AIAC Arbitration Rules: all change in 2026?

• In an effort to modernise the Malaysian arbitration landscape, the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) has unveiled its new AIAC Suite of Rules 2026, effective 1 January 2026.
• The new rules formalise the establishment of a new AIAC Court of Arbitration. They also provide for greater access to fast-track procedures, more detailed third-party funding disclosure requirements, technical review of awards, and promotion of diversity in arbitrator appointments.

On 9 October 2025, during Asia ADR Week, the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) launched its new AIAC Suite of Rules 2026. According to the deputy prime minister of Malaysia, the Right Honourable Dato’ Sri Fadillah Yusof, in his executive address at the conference, the suite of rules ‘demonstrates Malaysia’s commitment to modernising dispute resolution and creating a trusted, rule-based environment that can drive economic growth, investment and sustainable development’. The 2026 rules contain six new frameworks for arbitration, Islamic arbitration, mediation, sports arbitration,