Singapore – A Dynamic Cosmopolitan City State with Excellent Infrastructure and Communications

What Singapore Has to Offer

• Singapore is ranked jointly with London as the most popular seat in the world, and is the most preferred seat in Asia-Pacific*
• Neutral, independent third-country venue ranked top Asian counry in 2020 Rule of Law Index and 2020 Corruption Perceptions Index
• Strong multicultural society, with excellent legal and technological expertise as well as language fluency.
• Strategic location in Southeast Asia with excellent connectivity and digital infrastructure
• Open economy and business-friendly environment that is a global hub for businesses and headquarters for leading companies
• UNCITRAL Model Law is the cornerstone of Singapore's legislation on international commercial arbitration which is regularly updated to incorporate internationally accepted codes and rules for arbitration
• As a party to the 1958 New York Convention (on enforcement of arbitration awards). Singapore arbitration awards are enforceable in over 160 countries worldwide
• Strong tradition of the rule of law, supported by a highly skilled and respected judiciary
• Court offers maximum judicial support and minimum intervention in international arbitration proceedings
• Parties have complete freedom of choice of counsel in arbitration proceedings
• No restriction on foreign law firms doing arbitration work in Singapore.
• Non–resident lawyers and arbitrators do not require work permits to carry out arbitration services in Singapore
• Excellent hearing facilities and support services (e.g. transcription, translation and intepretation services) at Maxwell Chambers, Asia’s first integrated dispute resolution complex with state-of-the-art hearing facilities
• Lower costs than in almost any other major centre of arbitration
• Third party funding allowed in the field of international arbitration and related proceedings
• Singapore International Commercial Court (SICC) empowered to hear proceedings under the Singapore International Arbitration Act, including applications to set-aside awards, jurisdictional challenges and enforcement applications


*Source: 2021 Queen Mary University of London and White & Case International Arbitration Survey: Adapting Arbitration to a Changing World