FIDIC Contracts in Practice: Applying Conditions and Resolving Disputes Through Arbitration
1Summary
A construction contract can be drafted perfectly and still collapse the moment a dispute hits, if nobody involved really knows how to use it. FIDIC conditions are the global standard construction and engineering projects rely on to avoid exactly that outcome, and this course from the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy is built to give participants working command of them — how to apply FIDIC models correctly, and how to handle arbitration when disputes between contracting parties happen anyway.
The course moves through FIDIC’s structure and the obligations it places on each party, then into risk and arbitration: how disputes actually get resolved, step by step, under FIDIC and international arbitration practice. It suits architects, civil engineers, project managers, legal consultants and anyone responsible for contracts and legal conditions on major construction projects.
2Objectives and target group
What You Will Be Able to Do
- Apply FIDIC contract conditions correctly across the different stages of an engineering project.
- Understand the obligations FIDIC places on the contractor, the employer, and any subcontractors.
- Identify financial, technical and legal risks in engineering projects and manage them under FIDIC.
- Handle arbitration cases and resolve disputes that arise during construction projects, including cross-border ones.
- Minimise legal risk during project execution and keep contracting parties’ relationships intact after a dispute.
Who Should Attend
- Architects and civil engineers involved in project execution.
- Lawyers and legal consultants specialised in contracts and arbitration.
- Project managers and civil engineers.
- Individuals responsible for managing contracts and legal conditions in engineering projects.
- Anyone working in the construction industry or involved in major construction projects.
3Course Content
Module 1: FIDIC Contracts — Origins, Types and Core Structure
- The history of FIDIC contracts and their different types.
- The general and special conditions of a FIDIC contract, and how it is organised alongside its accompanying documents.
- Reviewing the responsibilities of the contracting parties.
Module 2: Why FIDIC Works — Benefits and Each Party’s Obligations
- How FIDIC facilitates coordination between parties, improves project performance and provides a clear legal framework.
- The contractor’s role, duties, and how changes and delays are handled.
- The employer’s rights and responsibilities, including approvals and timely payment.
Module 3: Subcontracting and Payment Under FIDIC
- Defining subcontracting, its legal controls, and managing subcontract agreements to ensure compliance.
- Payment terms, determining project costs, and handling invoices and financial claims.
- Settling final accounts and reviewing financial claims, including in cases of delay or rejection.
Module 4: Identifying and Managing Project Risk
- Financial, time-related, technical, managerial and legal risks in engineering projects.
- Risk identification, assessment and reduction strategies, and the role of insurance.
- Preventive measures and ensuring compliance with local and international legal systems.
Module 5: Why Arbitration, and How It Works
- Why arbitration is preferred over litigation, and its role in ensuring project execution to standard.
- Arbitration procedures step by step, from filing a request to the arbitrator’s decision.
- How arbitrators are selected under FIDIC rules.
Module 6: Disputes — Types, Resolution and What Comes After
- Common types of disputes: delays, scope changes and additional-cost claims.
- Pre-arbitration solutions, mediation, and handling disputes without escalating them.
- Applying arbitration decisions and rebuilding trust between the parties afterwards.
Module 7: Keeping the Project on Track
- Managing changes and amendments during project execution.
- Preparing progress reports and ensuring adherence to the timeline.
- Special procedures for unexpected incidents and emergencies.
Module 8: International and Cross-Border Arbitration
- Legal challenges in international disputes and applying arbitration across borders.
- Cooperation between local and international arbitrators and applying global standards.
- Preparing a complete arbitration report and filing claims to close disputes legally.
Certificate
Participants receive a certificate accredited by the Arab British Fellowship Training Academy upon completion.