IT security, cybersecurity, and Artificial Intelligence disputes: The role of commercial arbitration in the United Arab Emirates

The UAE’s rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI), IT security, and cybersecurity technologies has given rise to complex commercial disputes relating to data breaches, automated decision-making, contractual obligations, and digital system failures. Traditional litigation often finds it difficult to deal with such issues, and commercial arbitration is a better mechanism to deal with such technical and confidential issues. The present study adopts a qualitative analytical approach to examine arbitration treatment of AI-related, IT security, and cybersecurity disputes in the UAE. The results reveal the benefits of arbitration, such as its confidential nature, arbitrability, procedural flexibility, expertise, and the international enforceability of arbitration awards; electronic and AI-assisted arbitration tools contribute to efficiency improvements. Some challenges still exist in terms of the protection of cybersecurity, algorithmic accountability, and digital evidence. Arbitration has been found to be a valuable instrument to achieve legal clarity and as an effective complement to the UAE’s booming digital economy.