On 19 December 2020, the CIArb Egypt Branch organized jointly with the Dispute Resolution Board Foundation (DRBF) a webinar on “DABs v DRBs - Answers to Frequently Asked Questions”. The event aimed at providing answers to questions related to Dispute Adjudication Boards "DAB", as a well-known tool to avoid and resolve construction disputes throughout the MENA region, from the prevalent use of FIDIC construction contracts, against Dispute Review Boards "DRB" as a widely used tool in North America and elsewhere in the world.
The speakers were Dr. Ahmed Waly, Managing Partner, WALY – Arbitration and Contract Administration Firm, Adjunct Associate Professor at the Department of Construction Engineering, the American University in Cairo (CIArb Egypt representative addressing DABs) and Ms. Elizabeth Tippin, President of the DRBF Region 1 Board of Directors and DRBF Trainer, Adjudicator, Mediator, and Dispute Resolution Board Member (DRBF representative addressing DRBs). Expert speakers compared the two successful methods for dispute avoidance and resolution. The event was moderated by Ms. Ann Russo, Executive Director of the DRBF, co-editor of the Dispute Board Manual: A Guide to Best Practices and Procedures, and Editor of the DRBF’s quarterly journal, The Forum.
Participants were invited to submit questions in advance and were answered during the event. Some questions inquired about the prospective CRCICA’s DB Rules and if it would be limited to DAB, as in FIDIC, or is it applicable to other forms of DBs. The webinar was attended by over 200 viewers representing different business sectors from 33 countries.