Al Habtoor Group is preparing to file an international arbitration case regarding its investment dispute in Lebanon

Al Habtoor Group announced its official appointment of White & Case Law Firm, which specializes in sovereign disputes and treaty-based investment arbitration, to represent the group in pursuing its claims related to its investment dispute with the Republic of Lebanon.

The group reported that it has entered the final stage of preparation for initiating international arbitration procedures in Washington, D.C., in accordance with the dispute settlement mechanisms stipulated in the bilateral investment agreement concluded between the UAE and the Lebanese Republic, and in accordance with applicable international frameworks in the field of investment protection.

She explained in a statement that this comes after the expiration of the six-month calm period stipulated in the treaty, and in the absence of any effective corrective action, serious settlement offer, or institutional communication capable of addressing the serious breaches and damages that were previously notified to the Lebanese authorities.

The Al Habtoor Group said in the statement: “All Al Habtoor Group’s investments in Lebanon were made in good faith, and based on Lebanese laws and binding international obligations. The group also exercised a great deal of self-restraint and sought for a long time to settle the dispute amicably, giving a full opportunity for a solution within the framework of the treaty. However, the continued inaction, the worsening state of institutional paralysis, and the absence of any effective remedial measures left the group with no choice but to resort to official international legal channels to enforce and recover its rights in accordance with the frameworks approved in international law.

The Al Habtoor Group confirmed that it is still open to any serious and organized settlement initiative that restores its full rights and compensates for the damages incurred. However, preparations for filing the arbitration case in Washington, DC, are at an advanced stage.

The group stressed that protecting investors, adhering to treaties, and respecting international legal obligations remain basic pillars of economic credibility. Accordingly, its procedures do not only represent an effort to recover its rights, but also embody a principled adherence to the rule of law and the sanctity and protection of foreign investments, stressing that it will continue to inform stakeholders and the public of developments as the arbitration procedures progress.