What Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission does

Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (上海国际经济贸易仲裁委员会 / Shanghai International Arbitration Center, 'SHIAC') is a Shanghai municipal government-approved arbitration institution founded in 1993 that administers international commercial dispute resolution proceedings. It operates a 'platform plus specialized centers' model: the SHIAC Digitalization Platform (数智化平台) provides the foundational digital infrastructure including an online hearing system for remote proceedings, digital case management, and online filing; this platform underpins a network of specialized arbitration sub-centers covering the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone (2013, China's first), international aviation (the world's first, jointly with IATA and CATA, 2014), BRICS dispute resolution (2015), China-Africa joint arbitration (2015), property rights transactions, data disputes, and the Air Silk Road investment and trade dispute resolution (2023, the first Belt and Road project anchored in Shanghai).

SHIAC's products and services are organized around its Arbitration Rules, including an Early Decision Mechanism under Article 39 formalized through 2025 procedural guidance, a new 1,844-arbitrator roster from 133 countries effective May 2026, and dedicated specialist panels such as the 170-member Aviation Arbitrator List and 233-member Data Dispute Arbitrator List. The institution's commercial model relies on transaction-based arbitration filing and service fees, supplemented by sector-specific fee schedules disclosed through a public fee calculator. Distribution combines direct digital case filing for global parties, in-person filing at its Shanghai headquarters in the Pacific New World T2 Tower, regional hubs at the Shanghai International Arbitration (Hong Kong) Center (established 2024) and a planned Singapore Center under the Shanghai-Singapore Council mechanism.

SHIAC has handled over 50,000 arbitration cases cumulatively, with total dispute amounts exceeding RMB 600 billion involving parties from 113 countries. It is the first arbitration institution selected for the Ministry of Justice's China-Featured International First-Class Arbitration Institution Cultivation Project, listed on the Supreme People's Court one-stop international commercial dispute resolution mechanism, and is the only Chinese mainland institution nominated for Global Arbitration Review's 'Institution of the Year' and 'Innovation Award'. Customer segments span international commercial enterprises, aviation, maritime, energy, construction, finance, data and digital economy, and Belt and Road cross-border investment disputes; international go-to-market includes overseas roadshows across Southeast Asia, East Asia, Middle East, Europe, and South America, observer status in UNCITRAL Working Groups II and VI, and UNIDROIT engagement.

Name

Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission

Legal name

Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (Shanghai International Arbitration Center)

Website

https://shiac.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

SHIAC is a Shanghai municipal government-approved international arbitration institution, administering commercial dispute resolution across 133 countries through specialized centers covering free trade zone, aviation, BRICS, China-Africa, data, and Belt and Road disputes, serving global enterprises via transaction-based filing fees and three regional hubs in Shanghai, Hong Kong, and Singapore.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

International Commercial Arbitration Services

NAICS

Legal Services (5411)

SIC

Services-Legal Services (8111)

akta.pro primary industry

Dispute Resolution & DAO Arbitration (courts, mediation) (FSAPAHAH)

Keywords

• International commercial arbitration
• Dispute resolution services
• Arbitration institution
• Trade arbitration
• Arbitral tribunal services

Headquarters

HQ city

Shanghai

HQ country

China

HQ region

Asia

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Arbitration Filing and Service Fees: SHIAC charges parties arbitration fees for case filing and proceedings, which constitute the primary revenue stream for the institution.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (SHIAC) provides international and domestic commercial arbitration and dispute resolution services. Established in 1993 with government approval, SHIAC administers arbitral proceedings through a roster of 1,844 arbitrators drawn from 133 countries and territories, supported by specialized sub-centers for aviation, free trade zone, BRICS, China-Africa, data, property rights, and Belt and Road ("Air Silk Road") disputes, as well as a digital/intelligent arbitration platform for online case filing and hearings.

Product overview

Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (上海国际经济贸易仲裁委员会/上海国际仲裁中心) is an arbitration institution providing international commercial dispute resolution services. The organization operates a platform-plus-specialized-centers model: the core SHIAC Digitalization Platform (数智化平台) with its online hearing system (在线庭审系统) serves as the foundational infrastructure, supplemented by multiple specialized arbitration sub-brands including the China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone Arbitration Court, Shanghai International Aviation Arbitration Court, BRICS Dispute Resolution Shanghai Center, China-Africa Joint Arbitration Shanghai Center, Property Rights Transaction Arbitration Center, Data Arbitration Center, Air Silk Road Dispute Resolution Center, and Shanghai International Arbitration (Hong Kong) Center. Procedural offerings include the Early Decision Mechanism under Arbitration Rules Article 39 and the full SHIAC Arbitrator Roster of 1,844 arbitrators from 133 countries.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• 数智化平台: Digital and intelligent arbitration platform for online case hearings and proceedings
• 空中丝绸之路投资贸易争端解决中心

Products and services

• International Commercial Arbitration Services Core arbitration services administered by SHIAC for resolving international and domestic commercial disputes, using a panel of 1,844 arbitrators from 133 countries and territories. For enterprises and parties to cross-border commercial contracts.
• Aviation Arbitration Services Specialized arbitration services for aviation-sector disputes, administered through SHIAC's dedicated Aviation Arbitration Center with sector-tailored arbitrators and procedures. For airlines, lessors, MRO providers, and aviation counterparties.
• Free Trade Zone (FTZ) Arbitration Services Arbitration services for disputes arising in China free trade zones, with tailored FTZ Arbitration Rules and dedicated procedures. For FTZ-registered enterprises and counterparties.
• BRICS Arbitration Services Arbitration services for BRICS-jurisdiction commercial disputes, leveraging dedicated BRICS arbitrators and procedural frameworks. For parties from BRICS economies engaged in cross-border commercial activity.
• China-Africa Arbitration Services Arbitration services tailored for China-Africa commercial disputes, with procedures and arbitrator expertise relevant to Sino-African trade and investment. For Chinese and African enterprises and counterparties.
• Data Arbitration Services Arbitration services for disputes involving data, cross-border data flows, and data-related commercial matters, administered through SHIAC's Data Arbitration Center. For technology companies and data-intensive enterprises.
• Property Rights Arbitration Services Arbitration services for intellectual property and other property rights disputes, administered through SHIAC's Property Rights Arbitration Center. For IP owners, licensors, licensees, and parties to property-related commercial disputes.
• Air Silk Road (Belt and Road) Arbitration Services Arbitration services for Belt and Road commercial and infrastructure disputes, administered through SHIAC's Air Silk Road Arbitration Center. For parties to Belt and Road trade, logistics, and infrastructure projects.
• Digital/Intelligent Arbitration Platform Digital platform supporting online case filing, case management, and online/virtual hearings for parties to SHIAC arbitration proceedings. For parties seeking remote participation in arbitration.
• Online Hearing Service Remote/virtual hearing service enabling parties and arbitrators to participate in arbitral hearings from different locations via SHIAC's digital infrastructure. For parties requiring remote participation due to geographic or logistical constraints.
• Hong Kong Arbitration Services Arbitration services administered through SHIAC's Hong Kong center, enabling filings and proceedings using Hong Kong as a neutral seat for international parties. For enterprises seeking a Hong Kong seat for cross-border arbitration.
• Singapore Arbitration Services Arbitration services administered through SHIAC's Singapore arbitration center, supporting parties in Southeast Asia and other jurisdictions seeking a Singapore-based neutral seat. For enterprises with Southeast Asian commercial disputes.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50,000+ cases handled; over RMB 600 billion in dispute amounts across 113 countries and regions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and flagship.

• Singapore Government (Singapore Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025Under the Shanghai-Singapore (Xinji) Council mechanism, SHIAC is the first Chinese arbitration institution to sign a cooperation agreement with the Singapore government, establishing a Singapore Center to serve Southeast Asian parties.
• Civil Aviation Administration of China / National Development and Reform CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025SHIAC collaborated with the Civil Aviation Administration and NDRC to establish the Air Silk Road Investment and Trade Dispute Resolution Center in 2023, following the joint issuance of the '14th Five-Year Plan' implementation plan for the Air Silk Road.
• Hong Kong (Shanghai International Arbitration (Hong Kong) Center)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Under the Shanghai-Hong Kong Cooperation Mechanism, SHIAC established the Shanghai International Arbitration (Hong Kong) Center in 2024 as a regional hub to serve parties in Hong Kong and the broader Asia-Pacific region.
• Air Silk Road Investment and Trade Dispute Resolution CentercoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Established in 2023 in accordance with the '14th Five-Year Plan for Promoting High-Quality Development of the Air Silk Road' jointly issued by the Civil Aviation Administration and National Development and Reform Commission; the first Belt and Road dispute resolution project implemented in Shanghai.
• United Nations Commission on International Trade Law (UNCITRAL) Working Groups II and VIminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023SHIAC participates as an observer unit in UNCITRAL Working Groups II (Arbitration) and VI (Security Interests), and has contributed China's practice reports on recognition and enforcement of electronic awards that were adopted and published on the UNCITRAL website.
• International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) — Factoring Model Law Implementation Guide Working GroupminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023SHIAC participates as an observer unit in the UNIDROIT Factoring Model Law Implementation Guide Working Group, contributing to the development of international private law standards.
• China-Africa Joint Arbitration Shanghai CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Established in 2015 as the first joint arbitration mechanism between China and Africa, initiated by SHIAC as the only Chinese arbitration institution representative. The mechanism has been consecutively listed in the Beijing Action Plan and Dakar Action Plan of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and in the Central Leading Group's opinions on establishing the Belt and Road international commercial dispute resolution mechanism.
• BRICS Dispute Resolution Shanghai CenterflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2015Established in 2015 as a joint BRICS dispute resolution mechanism, initiated by SHIAC as the only Chinese arbitration institution representative, serving as a platform for resolving commercial disputes among BRICS member states.
• International Air Transport Association (IATA) / 中国航空运输协会coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2014In 2014, SHIAC jointly established the world's first International Aviation Arbitration Academy with IATA and China Aviation Transportation Association, providing specialized arbitration services for aviation disputes including airline operations, cargo, and passenger claims.
• China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade ZonecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013In 2013, SHIAC established the first Free Trade Zone Arbitration Academy in China, and in 2014 published the first Free Trade Zone Arbitration Rules, pioneering specialized dispute resolution for the Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone.
• 40 International Arbitration Institutions and Chamber OrganizationsminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSHIAC has signed cooperation agreements with approximately 40 international arbitration institutions, chamber organizations, and related bodies worldwide, including the China-Africa Joint Arbitration Shanghai Center and BRICS Dispute Resolution Shanghai Center established in 2015.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• London Court of International Arbitration (LCIA): LCIA is one of the world's leading international arbitration institutions, headquartered in London. It serves as a broad incumbent peer in the global arbitration market, competing indirectly for major cross-border matters involving Chinese parties and representing the 'London seat' alternative to SHIAC.
• International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) International Court of Arbitration: The ICC International Court of Arbitration is one of the world's oldest and most established international arbitration institutions, headquartered in Paris. It is a broad incumbent peer — not a focused competitor in any single Asian market but the global benchmark that SHIAC is positioning against for high-value cross-border mandates.
• International Centre for Dispute Resolution (ICDR) — American Arbitration Association (AAA): ICDR is the international arm of the American Arbitration Association and a leading global arbitration institution. It is a broad incumbent peer, competing for cross-border disputes involving US parties and serving as the principal 'US seat' alternative to SHIAC-administered arbitration.

Emerging players

• China-Africa Joint Arbitration Centre / BRICS Dispute Resolution mechanisms: These are multi-jurisdictional dispute resolution platforms initiated or co-hosted by SHIAC itself with peer institutions across Africa and BRICS economies. They represent SHIAC's own international expansion vehicles and serve as peers at the platform-mechanism level for emerging-economy commercial disputes.
• Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC), Malaysia: AIAC (formerly KLRCA) is a Kuala Lumpur-based international arbitration institution that has rapidly grown its profile in Asia-Pacific cross-border disputes. It is an emerging peer in the regional arbitration landscape, competing for ASEAN-related matters and positioning itself alongside SHIAC, SIAC, and HKIAC.

Direct peers

• China International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission (CIETAC): CIETAC is China's largest and most established international arbitration institution, headquartered in Beijing with multiple domestic and overseas offices. It is SHIAC's principal domestic competitor for international commercial disputes involving Chinese parties, and is the obvious head-to-head peer given overlapping mandate, services, and target clients.
• Hong Kong International Arbitration Centre (HKIAC): HKIAC is one of the most prominent Asian international arbitration institutions, headquartered in Hong Kong and a preferred seat for cross-border disputes. It is a direct peer of SHIAC, particularly relevant given SHIAC's 2024 Hong Kong Center launch — both compete for Asia-Pacific international arbitration mandates.
• Singapore International Arbitration Centre (SIAC): SIAC is widely regarded as Asia's leading international arbitration institution and a top global seat alongside HKIAC, ICC, and LCIA. It is a direct peer and the principal competitor for international commercial arbitration matters in the Asia-Pacific region, especially relevant given SHIAC's planned Singapore Center.
• Beijing Arbitration Commission (BAC): BAC is a major Chinese domestic arbitration commission headquartered in Beijing, handling both domestic and international commercial disputes. It is a direct peer of SHIAC within China's arbitration ecosystem and competes for the same pool of Chinese-enterprise and international commercial matters.
• Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA / Shenzhen International Court of Arbitration): SCIA is one of China's leading international arbitration institutions, headquartered in Shenzhen with a focus on Greater Bay Area and cross-border Greater China disputes. It is a direct competitor to SHIAC for international commercial matters and has a comparable structure as a government-backed arbitration institution.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/shiac

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Shanghai International Economic and Trade Arbitration Commission