SCCSI - Knowledge Check
Obrascon Huarte Lain SA v Qatar Railways Company (2025) - ICC Arbitration Award
This is a module from the Society of Construction Claims Specialists International's (SCCSI's) certification programmes.
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The Obrascon Huarte Lain SA v Qatar Railways Company case represents one of the most significant international construction arbitration awards in recent years. This ICC arbitration, concluded with a substantial €314.9 million award in favour of the contractor consortium, provides critical insights into wrongful termination, FIDIC contract interpretation, and procedural fairness in high-value infrastructure disputes.
Case Background: The dispute arose from the termination of strategically important metro station construction contracts for Msheireb and Education City stations in Doha, Qatar. The works, awarded in May 2013 to a joint venture comprising Samsung C&T, Obrascon Huarte Lain SA, and Qatar Building Company, were valued at over €1 billion under bespoke conditions based on the FIDIC Yellow Book.
Key Legal Issues: The tribunal found that Qatar Rail's termination on 4 May 2016 was procedurally and substantively flawed, with inadequate notice periods and failure to follow contractual dispute resolution mechanisms. The case reinforces that FIDIC termination procedures require strict compliance and demonstrates the importance of contemporaneous record-keeping in high-value infrastructure disputes.
Case Background: The dispute arose from the termination of strategically important metro station construction contracts for Msheireb and Education City stations in Doha, Qatar. The works, awarded in May 2013 to a joint venture comprising Samsung C&T, Obrascon Huarte Lain SA, and Qatar Building Company, were valued at over €1 billion under bespoke conditions based on the FIDIC Yellow Book.
Key Legal Issues: The tribunal found that Qatar Rail's termination on 4 May 2016 was procedurally and substantively flawed, with inadequate notice periods and failure to follow contractual dispute resolution mechanisms. The case reinforces that FIDIC termination procedures require strict compliance and demonstrates the importance of contemporaneous record-keeping in high-value infrastructure disputes.
This knowledge check covers:
- Contract Structure and Project Background
- Termination Procedures under FIDIC Conditions
- ICC Arbitration Process and Procedural Requirements
- Delay Analysis Methodologies and Critical Path Analysis
- Quantum Assessment and Valuation Principles
- Procedural Fairness in International Arbitration
- Award Distribution and Legal Cost Allocation
- Strategic Lessons for International Construction Practice
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