Arbitration rules at International Council
- Version 02 of ICArb Arbitration rules, as well as Version 01 of Mediation rules, applicable end of December 2025, and complying with UNCITRAL rules.
ICArb sample arbitration clause:
International Council Lebanon has jurisdiction on claims and disputes when parties insert this clause in their contract:
“Any controversy or claim arising out of or relating to this contract, or the breach thereof, shall be determined by arbitration administered by the International Council Lebanon, in accordance with its adopted UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules”.
Parties may agree on regular or expedited rules from below, language and applicable law.
ICArb Arbitration Rules 2025
ICArb adopted UNCITRAL arbitration rules, which become applicable starting January 1st, 2026, where International Council Lebanon, ICArb serves as appointing and regulating authority:
1. ICArb adopts the UNCITRAL Arbitration Rules (2010) - (2021) to ensure international credibility and procedural uniformity.
2. These rules represent the global standard for modern arbitration practices.
3. They guarantee transparency, efficiency, and fairness throughout proceedings.
4. The 2021 update introduces stronger due process and digital communication provisions.
5. It aligns with ICArb’s goal to promote accessible and technology-driven dispute resolution.
6. The rules provide flexibility suitable for both domestic and cross-border cases.
7. They strengthen the independence and neutrality of arbitral tribunals.
8. Parties retain freedom of choice while benefiting from a tested legal framework.
9. The UNCITRAL model supports ICArb’s mission of harmonizing arbitration with international best practices.
10. Ultimately, it reflects ICArb’s commitment to professionalism, innovation, and global trust in arbitration.
11. International Council ICArb, Lebanon serves as appointing and regulating authority, whenever such authorities are mentioned in these rules.
UNCITRAL Expedited arbitration rules adopted by ICArb
UNCITRAL Arbitration rules
Arbitration costs
ICArb Detailed Arbitration Fees Schedule
1. Filing Fee
A fixed filing fee of USD 500 is payable upon submitting the Request for Arbitration. This fee covers the initial registration, verification of documents, and opening of the case file. It is non-refundable under all circumstances.
2. Administrative Fees
The administrative fees of ICArb are calculated as a percentage of the amount in dispute. The percentage decreases as the value of the dispute increases.
The following bands apply:
• For disputes up to USD 25,000: an administrative fee of 10% of the amount claimed.
• For disputes between USD 25,001 and USD 100,000: an administrative fee calculated on a sliding scale starting above 8% and gradually decreasing to 6%.
• For disputes between USD 100,001 and USD 500,000: an administrative fee of 6% of the amount claimed.
• For disputes exceeding USD 500,000: an administrative fee progressively reduced to 5%, depending on the case’s complexity and the procedural steps involved.
The administrative fee is payable once the case is accepted and before the tribunal is constituted. It covers ICArb’s services, case management, communications, hearings coordination, preliminary scrutiny of the award, and record archiving.
3. Arbitrators’ Fees
Arbitrators’ fees are determined in accordance with the amount in dispute and the composition of the tribunal. The fees are set within the following ranges and communicated to the parties before the tribunal accepts its mandate.
3.1 Sole Arbitrator
For cases handled by a sole arbitrator, the fees range from USD 2,000 to USD 10,000, determined as follows:
• Lower-value or less complex disputes (generally under USD 100,000) fall between USD 2,000 and USD 4,000.
• Medium-value disputes (from USD 100,000 to roughly USD 500,000) usually fall between USD 4,000 and USD 7,000.
• High-value or procedurally intensive cases may reach the upper range of USD 7,000 to USD 10,000.
These fees include all hearings, procedural orders, deliberations, and the drafting of the final award.
3.2 Three-Member Tribunal
Where the parties choose or the circumstances require a three-member tribunal, the fees are calculated per arbitrator and generally range from USD 5,000 to USD 15,000 each.
In determining the exact figure, ICArb considers:
• the amount in dispute,
• the volume of submissions and evidence,
• the number of hearings,
• the complexity of legal and factual issues, and
• the time reasonably expected for deliberation and award drafting.
The President of the Tribunal may receive a slightly higher fee when justified by additional responsibilities.
4. Arbitrator Challenge Fee
Any party wishing to challenge an arbitrator must pay a USD 1,000 challenge fee at the time of filing the challenge.
• The fee is fully refunded if the challenge is deemed serious and the arbitrator is actually replaced.
• If the challenge is rejected, the fee remains with ICArb as compensation for administrative time spent on assessing and processing the request.
5. Additional Costs (if applicable)
Certain costs may arise during the arbitration process depending on the parties’ procedural choices. These may include:
• Costs of expert appointments, technical experts, or translators.
• Room rental fees for physical hearings when requested by the parties.
• Travel and accommodation costs of arbitrators, when applicable.
• Costs associated with site inspections or evidence preservation.
All such costs must be approved in advance by the parties or the tribunal and are billed separately from the standard fees listed above.
6. Payment Terms
All fees are payable before the relevant procedural step occurs. Failure to pay may result in suspension of proceedings or termination of the case file. Payments may be made via bank transfer, Whish Money, or any other approved method published by ICArb.
International Council 