The Effect of the Annulment of Sports Arbitral Awards on Enforcement Mechanisms under United Arab Emirates Law

Abstract

Arbitration is one of the most prominent alternative mechanisms for dispute resolution, and arbitral awards derive their strength from their enforceability, which ensures their effectiveness and binding force. However, the annulment of an arbitral award constitutes a major obstacle to such enforcement, necessitating an examination of the legal and regulatory framework governing this issue. The study focuses on UAE law and compares it with international conventions, particularly the 1958 New York Convention, with the aim of identifying the balance between arbitral independence and enforcement efficiency. The research examines the effect of annulling sports arbitral awards on the efficiency of enforcement mechanisms, clarifying the nature, grounds, and direct consequences of annulment proceedings, while analyzing shortcomings in both national and international legislation. It also highlights the judiciary's role in overseeing sports arbitration while preserving its independence. The study concludes that there is a need to develop a specific regulation on sports arbitration that clarifies the causes and procedures of annulment, to strengthen the role of arbitration centers in promoting awareness of procedural safeguards, to clarify legislative provisions related to annulment actions, and to establish more effective enforcement mechanisms. It also calls for harmonizing national legislation with international conventions to ensure mutual recognition of awards, and for developing training programs for sports arbitrators to avoid grounds of annulment.