2026 are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n While AIAC plays a central role in Malaysia\u2019s arbitration ecosystem as the central arbitral institution, its position in Southeast Asia is somewhat more limited as regional competition is strong and has in recent years attracted a significantly higher case load in comparison. However, with the AIAC Suite of Rules 2026, AIAC is positioning itself as an alternative that is not only limited to specialized rules such as the i\u2011Arbitration Rules. In the past, AIAC already positioned itself to offer broad services. For example, investor-state disputes arising under the 2009 ASEAN Comprehensive Investment Agreement between Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand can be referred to AIAC.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The AIAC Suite of Rules also coincides with legislative initiates from the Malaysian Government such as the enforcement of the Arbitration (Amendment) Act 2024 and the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication (Amendment) Act 2024, for which AIAC is the default appointing and administrative authority. Taken together, AIAC is well positioned to strengthen its footprint as a versatile forum for arbitration and other forms of alternative dispute resolution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n ABOUT THE AUTHOR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dr. Benedikt Yuji Kaneko<\/strong><\/a> is an associate at Gleiss Lutz<\/strong><\/a>. He advises clients on disputes and contentious proceedings, focusing on international commercial and investment arbitrations with a connection to Asia, particularly Japan, Korea, Singapore and China. He is admitted to the German Bar (Rechtsanwalt<\/em>) and the New York Bar (Attorney at Law<\/em>).<\/p>\n\n\n\nEstablishing the AIAC Court of Arbitration<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Further Amendments to the AIAC Arbitration Rules 2026<\/strong><\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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AIAC Mediation Rules 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Further Amendments introduced with the AIAC Suite of Rules 2026<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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Conclusion and Outlook<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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