UNCITRAL adopts key texts to facilitate use of arbitral awards and notices of arbitration in electronic form

For information only - not an official document

UNIS/L/399
7 July 2026

VIENNA, 7 July (UN Information Service) - The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) adopted key texts aimed at enhancing reliance on arbitral awards in electronic form and use of notices of arbitration in electronic form on 6 July.

Prepared by Working Group II (Dispute Settlement) in the context of UNCITRAL's project on dispute resolution in the digital economy, the texts include:

• a Recommendation regarding the interpretation of the New York Convention with respect to arbitral awards in electronic form, which affirms the principle of non-discrimination, ensuring an arbitral award is not refused recognition or enforcement on the sole ground that it is in electronic form;

• revised articles of the Model Law on International Commercial Arbitration, together with corresponding updates to the Explanatory Note to the Model Law, to expressly allow for arbitral awards and notices of arbitration in electronic form; and

• an additional note to the UNCITRAL Notes on Organizing Arbitral Proceedings, in order to provide practical guidance to parties to arbitration, arbitral tribunals and institutions.

Rather than providing a single solution, the texts are a coordinated package designed to enhance legal certainty and promote broader use of arbitration documents in electronic form. The adoption of these texts marks another significant development in UNCITRAL's work on international commercial arbitration. Additional information can be found on the UNCITRAL website.

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The United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) is the core legal body of the United Nations system in the field of international trade law. Its mandate is to remove legal obstacles to international trade by progressively modernizing and harmonizing trade law. It prepares legal texts in a number of key areas such as international commercial dispute settlement, electronic commerce, insolvency, international payments, sale of goods, transport law, procurement and infrastructure development.

UNCITRAL also provides technical assistance to law reform activities, including assisting Member States to review and assess their law reform needs and to draft the legislation required to implement UNCITRAL texts. The UNCITRAL secretariat is located in Vienna, Austria. For more information, visit: uncitral.un.org .

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For information, please contact:

Neale Bergman
Senior Legal Officer
UNCITRAL secretariat
Email: neale.bergman[at]un.org